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Black ink not printing?

If color prints but black is missing, pale or tinted, the cause is usually an empty or unrecognized cartridge, a setting, or blocked black nozzles. Check them in that order.

What does the black look like?

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What does the black look like?

Most likely causes

  1. An empty or unrecognized black cartridge

    A cartridge that is empty, not seated or not recognized by the printer will not print black, even if color still works. A protective tape or cap left on a new cartridge does the same.

  2. Blocked black nozzles

    Ink can dry in the nozzles, especially after a long time without printing. A nozzle check shows whether black lines are complete.

  3. Print settings

    Draft or ink-saver modes, the wrong paper type, or the wrong printer chosen in the print dialog can make black pale or missing.

  4. Printer or driver behavior

    Some printers refuse to print, or print differently, when any cartridge is empty or flagged. Your printer’s screen and the maker’s support page say what yours does.

What to try, in order

  1. 1Check cartridges and messagesRead any message on the printer or in its software. Check the black ink level, reseat the cartridge, and remove any protective tape or cap.
  2. 2Check print settingsMake sure the right printer and paper type are chosen, and turn off draft or ink-saver modes. Print a different document to rule out one file.
  3. 3Print a nozzle checkPrint our nozzle check and look at the black band. Gaps there mean blocked black nozzles; a complete band points back to ink or settings.
  4. 4Clean once, then recheckRun one cleaning cycle from the printer or driver, print the nozzle check again, and follow your printer maker’s guidance on whether to repeat. See our print head cleaning guide.

Cleaning cycles use ink, including color ink. Run one, check the result, and follow your printer maker’s guidance on how many to run.

When to stop and replace

If black is still missing after a cleaning cycle and the cartridge is new and recognized, wait a few hours and try once more, then contact the manufacturer’s support. The print head or cartridge may need replacing.

Inkjet or laser?

Inkjet printers

Black not printing is mostly an inkjet problem. Our nozzle check shows each ink on its own, so you can tell blocked black nozzles from low ink or a setting.

Print a nozzle check

Laser printers

A laser printer has no nozzles. If black is missing or pale, check the toner level and message, make sure the toner cartridge is seated and any seal is removed, and see the maker’s support page.

Blank pages and streaks

Start with the ink and the messages

Black printing needs its own cartridge or ink tank, separate from the colors. If color prints but black does not, look at the printer’s screen or software for a message about that cartridge. Check that a new cartridge has had its protective tape or cap removed and that it is seated. Some printers will not print normally while any cartridge is empty or flagged, so read what yours says.

Then check the settings

Draft and ink-saver modes can make black look pale. The wrong printer or paper type can too. Print a different document, such as one of our test page PDFs, to see whether one file is the cause.

Use the nozzle check to tell the cause apart

Print the nozzle check and look at the black band. A complete band means the black nozzles are working, so the cause is a setting or the file. Gaps mean blocked nozzles. Our guide to reading a nozzle check shows what each result means.

Clean once, then check

If the black band has gaps, run one cleaning cycle from the printer or driver, then print the nozzle check again. Cleaning uses ink and does not always help, so follow your printer maker’s guidance on repeats. The steps for your brand are in our Epson, HP, Canon and Brother guides. For other print quality problems, see missing color, faded print and all printer problems.

Good questions

Why is my printer not printing black when the ink is full?
The ink level can read full while the nozzles are blocked or the cartridge is not recognized. Print a nozzle check: gaps in the black band point to blocked nozzles, and a complete band points to a setting or the file.
Why is my HP printer not printing black?
Common causes are an unrecognized or empty black cartridge, a protective tape left on, or blocked nozzles. Check the printer’s messages, reseat the cartridge, then print a nozzle check or a print quality report. See our HP guide.
Why is my Epson printer not printing black?
Check the ink level, then run the Nozzle Check from the printer or the Maintenance tab in the driver. If the black band has gaps, run one Head Cleaning and check again. See our Epson guide.
Why does my black print look brown or green?
If black ink is not reaching the page, some drivers can mix color inks to make dark tones. Print a nozzle check and look at the black band, and check the cartridge.
How many times should I clean the print head for black?
Follow your printer maker’s guidance. Run one cleaning cycle, print a nozzle check, and repeat only if the gaps are getting smaller.

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