HP ENVY 5540, DeskJet 5570 Printers - Printer Prints Blank Page or Does Not Print Black, Color Ink

This document is for the HP ENVY 5540, 5541, 5542, 5543, 5544, 5545, 5546, 5547, 5548 and DeskJet Ink Advantage 5575 All-in-One printers.

The printer is working, but the printed output is missing black or color ink, or the printed page is blank or has very little ink.

HP recommends that you use genuine HP ink or toner supplies. HP cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP or refilled cartridges. If you do not use genuine HP cartridges, the steps in this document might not resolve the issue. To check the authenticity of your cartridges, go to the HP anti-counterfeit webpage (in English).

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

If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Low ink can contribute to poor print quality. Check the estimated ink levels on the printer control panel, and then replace any low or empty ink cartridges.

note:

Ink level warnings and indicators provide estimates for planning purposes only. When an indicator shows low ink levels, consider having a replacement ink cartridge available to avoid possible printing delays. You do not need to replace ink cartridges until print quality becomes unacceptable.

On the printer control panel, touch the Ink icon to display the current estimated ink levels.

• If none of the ink cartridges are low on ink, you do not need to replace them yet. Continue to the next solution.
• If any of the ink cartridges are low on ink, continue to the next step to replace them.

Replace any critically low or empty ink cartridges, and then try to print again.

note:

If you are enrolled in the Instant Ink program, you receive special Instant Ink cartridges. Instant Ink cartridges are larger than standard ink cartridges, but they fit in the carriage in the same way.

Figure : Standard and Instant Ink cartridges

1. Standard ink cartridge
2. Instant Ink cartridge

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Open the ink cartridge access door by placing two fingers under one or both of the small handles on the sides of the ink cartridge access door and then lifting up.
   Figure : Opening the ink cartridge access door

   
   The Door Open screen displays on the printer control panel with the message, 'The ink cartridge access door is open. Close the door to continue.'
3. Touch the Play Video icon in the bottom left corner to watch a video on the touchscreen about replacing the ink cartridges (optional).
4. Lightly press down on the low or empty ink cartridge to release it.
   Figure : Pressing down on the ink cartridge

   
   • Remove the ink cartridge from the slot on the left to replace the tri-color ink cartridge.
   • Remove the ink cartridge from the slot on the right to replace the black ink cartridge.
5. Pull the ink cartridge toward you out of its slot, and then set it aside for recycling.

   note:

   Recycle any low or empty ink cartridges. The HP Inkjet Supplies Recycling Program is available in many countries/regions, and it is free of charge.

6. Remove the new ink cartridge from its package. Be careful to touch only the black plastic on the ink cartridge.
   Figure : Removing the ink cartridge from its package

   
7. Remove the protective tape from the ink cartridge.

     caution:

   Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or the ink nozzles. Do not replace the protective tape on the contacts. Handling these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.

   Figure : Removing the tape and avoiding touching the ink cartridge contacts or ink nozzles

   
8. Slide the new ink cartridge into the empty slot, and then gently push up on the ink cartridge until it snaps into place.
   • Insert the tri-color ink cartridge into the left slot.
   • Insert the black ink cartridge into the right slot.
   Figure : Inserting the new ink cartridge

   
9. Repeat these steps to replace the other ink cartridge, if necessary.
10. Close the ink cartridge access door. When the door is completely closed, the Door Open screen with the message, 'The ink cartridge access door is open. Close the door to continue.' disappears, and the printer returns to the Home screen.
    Figure : Closing the ink cartridge access door

    
11. Touch OK.
12. Wait for the printer to calibrate and align the ink cartridges. After the alignment is complete, the printer prints an alignment page.
13. If the alignment page does not print, print an alignment page through the printer control panel:
    1. Make sure you have loaded plain white U.S. letter or A4-sized paper into the paper tray.
    2. On the printer control panel, swipe the display to the left, then touch Setup .
    3. Touch Tools, then touch Align Printer.
14. Lift the scanner lid, then place the alignment page with the print side down on the scanner glass. Position the alignment page according to the engraved guides around the glass.
15. Close the scanner lid, then touch OK.
    The printer scans the alignment page, completing the alignment.
16. Recycle or discard the alignment page.

If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Some print quality issues are caused by clogged printheads. Clean the ink cartridges from the printer control panel.

note:

To avoid issues that require cleaning, always turn the printer off with the Power button.

