HP Printer Not Printing Color (How To Fix It)

08/22/2023

✅ Quick Review:

To fix an HP printer not printing in color, follow these troubleshooting steps:

Check Ink or Toner Cartridges: Make sure they are not low, empty, or clogged. Remove the cartridges to check ink levels and clean the printhead contacts.
Verify Default Settings: Check your printer settings via the Control Panel on Windows or System Preferences on macOS. Make sure they are set to print in color.
Run a Print Quality Diagnostic Report: This can identify issues like missing colors or streaks. Access this tool through your printer’s control panel under 'Tools'.
Update the Printer Driver: Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause color printing issues. Download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer's website.
Use Only Genuine Cartridges: Make sure you are using HP original cartridges to avoid compatibility issues.
Consider a Printer Restart: A simple restart of your printer can resolve minor glitches and restore functionality.

Check the Ink or Toner Cartridges

The first thing you should do is check the ink or toner cartridges of your printer. Sometimes, the cartridges may be low, empty, or clogged, which can prevent your printer from printing color.

To check the cartridges, follow these steps:

Turn on your printer, and open the cartridge access door.
Wait until the carriage stops moving, and then remove the cartridges.
Check the level indicator on the cartridges and replace any low or empty ones.
Wipe the printhead contacts with a lint-free cloth and reinstall the cartridges.
Close the cartridge access door and try printing again.

Check the Default Settings

If checking the ink or toner cartridges doesn't solve the problem, you can check your HP printer’s default settings.

To check your printer's default settings:

On your computer, go to the Control Panel (Windows) or System Preferences (macOS).
Locate the Printers or Printers and Scanners section.
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (macOS) on your HP printer.
Then select Printing Preferences or Preferences.
Verify that the default settings are configured for color printing and not black and white.

Check also ➜ HP Printer Not Printing

How To Check HP Printer's Default Settings on Windows

Run the Print Quality Diagnostic Report

The print quality diagnostic report can help you troubleshoot issues such as missing colors, streaks, or smears.

To run the print quality diagnostic report, follow these steps:

Load plain white paper in the input tray of your printer.
Tap the Settings icon on the printer’s control panel
Select Tools, then choose Print Quality Report
The print quality diagnostic report will print out.
Check the report for any defects or errors and follow the instructions on how to fix them.

Update the Printer Driver

Another possible reason why your HP printer is not printing color is that your printer driver is outdated or corrupted.

The printer driver is a software that communicates between your printer and your computer. If the driver is not compatible with your operating system or has some errors, it can cause printing problems.

To update the printer driver, follow these steps:

Go to the HP website and find the latest driver for your printer model and operating system.
Download and install the driver on your computer.
Restart your computer and your printer and try printing again.

Note:
Some users can experience color printing problems after upgrading to Windows 11. A successful approach to resolving this issue includes completely removing all printer-related software and then downloading and installing the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer's website. This can restore color printing functionality .

Conclusion

Here are some additional tips that you may find helpful:

Use genuine HP printer cartridges. Using third-party ink cartridges can sometimes cause printing problems.
Restart your computer and your printer. Sometimes, a simple restart can fix printing problems.

We trust these insights will assist you in resolving color printing issues on your HP printer!

If you're still having trouble, you may need to contact HP customer support for further assistance.

Further Reading: