Printing black is supposed to be a breeze with HP printers.
What if things don’t go as planned? What if you end up with a situation where the HP printer is printing light gray instead of black?
If the HP printer is printing light gray instead of black, the most common cause is a depleted black ink cartridge. To fix the issue, check the ink levels, replace it with a genuine HP cartridge, update the printer’s drivers, and re-check the cartridge’s alignment.
For the average user, the issue is going to have to do with the black ink running out. When it starts to get to the last few drops, it will look shaded or light gray rather than the pure black you’re going for.
This guide is going to take a look at how to fix an HP printer that is printing light gray instead of black and how to manage it the right way.
Table of Contents
How To Repair HP Printer Printing Light Gray Instead Of Black
1. Check The Ink Levels
If the HP printer is printing faded black, you will want to start with the most common source.
This would be the black ink cartridge.
When the black ink cartridge’s levels start to drop, you will end up in a situation such as this. It will begin with blotches and then it will start to become faded gray.
A lot of users will notice this gradual transition as the black ink begins to run out in the ink cartridge.
Your best bet here is to go and check the levels to make sure they are not dropping too low. If they are dropping too low then that is the reason for the issue at hand.
Once you replace the HP ink cartridge, you are going to be good to go.
2. Replace The Black Ink Cartridge
You will want to always look to refill or replace the black ink cartridge.
When issues such as these arise, it is safer to simply replace the black ink cartridge. If you are going to do this, it is always smart to go with a genuine HP cartridge to make sure it lasts and works as soon as it is installed.
A lot of users don’t do this and end up going with third-party ink cartridges.
Those ink cartridges might work for a while but are not going to be synced with the HP printer. This means they will stop working or print the wrong way.
This can happen even when the HP printer has ink but it’s faded.
3. Update The Printer’s Drivers
You will always want to take the time to look at the printers while fixing this issue.
The goal is to see where the problem lies with the printer and its connection to the computer. You can do this in different ways but one option is to update the drivers.
You can go to HP’s official website to get access to the drivers.
You will want to download these drivers and install them onto your computer. This will make sure the HP printer is ready to go and will work as long as the right black ink cartridge is inserted.
4. Check The Ink Cartridge’s Alignment Once Installed
The last step is to make sure you are checking the ink cartridge’s alignment.
Sometimes, the ink cartridge is going to be set up in a manner that causes it to go out of alignment. This will cause the cartridge to malfunction and create problems that can involve discoloration and/or a faded gray outcome.
Your best bet is to make sure you take out the ink cartridge and set it up again.
This will let you ensure it is in place the way you want it to be.
To make sure things are right, you should hear a “click” when it is inserted. This means it is not loose.
Final Thoughts
It’s best to look into these steps when it comes to managing an HP printer that is printing light gray instead of black.
If an HP printer is printing light gray instead of black, it’s time to check the ink cartridge’s level. To fix this problem, inspect how much ink is in the cartridge, replace it with an authorized HP cartridge, download the latest HP drivers, and make sure the cartridge is fully aligned in the printer.
This is how you are going to get the results that matter and it will turn out perfect.
A faded gray finish is a sign the ink cartridge is starting to see a reduced amount of ink. This means it’s best to move forward with the tips that have been cited here as soon as you can.
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