1. Make sure you have loaded plain white U.S. letter or A4-sized paper into the paper tray.
2. On the printer control panel, swipe the display to the left, and then touch Setup.
   The Setup menu displays.
3. Touch Tools, and then touch Clean Cartridges.
   The printer cleans the ink cartridges, then prints a Print Quality Diagnostic report.
   Figure : Example of the Print Quality Diagnostic report

   
4. Examine the Print Quality Diagnostic report.
   • If the print quality is not acceptable, touch Yes to continue the next level of cleaning. Repeat these steps for the third cleaning stage, if necessary.

     note:

     If the printhead is badly clogged, you might need to clean the ink cartridges several times for optimal print quality. If so, wait 30 minutes before you perform all three levels of cleaning again.

   • If the print quality is acceptable, touch No. You do not need to continue troubleshooting.

If the error persists even after several cleanings, continue to the next step.

Print settings in the print driver might cause grayscale printouts. Make sure the print settings are appropriate for your print job.

If cleaning the printhead and checking the print settings did not resolve the issue, then identify the problem ink cartridge.

1. Review the test page you printed in the previous solution.
2. Check the text and color blocks on the test page.

If you have a defective cartridge or printhead, it might be under warranty. To check the warranty on your ink or toner supplies, go to Printer and Page Yield Overview, and then review the limited warranty information for your supplies.

Remove the problem ink cartridge, and then install a new, genuine HP ink cartridge in its place.

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Open the ink cartridge access door by placing two fingers under one or both of the small handles on the sides of the ink cartridge access door and then lifting up.
   Figure : Opening the ink cartridge access door

   
   The Door Open screen displays on the printer control panel with the message, 'The ink cartridge access door is open. Close the door to continue.'
3. Touch the Play Video icon in the bottom left corner to watch a video on the touchscreen about replacing the ink cartridges (optional).
4. Lightly press down on the low or empty ink cartridge to release it.
   Figure : Pressing down on the ink cartridge

   
   • Remove the ink cartridge from the slot on the left to replace the tri-color ink cartridge.
   • Remove the ink cartridge from the slot on the right to replace the black ink cartridge.
5. Pull the ink cartridge toward you out of its slot, and then set it aside for recycling.

   note:

   Recycle any low or empty ink cartridges. The HP Inkjet Supplies Recycling Program is available in many countries/regions, and it is free of charge.

6. Remove the new ink cartridge from its package. Be careful to touch only the black plastic on the ink cartridge.
   Figure : Removing the ink cartridge from its package

   
7. Remove the protective tape from the ink cartridge.

     caution:

   Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or the ink nozzles. Do not replace the protective tape on the contacts. Handling these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.

   Figure : Removing the tape and avoiding touching the ink cartridge contacts or ink nozzles

   
8. Slide the new ink cartridge into the empty slot, and then gently push up on the ink cartridge until it snaps into place.
   • Insert the tri-color ink cartridge into the left slot.
   • Insert the black ink cartridge into the right slot.
   Figure : Inserting the new ink cartridge

   
9. Repeat these steps to replace the other ink cartridge, if necessary.
10. Close the ink cartridge access door. When the door is completely closed, the Door Open screen with the message, 'The ink cartridge access door is open. Close the door to continue.' disappears, and the printer returns to the Home screen.
    Figure : Closing the ink cartridge access door

    
11. Touch OK.
12. Wait for the printer to calibrate and align the ink cartridges. After the alignment is complete, the printer prints an alignment page.
13. If the alignment page does not print, print an alignment page through the printer control panel:
    1. Make sure you have loaded plain white U.S. letter or A4-sized paper into the paper tray.
    2. On the printer control panel, swipe the display to the left, then touch Setup .
    3. Touch Tools, then touch Align Printer.
14. Lift the scanner lid, then place the alignment page with the print side down on the scanner glass. Position the alignment page according to the engraved guides around the glass.
15. Close the scanner lid, then touch OK.
    The printer scans the alignment page, completing the alignment.
16. Recycle or discard the alignment page.

If the error persists, continue to the next step.

If none of the previous steps resolved the issue, service the printer.

Service or replace your HP product if the issue persists after completing all the preceding steps.

Go to Contact HP Customer Support to schedule a product repair or replacement. If you are in Asia Pacific, you will be directed to a local service center in your area.

To confirm your warranty status, go to HP Product Warranty Check. Repair fees might apply for out-of-warranty products.

note:

Keep a print sample that shows the problem. If the ink cartridges, printhead, or printer is replaced under warranty, the support agent will request the print sample. If the printer is returned to HP, the print sample must be returned with the printer. Place the sample in the output tray when you package your printer for shipping.