A color printer is the clean choice for producing vibrant, quality photographic prints, graphs, charts, and other documents which require full color. However, when your color printer fails to print in color, it’s easy to get frustrated. But before you send an SOS to your local computer technician and spend a good sum in getting the recalcitrant device fixed, try these DIY fixes.
The “printer not printing in color” issue can occur due to several reasons, such as outdated drivers and depleted cartridges. This post will walk you through the common causes of this error and various solutions you can try to fix this issue.
Why do color printing issues occur?
Color printing issues can occur due to toner or cartridge problems, incorrect printer settings, and driver/software issues.
Toner or Cartridge Problems
- Clogged nozzles: Inkjet printers use a print head which contains hundreds of small nozzles which spray microscopic droplets of ink into paper when a print command is given. As time passes, these nozzles may become clogged, which may prevent the printer from printing documents in full color.
- Low level of ink: Lack of toner or ink is perhaps the most common cause of the “printer not printing in color” issue.
Incorrect Printer Settings
- Color options are poorly set: The aforementioned issue can occur when the printer is configured to print in greyscale.
- Incorrect paper type settings: If the wrong paper type is selected in the printer settings — e.g. plain paper for glossy photo paper — this issue can occur.
Driver and software issues
- Corrupt or outdated drivers: Corrupt, outdated, or incorrectly installed drivers can lead to all sorts of printer-related issues, including printer not printing color.
- Compatibility issues: At times, a printer may fail to function properly because of compatibility issues, particularly after an operating system update.
Troubleshooting Tips
Follow the solutions listed below in the order they appear to resolve the “printer not printing in color” problem.
Solution 1 – Check the Ink Level (And Replace the Cartridge If Needed)
When ink levels become low, print quality suffers. Faded, blotchy, or greyscale prints are all signs of low ink levels. Check the ink level, and if it is low, replace the cartridge as soon as possible.
To check the ink level, perform these steps:
- Turn on the printer and computer
- Click the Start menu and then select Control Panel
- Click ‘view devices and printers’ under Hardware and Sound
- Select the printer whose ink levels you want to check. You should be able to see the ink levels under the status section
If the ink levels are low, replace the cartridge. You might be tempted to use third-party cartridges because they are cheaper, but we recommend you only use cartridges recommended by your printer manufacturer. You should avoid third-party printer cartridges as they often lead to poor print quality, potential damage to your printer, and inconsistent color output.
Solution 2 – Adjust the Settings of Your Printer
As said earlier, incorrect printer settings can affect the print quality of your documents. Therefore, make sure:
- You are using the correct paper type
- The printer is not to set in print in black and grey (greyscale)
Solution 3 – Clean Printer Nozzles and Heads
It’s not uncommon for inkjet printer nozzles and heads to get clogged over time, particularly if the printer is used infrequently. Clogged nozzles and heads, in turn, can affect the print quality. Fortunately, cleaning nozzles is not difficult.
Most printers (if not all) let you clean printer nozzles automatically. You can access this feature via the printer’s menu.
If your printer doesn’t have the automatic cleaning feature, or if you want to clean it manually, follow these steps:
- Gently remove the printer head
- Clean it with a cleaning solution (or distilled water)
- Wait until it dries and then insert back the printer head
Solution 4 – Update the Printer Driver
Outdated printer drivers can cause various issues. If your printer is not printing in color and you’ve tried all the solutions, but to no avail, you should consider updating the printer driver.
You can update the printer manually or automatically. The latter, as you may have guessed, is easier and simpler. All you have to do is get the right driver download software and it will update the outdated drivers for you. We recommend you give DriverUpdater a try. The download link is shared below.
But if you want to update the printer manually, perform the following steps:
- Type “device manager” in the Start Search box and press Enter
- Click Device Manager in the search results
- In the Device Manager window, expand the printer category
- Right-click your printer and select Update Driver
- In the next window, select the first option (Search automatically for updated driver software)
- Windows will search the computer and internet to locate the latest driver
- If Windows find a relevant driver, it will automatically install it
- Wait until Windows install the driver
- Restart your computer
My printer is only printing in greyscale — how can I fix the problem?
This typically happens when the printer is set in the greyscale mode. To fix the issue, unselect the greyscale option. To do so, first open printer properties. right-click the printer icon, and select printing preferences. Here, you can make sure the greyscale option is not selected.
Is color printing affected when you use non-original cartridges?
Yes, third-party or non-original cartridges at times can impact color printing. If you use a non-original cartridge, you may face one or more of the following issues:
- Poor color consistency: You may see color inconsistencies in your print when you use a third-party cartridge. The colors might not match your expectations when you gave the print command.
- Faded prints: Ink from third-party cartridges may fade much sooner compared.
- Smeared ink: This is another issue that users have frequently reported with third-party ink.
- Inaccurate colors: A common side-effect of using non-original cartridges is smeared ink.
Given the fact that non-original cartridges can cause much harm, it’s best stay away from them. Trust only original cartridges if you want quality printouts.
How often should I clean printer heads?
The best time for cleaning a printer head is when the quality of your printouts become subpar. Cleaning the printer head can help resolve the underlying issue and keep your ink cartridge primed for future use.
Almost every printer today comes with an inbuilt cleaning function. It can be found in your printer’s app or display screen. The entire printerhead cleaning process doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes, but you may need to repeat the process 2-3 times. If the issue still persists, consider manually cleaning the printhead. Once the printhead is cleaned, print out a test page.
- Run “Clean Printhead”
- If the issue persists, open the printer’s cover and unplug it from the power source
- Remove all the ink cartridges after you have cleaned them with a cloth
- Next, clean printhead contacts
- Reinsert the printer
- The quality of your printouts should be considerably improved. If that’s not the case, visit your local computer repair shop.
When it is time to call in a professional?
If you have tried all the solutions listed in this post, but to no avail, then perhaps it’s time call your computer technician.
What is better, to repair a printer that refuses to print in color or to buy a new printer?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It all depends on how badly your printer is damaged, the cost of repair, and your printing needs. All the same, if your printer is pretty old and the repair costs are on the higher side, getting yourself a new printer may be a smart decision.
How to update your printer driver automatically
To update your printer driver automatically, use a reliable driver update software such as DriverUpdater.
Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:
- You can update device drivers automatically
- The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
- The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
- Automatic driver updates are 100% safe
Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.
Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app
Step 2
Scan all devices
Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically