HP DeskJet, ENVY, OfficeJet 5000, 5200 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues

The quality of a printed document or photo is not as expected. The following tasks help resolve missing black ink, colors are faded or do not match the original, and lines or streaks in printouts.

Perform the following tasks in the order given. Use the printer after each task to see if the issue is resolved.

Run the automated ink cartridge cleaning tool

Clean the cartridges to resolve print quality issues including incorrect colors, streaks, and faded prints.

1. Load plain white paper in the tray.

2. On the printer control panel, swipe left on the display, and then touch Setup.

3. Touch Tools, and then touch Clean Cartridges.

   A Print Quality Diagnostic report prints.

   

4. Review the page for defects and any instructions to resolve the issue. Run two more cleaning cycles, if necessary.

Check for ink smears on the back of printouts

Use an automated cleaning tool if there are smears of ink on the back of documents and photos.

1. Load plain white paper in the tray.

2. On the printer control panel, swipe left on the display, and then touch Setup.

3. Touch Tools, and then touch Clean Page Smears.

Make sure you are using the correct paper for your print job

Make sure the paper you are using matches the print job. If it is not, reload the printer with the correct paper type.

• Load the paper print side down in the input tray. Many papers have printing and non-printing sides, such as photo paper and envelopes. Usually, the smoother side is the "print side," and sometimes, the non-print side has a logo of the paper manufacturer on it.

• Do not use wrinkled or curled paper. Use only clean, wrinkle-free paper.

• Use the correct paper type for your project.

  • For everyday text documents, plain paper with ColorLok technology works well. Paper with ColorLok technology is industry-standard paper that works well with HP ink.

  • For documents with dense printing, such as high contrast graphics or photos, use HP Advanced Photo Paper for best results.

  • Some paper might not absorb ink as well as others. If your prints smear easily, make sure you are using a recommended paper.

• Store photo paper in its original packaging inside a resealable plastic bag. Store the paper on a flat surface in a cool, dry place. Load 10-20 sheets of photo paper only when you are ready to print, and then put the unused paper back in the packaging.

• Try using a different paper. This determines if the problem is related to the paper.

Check print settings

Print settings can affect print quality. Make sure the print settings are appropriate for your print job.

Check print settings using HP Smart

Adjust print settings to improve quality by printing a document or photo from the HP Smart app.

1. Open the HP Smart app, and then click Print Documents or Print Photos.

   

2. Browse to the document or photo, and then click Print.

   The Print window opens.

3. Depending on your print job, modify the following settings to improve print quality:

   • Media Type: Select the appropriate type of paper, such as photo paper, plain paper, or labels.

   • Quality: Increase the print quality mode from Normal or Draft to Best.

   • Paper Size: Select the correct paper size for your print job.

4. Click Print.

Check print settings in Windows

Check the print settings for your print job in Windows.

1. In the software application you are trying to print, click File > Print.

   The Print window opens.

2. Open the Properties dialog box.

   Depending on the software application, the button might be Properties, Options, Printer Setup, Printer, or Preferences.

3. Depending on your print job, modify the following settings to improve print quality:

   • Paper Type: If you are printing on photo paper, select the type of photo paper you are attempting to print on.

   • Quality: If you are dissatisfied with the quality of your printouts, increase the print quality. To print more quickly, decrease the print quality. These options typically include Best, Normal, and Draft modes.

   • Paper Size: If you are printing on a different size of paper than you normally print on, select the correct paper size.

   • Black and White: If you want to print in black and white only, select the grayscale option.

4. After selecting the print settings, click OK > Print.

Check print settings in macOS

Check the print settings for your print job in macOS.

1. Open a document or photo, and then click File > Print.

   The Print window opens.

2. At the lower-left side, click Show Details.

3. Click the Preview drop-down list, and then select Media & Quality.

4. Depending on your print job, modify the following settings to improve print quality:

   • Paper type: If one of the options matches your paper type exactly, select that option.

   • Quality: If you are dissatisfied with the quality of your printouts, increase the print quality. To print more quickly, decrease the print quality.

5. To save your settings for future print jobs, select Save Current Settings as Preset in the Presets menu, and then name the new preset.

Check for issues with the ink cartridges

Very low ink levels, using non-HP cartridges, and rough handling can cause print quality issues.

1. Replace any non-HP or refilled cartridges with genuine HP cartridges. HP supplies are available from the HP Store and local retailers.

   HP cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP or refilled cartridges. Go to HP Anti Counterfeiting and Fraud Program for more information.

2. Check the ink levels and replace any low or empty cartridges.

   NOTE:

   The printer features a 'backup mode' that enables printing with one cartridge. Remove the low or empty cartridge to continue printing if a replacement is not available. Depending on the cartridge removed, blacks will not be as dark and color prints will be in grayscale.

   

3. Rough handling of cartridges during transport or installation can cause print quality problems. Wait a few hours for the automatic servicing routine to complete, and then try to print again.

   If you have a defective HP cartridge, it might be under warranty. Go to About Original HP Cartridges for page yield and HP limited warranty information.

Align the printheads

Align the printheads for best quality printouts using the control panel.

1. Load plain white paper in the tray.

2. On the printer control panel, swipe left on the display, and then touch Setup.

3. Touch Tools, and then touch Align Printer.

   An Alignment Page prints.

4. Lift the scanner lid, and then place the Alignment page print side down on the scanner glass.

5. Close the scanner lid, and then touch OK on the printer control panel.

Clean the ink cartridge and carriage electrical contacts

Remove any debris or buildup from the contacts on the cartridges and in the carriage.

1. Open the door or lid to the cartridge access area. Wait until the carriage stops moving before continuing.

2. Remove the cartridge indicated in the error message from the carriage.

   • Carriages with cartridge latches: Open the latch, and then pull the cartridge up and out of the slot.

     

   • Carriages without cartridge latches: Gently press down on the cartridge to release it, and then pull it out of the slot.

     

3. Holding the cartridge by the sides, remove any protective tape that might be on the contacts.

   CAUTION:

   Do not touch the ink nozzles or the copper-colored electrical strip. Touching or trying to remove these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.

   

4. Lightly dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water, and then wipe the copper-colored contacts on the cartridge.

   

5. Lightly dampen a lint-free cloth or swab with distilled water, and then clean the electrical contacts in the carriage.

   

6. Wait 10 minutes for the contacts to dry, and then reinsert the cartridge into its color-coded slot.

7. Repeat these steps for the other cartridge if it was indicated in the error message.

8. Close the door or lid to the cartridge access area.

   If the error persists, clean the cartridge and carriage contacts a second time.

Service the printer

Service or replace your HP printer if the issue persists after completing all the preceding steps.

Go to Contact HP Customer Support to schedule a product repair or replacement. If you are in Asia Pacific, you will be directed to a local service center in your area.

To confirm your warranty status, go to HP Product Warranty Check. Repair fees might apply for out-of-warranty products.

NOTE:

Keep a print sample that shows the problem. If the printer, ink or toner cartridges, or the imaging drum are replaced under warranty, the support agent might request the print sample.

https://support.hp.com/