Troubleshooting
Printer not printing color?
When one color drops out, the page tells you which ink is the problem.
What is missing?
1 of 2Likely cause
Likely cause: that color cartridge is empty, or its nozzles are blocked.
- 1Print the color test page and identify which swatch is missing or pale.
- 2Check that cartridge’s ink level and make sure it is fully seated with protective tape removed.
- 3Run the nozzle check and one cleaning cycle if that color has gaps.
Likely cause
Likely cause: color printing is turned off in settings, a color cartridge is empty, or the print is set to grayscale.
- 1In the print dialog, make sure color or full color is selected, not grayscale or black only.
- 2Check all color cartridge levels, because some printers refuse to print color if one is empty.
- 3Print the color test page to confirm.
Likely cause
Likely cause: one color is missing and the others are compensating, or the print is using the wrong paper type setting.
- 1Print the CMYK test page and compare each ink bar.
- 2Set the paper type to match what is loaded.
- 3Replace or clean the ink that is out.
Most likely causes
- 1
One cartridge is empty or nearly empty
If cyan, magenta or yellow runs out, any mixed color that needs it comes out wrong or missing. Photos may turn red, green or blue-tinted.
- 2
Clogged nozzles for that color
A full cartridge can still print nothing if its nozzles are blocked. The nozzle check shows this clearly.
- 3
Grayscale or black-only setting
The print dialog or printer defaults may be set to grayscale. This is common after changing driver settings or printing from a different app.
- 4
Protective tape, air or bad seating
A new cartridge with tape or a cap left on, or one not fully clicked in, may print nothing for that color.
What to try, in order
- 1Print the color test pageFind which swatches are missing or weak. The cyan, magenta, yellow and black swatches show exactly which ink is not reaching the paper.
- 2Check settings, then cartridgesMake sure color printing is selected. Then check every color level and confirm each cartridge is seated and has no tape on it.
- 3Print the nozzle checkLook for missing lines in the affected color. If gaps appear, run one cleaning cycle and print it again.
- 4Reprint the color test pageIf the color returns, you are done. If not, try one more cleaning cycle, then rest the printer for a few hours before rechecking.
Each cleaning cycle uses ink from every color. Try at most two, then rest and recheck rather than running more.
When to stop and replace
If a new, correctly installed cartridge still does not print, and the nozzle check shows no change after two cleanings and a rest, the print head may be permanently blocked or faulty. At that point repair is rarely cost effective on a low-cost printer. Compare the cost of repair with a replacement and check what the manufacturer covers.
Inkjet or laser?
Inkjet printers
Missing color on an inkjet is almost always an empty cartridge, blocked nozzles or a grayscale setting. The color test page and nozzle check separate the three.
Print the color test pageLaser printers
On a color laser, a missing color usually means one toner cartridge is empty, not installed correctly, or the drum for that color has a fault.
Print the CMYK test pageIf your printer is not printing color, or one color is missing from the page, the cause is usually one of three things: a setting, an empty cartridge or blocked nozzles. A color test page shows which in about a minute.
Read the swatches
The color test page has solid swatches for cyan, magenta, yellow and black, plus red, green and blue. If a swatch is missing, pale or the wrong shade, you know which ink is affected. The ramps from 0 to 100 percent also show whether a color fades in smoothly or jumps. Use the result page to match what you see to a likely cause.
For a closer look at each ink on its own, print the CMYK test page. It has four 100 percent bars and overprints, so a missing ink is obvious even if the others compensate.
Settings first
Before touching hardware, open the print dialog and confirm color is on. Grayscale and black-only options are easy to leave selected. If you changed anything in a driver or app recently, check there first. On Windows, see our print test page guide.
Then supplies and nozzles
Check each cartridge level and make sure none has tape or a cap left on. Print the nozzle check. If the color you are missing has gaps, one cleaning cycle often helps. If it does not, wait and try again rather than running cycle after cycle.
Related problems
If colors print but look different from your screen, read wrong colors and CMYK vs RGB. If the whole page is light, see faded print. If you see lines in one color, streaks or lines covers it.
