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HP Officejet Pro 6230 Printers - Color or Black Ink Not Printing

This document is for the HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter.
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.

Solution one: Use genuine HP cartridges

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.

Solution two: Check the estimated ink levels, and then replace any low or empty cartridges

Follow these steps to check the estimated ink levels, and then replace any low or empty cartridges.

Step 1: Check the estimated ink levels

Follow these steps to check the estimated ink levels.
  1. On the printer control panel, press and hold the Cancel () button for five seconds. The Printer Status Report prints.
    Figure : Example of a Printer Status Report
    Image: Example of a Printer Status Report
  2. Check the estimated ink levels on the Printer Status Report.
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.
  • 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.

Step 2: Replace any low or empty cartridges

Follow these steps to replace any low or empty cartridges.
  1. Press the Power button to turn on the printer, if it is not already turned on.
  2. Open the cartridge access door. The carriage moves to the center of the printer. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you continue.
    Figure : Open the cartridge access door
    Image: Open the cartridge access door.
  3. Press in the tab on the front of the old cartridge, and then pull up to remove the cartridge from the slot.
      Figure : Remove the cartridge
      Image: Remove the cartridge.
    1. Press in the tab on the front of the old cartridge
    2. Pull the cartridge up
    3. Remove the cartridge
  4. Remove a cartridge from its package, and then pull the orange pull-tab straight back.
      caution:
    Make sure that you remove the orange pull-tab and plastic wrap completely before you remove the orange cap in the next step. Otherwise, ink might leak from the cartridge. When you remove the plastic wrap, the paper label on the top of the cartridge tears slightly, which is necessary to properly vent the cartridge.
    Figure : Pull the orange tab on the wrapper straight back
    Image: Pull the orange tab on the wrapper straight back.
  5. Hold the cartridge by its sides, and then twist the protective orange cap counter-clockwise to snap it off the cartridge.
    note:
    You might need to apply some force to move the cap.
    Figure : Twist the orange cap to snap it off the cartridge
    Image: Twist the orange cap to snap it off the cartridge.
      caution:
    Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or the ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.
  6. Turn the cartridge so that the cartridge contacts face downward, and then match the label color with the color dot on the carriage.
  7. Slide the cartridge into its slot, and then gently press the cartridge down until it clicks into place.
      Figure : Insert the cartridge
      Image: Insert the cartridge.
    1. Slide the cartridge into the slot
    2. Press the cartridge down
    3. Make sure that the cartridge clicks into place
  8. Repeat these steps to install other cartridges, if necessary.
  9. Run your finger along the tops of the cartridges to make sure that none of them are protruding. If you feel any cartridges that are not level, press down firmly until each cartridge snaps into place.
  10. Close the cartridge access door.
    Figure : Close the cartridge access door
    Image: Close the cartridge access door.
  11. Wait for the printer to align the cartridges. After the alignment is complete, the printer prints an alignment page.

Step 3: Try the print job again

Try to print the document again.

Solution three: Make sure that the cartridges are properly vented and seated correctly

Check the vents on the top of the cartridges. If they are clogged or obstructed, the cartridges might not work properly. Make sure that the cartridges are seated correctly, too.
  1. Press the Power button to turn on the printer, if it is not already turned on.
  2. Open the cartridge access door. The carriage moves to the center of the printer. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you continue.
    Figure : Open the cartridge access door
    Image: Open the cartridge access door.
  3. Press the tab inward on the front of the old cartridge to release it, and then pull up on the cartridge to remove it from the slot.
      Figure : Remove the cartridge
      Image: Remove the cartridge.
    1. Press in the tab on the front of the old cartridge
    2. Pull the cartridge up
    3. Remove the cartridge
  4. Examine the vent area above the HP logo on the top of the cartridge.
    Figure : Examine the vent area on the cartridge
    Image: Examine the vent area on the top of the cartridge
  5. If the cartridge still has the orange pull-tab attached, pull to remove it.
    Figure : Remove the orange pull-tab
    Image: Remove the orange pull-tab
  6. If the vent is clogged, use a straight pin to gently remove excess adhesive from the vent.
      Figure : Clean the clogged vent with a pin
    1. Clogged vent
    2. With a straight pin, gently remove excess adhesive from the vent
    3. Unclogged vent
  7. Turn the cartridge so that the cartridge contacts face downward, and then match the label color with the color dot on the carriage.
  8. Slide the cartridge into its slot, and then gently press the cartridge down until it clicks into place.
      Figure : Insert the cartridge
      Image: Insert the cartridge.
    1. Slide the cartridge into the slot
    2. Press the cartridge down
    3. Make sure that the cartridge clicks into place
  9. Repeat these steps to inspect the vents on each of the cartridges.
  10. Make sure that each cartridge is firmly installed in its slot. Run your finger along the top of the cartridges to feel for any that are protruding, and if any are, press down firmly until each cartridge snaps into place.
  11. Close the cartridge access door.
    Figure : Close the cartridge access door
    Image: Close the cartridge access door.

Solution four: Use an automated tool to clean the printhead

Clean the printhead from the Embedded Web Server (EWS).
note:
To avoid issues that require cleaning the printhead, always turn the printer off with the Power button on the printer itself.
  1. Load plain white paper in the paper tray.
  2. On the printer control panel, press the Wireless () and the Information () buttons at the same time. A Network Configuration Page prints.
  3. Find the IP Address in the General Information section next to the URL(s) for Embedded Web Server.
    Figure : Example of IP address on the Network Configuration page
    Image: Example of IP address on the Network Configuration page
  4. Open a new web browser window or tab.
  5. Type the IP address in your web browser's address bar, and then press Enter. The Embedded Web Server (EWS) opens.
  6. From the Home tab, click Print Quality Toolbox.
  7. Click Clean next to Clean Printhead. There are three cleaning stages. A test page (different from the Print Quality Diagnostics page) prints between each cleaning stage.
  8. Examine the test page for print quality.
    • If the print quality is unacceptable, click Level 2 Cleaning when prompted to continue the next level of cleaning. Repeat these steps for each cleaning stage, if necessary.
      note:
      If the printhead is badly clogged, it might require another cleaning cycle. If so, wait 30 minutes before you perform all three levels of cleaning again.
    • If the print quality is acceptable, click Done when prompted to continue the next level of cleaning.
  9. Print a test page to see if the issue has been resolved.

Solution five: 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.

Additional support options

Try one of our automated tools or diagnostics
Ask a question on our HP Support Community page
Get in touch with one of our support agents

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