Technology is supposed to make our lives simpler. However, every now and then, someone in the world gets stuck with a printer that just won’t print black, and they aren’t alone. We understand the frustration that comes with such an obstacle, especially if you’re having a busy day or running late for a meeting and need paper documents now. It’s a great thing you’ve come to the right place, where we have a step-by-step guide for a printer not printing black.

Check the Basics

Various potential reasons could be the cause of a printer not printing black ink, and we will need to identify the cause to get your printer functional again. The first step we recommend is to check the basics. Identify the model of your printer and what type of printer you’re using – whether it is inkjet or laser, for example. It helps to have access to the printer’s relevant manuals so you can have as much help as you need. These are a few steps you can take to check the basics:

• Check if your printer has been set up correctly – Retrieve your printer’s user manual and ensure that the setup was done properly.
• Check cartridge levels – Replace any low or empty cartridges.
• Print a test page or conduct a Quality Diagnostic Report – This helps to determind the performance of your printer and see if any black ink manages to make it to the page.
• Perform a full power cycle - In simpler terms, shut your printer down, disconnect all power sourcces and cables, wait a few minutes, and then turn it back on to see if your problem is solved.

Identify Cartridge Problems

Firstly, you can check the cartridge vent to to see if there is a small piece of tape covering the vent. If you find one, ensure that it is removed so the cartridge is vented right and works as expected. If this doesn’t work, check if there are any other obstructions in the way and clean the vents if there are. Next, if your cartridge is not empty, there may be other less obvious reasons for a printer not printing black. Try replacing all the printer cartridges to see if it helps. For optimal results, it’s best to use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges.

Identify Printhead Problems

Cleaning the printhead is an integral part of printer maintenance and as dried ink can accumulate inside it over time. Here are the two main approaches for cleaning it:

• Manual Printhead Cleaning – Manually cleaning the printhead can give you better results although the automatic feature could work just as fine.
• Automatic Printhead Cleaning – You may need to run this feature a few times to unclog the printhead.

Why Choose OEM Connect?

OEM Connect is widely known as one of the leading companies office workers and individuals turn to for genuine OEM printer and toner supplies. For those who have urgent orders, we offer same day shipment for orders received by 4 PM EST at the lowest prices. If you have any questions about OEM Connect’s range of services, feel free to contact us today!