Printer Not Printing Black

Most of the time, the problem of your printer not printing in black lies in the ink. Therefore, it is a recurring problem among inkjet printers where ink is a central component. A common solution is to check the ink level and refill it if necessary.

Even if there is enough ink in the cartridge, you may still experience these problems. The problem may be with the printer hardware or with the system to which it is connected. While resolving your issue may be as simple as restarting the printer or connected device, it may not work in all cases.

Therefore, you should try all the solutions until your issue is resolved.

Clean the print head

Sometimes the print head nozzles get clogged so the printer doesn't print black or any other color. The print output is also faded or a different color. To fix this, you can either clean the print head physically or from the printer settings.

Most printers have an option to perform a nozzle check. Although the settings for each brand of printer may be different, you can usually find them within the Maintenance menu. After a nozzle check, you can perform print head cleaning if you see missing lines or gaps between lines. You can do it from the printer settings.

Similarly, to clean the print head physically, carefully pull out the detachable print head, as it may break if done with force. Then use warm water or a liquid solution with a syringe to clean it. After cleaning, allow it to dry completely or use a paper towel before placing it back into the printer.

Clean the cartridges

Another main reason why you have this problem is the cartridge.

It could become misaligned or installed incorrectly while reattaching after removal. So you need to install it correctly. Similarly, you can use compressed air to blow out any dust particles trapped inside the cartridge.

If you suspect that the cartridge is damaged or unusable, you can even replace it with a new one. However, please refrain from using a third-party cartridge or ink and use only one that is original and compatible with the printer.

Run the Printer Troubleshooter

If you are using the printer on a Windows 10 system, you can run the printer troubleshooter to diagnose and fix printer-related issues.

To run the troubleshooter,

• Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
• Go to Update & security > Troubleshoot.
• In the right pane, click Additional Troubleshooters.
• Next, click on the printer and then on the "Run the troubleshooter" button.
• Then follow the instructions on the screen and apply the recommended fixes.

Contact your printer manufacturer

If none of the above methods work, you still have the option of contacting your printer manufacturer. You can contact them through their website or call them on their phone support.

You can also read the manual that came with the printer when you bought it. The manuals are very helpful in solving common problems. In addition, they contain specific fixes for your printer.

repair the printer

If the above methods don't work, your printer might have some hardware problems.

Therefore, check the warranty period first, and if it is not over yet, you can ask the manufacturer for free repair or even replacement parts. Otherwise, as recommended, you can show it to a repair technician and have the damaged parts replaced.

On the other hand, if your printer is too old, you can consider buying a new printer.