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HP Ink Tank 310, 410 Printers - Black Ink Not Printing and Other Print Quality Issues

This document is for HP Ink Tank 310, 311, 315, 316, 318, 319, Wireless 410, 411, 412, 415, 416, 418, and 419 printers.

The quality of a printed document or photo is not as expected. The procedures in this document should help with streaked or faded printouts, color or black ink not printing, documents with blurred or fuzzy text, ink streaks or smears, and other print quality problems.

caution:
While performing the following steps, avoid lifting the printhead latch.

Step 1: Use genuine HP printheads and ink

HP recommends that you use genuine HP ink. HP cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP ink. If you do not use genuine HP ink and HP printheads, the steps in this document might not resolve print quality issues.

Purchase replacement ink and other supplies from the HP Store or local retailers.

note:
Using non-HP ink contaminates any genuine HP ink added later. Because ink remains in the printhead when the ink is changed, the contaminated ink can remain in the system and affect print quality.

If you are using genuine HP printheads and ink, continue to the next step.

Step 2: Check the ink levels

Low ink levels can impact print quality.

caution:
Damage to the printer as a result of improperly filling the ink tanks or using non-HP ink is not covered under warranty.

Do not let the ink levels fall below the minimum fill line when printing. Very low ink levels can result in reduced print quality or damage to the ink system.

Visually check the printer ink levels using the ink tank window.
Add ink to any of the tanks where the level is below or close to the minimum fill line.

caution:
Do not let the ink levels fall below the minimum fill line when printing. Very low ink levels can result in reduced print quality.
Maximum fill line

Minimum fill line

Step 3: Make sure you are using the appropriate paper for your print job

Use the following guidelines to make sure the paper you are using is appropriate for the print job. If it is not, reload the printer with an appropriate paper type.

Load the paper print side down in the input tray. Many papers have printing and nonprinting sides, such as photo paper and envelopes. Usually, the smoother side is the "print side," and sometimes the non-print side has a logo of the paper manufacturer on it.
Do not use wrinkled or curled paper. Use only clean, wrinkle-free paper.
Use the correct paper type for your project.
- For everyday text documents, plain paper with ColorLok technology works well. Paper with ColorLok technology is industry-standard paper that works well with HP ink.
- For documents with dense printing, such as high contrast graphics or photos, use HP Advanced Photo Paper for best results.
- Some paper might not absorb ink as well as others. If your prints smear easily, make sure you are using a recommended paper.
Store photo paper in its original packaging inside a resealable plastic bag. Store the paper on a flat surface in a cool, dry place. Load 10-20 sheets of photo paper only when you are ready to print, and then put the unused paper back in the packaging.
Try using a different paper. This determines if the problem is related to the paper.

After checking the paper, try to print again. If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Step 4: Check the print settings

Check the print settings to make sure they are appropriate for your print job.

note:
Print settings vary by operating system and software application.

Print settings (Windows)

Check the print settings for your print job in Windows.

In the software application you are trying to print from, click File, and then click Print.

The Print window opens.
Open the Properties dialog box.

Depending on the software application, the button might be Properties, Options, Printer Setup, Printer, or Preferences.
Depending on your print job, you might consider modifying the following settings:
- Paper Type: If you are printing on photo paper, select the type of photo paper you are attempting to print on.
- Print Quality: If you are dissatisfied with the quality of your printouts, increase the print quality. To print more quickly, decrease the print quality. These options typically include Best, Normal, and Draft modes.
- Paper Size: If you are printing on a different size of paper than you normally print on, select the correct paper size.
- Black and White: If you want to print in black and white only, select the grayscale option.
After selecting the print settings, click OK to apply the settings, and then click Print.

Print settings (Mac)

Check the print settings for your print job in macOS or OS X.

Open a document, click File, and then click Print.

The Print window opens.
Select the Paper Type/Quality or Media & Quality menu.
Depending on your print job, you might consider modifying the following settings:
- Paper type: If one of the options matches your paper type exactly, select that option.
- Quality: If you are dissatisfied with the quality of your printouts, increase the print quality. To print more quickly, decrease the print quality.
To save your settings for future print jobs, select Save in the Presets menu, and then name the new preset.

After checking the print settings, try to print again. If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Try to print again. If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Step 5: Check for ink smears on the back of printouts

If there are smears of ink on the back of your printouts, you can use an automated tool to resolve the issue.

Load paper into the input tray.
Press and hold the Power button, press the Cancel button three times, press the Start Copy Color button eight times, and then release the Power button.

The printer feeds one page slowly. The printer might make some noise for approximately one minute.
Wait until the page ejects from the printer before you remove it.
Examine the test page.

If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Step 6: Print a Print Quality Diagnostic page

To resolve many print quality issues, print a Print Quality Diagnostic page, and then evaluate the results.

note:
To protect the printheads from drying out, always turn the printer off using the Power button, and wait until the Power button light goes out before unplugging the printer.

Press and hold the Start Copy Color button on the printer control panel for 3 seconds to print a Print Quality Diagnostic page.
Review the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black boxes, checking for missing colors, fading, and white lines.
- If the color blocks do not show white lines, and are not faded or missing, the printer is working correctly. Check for image resolution problems, application errors, or other issues that might affect the printout.
- If any of the color blocks show white lines, are faded, or are missing completely, continue to the next step.

Step 7: Run the printhead cleaning utility using the HP Software

HP provides an automated printhead cleaning utility that can unclog printhead nozzles.

caution:
Clean the printheads only when necessary. Unnecessary cleaning shortens the life of the printheads and wastes ink.

To protect the printheads from drying out, always turn the printer off with the Power button.

Clean the printheads (Windows)

Clean the printheads using the HP software, and then evaluate the results.

Open or search for the HP folder in your list of installed software applications, click the folder for your printer, and then click the name of your printer.

HP Printer Assistant opens.
On the HP Printer Assistant window, click Maintain Your Printer.
Click the Device Services tab, and then click Clean Ink Cartridges.

A Print Quality Diagnostic page prints.
Examine the Print Quality Diagnostic page.
- If the print quality is acceptable, click Done. You can stop troubleshooting.
- If the print quality is unacceptable, click Second-level Clean when prompted to continue the next level of cleaning.
  
  note:
  If the printheads are badly clogged, it might require another cleaning cycle. If so, wait 30 minutes before you perform both levels of cleaning again.

Clean the printheads in (Mac)

Clean the printheads using the HP software, and then evaluate the results.

Search the Mac for Print, and then click Printers & Scanners in the list of results.
Click the name of your printer, and then click Open Print Queue.
Click Printer Setup or Settings, click Utility, and then click Open Printer Utility.
Click Clean Printheads.
Once the cleaning cycle completes, click Print.

A Print Quality Diagnostic page prints.
Examine the Print Quality Diagnostic page.
- If the print quality is acceptable, click Done. You can stop troubleshooting.
- If the print quality is unacceptable, click Second-level Clean when prompted to continue the next level of cleaning.
  
  note:
  If the printheads are badly clogged, it might require another cleaning cycle. If so, wait 30 minutes before you perform both levels of cleaning again.

If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Step 8: Align the printheads using the HP software

Use the HP printer software to align the printheads.

Align the printheads (Windows)

Align the printer from the HP software.

Open or search for the HP folder in your list of installed software applications, click the folder for your printer, and then click the name of your printer.

HP Printer Assistant opens.
On the HP Printer Assistant window, click Maintain Your Printer.
Click the Device Services tab, and then click Align Cartridges.

The printer prints an alignment page.
Lift the scanner lid.
Place the alignment page with the print side down on the right-front corner of the scanner glass, and then close the scanner lid. Position it according to the guides around the scanner glass.
Close the scanner lid.
On your computer, click Scan.

The printer aligns the printheads.
Recycle or discard the alignment page.

Align the printheads (Mac)

Align the printer in macOS or OS X.

Search the Mac for Print, and then click Printers & Scanners in the list of results.
Click the name of your printer, and then click Open Print Queue.
Click Printer Setup or Settings, click Utility, and then click Open Printer Utility.
Click Align.

The printer prints an alignment page.
Lift the scanner lid.
Place the alignment page with the print side down on the right-front corner of the scanner glass, and then close the scanner lid. Position it according to the guides around the scanner glass.
On your computer, click Scan.

The printer aligns the printheads.
Recycle or discard the alignment page.

Try to print again. If the print quality is unacceptable, continue to the next step.

Step 9: Replace the printheads

If you have followed all the steps in this document and your printer is producing printouts with print quality issues, you must replace both printheads.

Contact HP to replace both printheads. If you already have new replacement printheads available, go to Replacing Printheads for more information.

Contacting HP for service in Asia Pacific

If you completed all the preceding steps and your printer still has an issue, you might need further assistance from HP. Go to Contact HP Support to review available service options.

Contacting HP for service in all countries/regions, except Asia Pacific

If you completed all the preceding steps and your printer still has an issue, service the product.Check your product warranty to determine if your product is still under warranty, and then go to Contact HP Support to schedule a repair or replacement.

Repair fees might apply for out-of-warranty products.