To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the basic troubleshooting section. If the print quality issue still persists, then follow the steps for your printer model in the Advanced Troubleshooting section.
Basic troubleshooting
Press the power button to turn on the printer, and then attempt to do these initial steps to resolve the issue:
-
Make sure that the printer, supplies, and accessories are within the HP recommended temperature.
If the printer, supplies, and accessories are below the HP recommended
temperature, move the cold items to a warmer temperature. For temperature requirements of a printer, refer to the "Printer specifications" section in the User Guide.
note:
Temporary poor performance or print quality issues will occur if the printer is exposed to cold temperatures.
-
Close all printer trays and doors.
-
Allow the printer to be idle for approximately 20 to 30 minutes before attempting to print.
warning:
Do not print when the printer is running a cleaning procedure.
note:
The printer requires approximately fifteen minutes after it is turned on to perform self-maintenance and cleaning. This will resolve most of the image quality issues when the printer was not powered on for more than three months.
-
Print a Print Quality Report to identify the performance of each cartridge and print quality issue.
-
If the issue does not persist, it is not required to continue troubleshooting.
-
If the issue persists or the print quality is not as expected for the first printed output, follow the steps in the Advanced troubleshooting section.
Advanced troubleshooting
Depending on your printer model, follow the steps in the order presented to resolve the issue.
HP PageWide Pro 300, 400, 500 series and HP PageWide Managed P55250 series
Make sure to follow the steps in the Basic troubleshooting section, and then follow these steps:
HP PageWide Pro 352 and 452 series
-
Clean the printhead.
-
On the control panel home screen, select Setup.
-
Select Tools, and then press OK.
-
Select Clean Printhead Level 2, and then press OK. Follow the prompts on the control panel.
-
Check the Print Quality Report.
-
Allow the printer to be idle for an hour.
warning:
Do not perform any jobs like copy or print during this time.
-
Print a document and determine if there are any print quality issues.
-
If the issue does not persist, it is not required to continue troubleshooting.
-
If the issue persists, repeat steps 1 to 3 for at least two more times.
-
If the issue persists after repeating steps 1 to 3, it is recommended to allow the printer to sit idle and connected to a power outlet for at least 12 hours.
-
If the print or image quality does not improve after performing the above steps, please contact HP customer support.
note:
The issue might not be related to a printer powered off for an extended period of time.
HP PageWide Pro MFP 300, 400, 500 series and HP PageWide Managed P55250 series
-
Clean the printhead.
-
On the control panel home screen, touch the Dashboard strip at the top of the screen, or swipe the dashboard tab downward, and then touch the gear icon
.
-
Touch Printer Maintenance.
-
Touch Clean Printhead Level 2. If necessary, load
paper in the requested tray, and follow the prompts on the control panel.
-
Allow the printer to be idle for an hour.
note:
Do not perform any jobs like copy or print during this time.
-
Print a document and determine if there are any print quality issues.
-
If the issue does not persist, it is not required to continue troubleshooting.
-
If the issue persists, repeat steps 1 to 3 for at least two more times.
-
If the issue persists after repeating steps 1 to 3, it is recommended to allow the printer to sit idle and connected to a power outlet for at least 12 hours.
-
If the print or image quality does not improve after performing the above steps, please contact HP customer support.
note:
The issue might not be related to a printer powered off for an extended period of time.
HP PageWide Enterprise Color 556, MFP 586 series and HP PageWide Managed E55650, E58650 series
Make sure to follow the steps in the Basic troubleshooting section, and then depending on the firmware version installed on the printer, follow these steps:
HP FutureSmart 3
-
Clean the printhead.
-
From the Home screen on the product control panel, scroll and touch the Device Maintenance button.
-
Open the following menus:
-
Calibration/Cleaning
-
Printhead cleaning
-
Follow the on-screen instructions to load the paper, and then select the Continue button. If necessary, load
paper in the requested tray.
-
Wait for the cleaning process to complete, and then select the Continue button in the Printhead cleaning limit dialog box.
-
Touch the Exit button.
-
Allow the printer to be idle for an hour.
note:
Do not perform any jobs like copy or print during this time.
-
Print a document and determine if there are any print quality issues.
-
If the issue does not persist, it is not required to continue troubleshooting.
-
If the issue persists, repeat step 1 for at least two more times.
-
If the issue persists after repeating step 1, it is recommended to allow the printer to sit idle and connected to a power outlet for at least 12 hours.
-
If the print or image quality does not improve after performing the above steps, please contact HP customer support.
note:
The issue might not be related to a printer powered off for an extended period of time.
HP FutureSmart 4
-
Clean the printhead.
-
From the Home screen on the product control panel, scroll and select Support Tools.
-
Open the following menus:
-
Maintenance
-
Calibration/Cleaning
-
Advanced Calibration Support
-
Touch Continue, select the Printhead Cleaning Level 2 option, and then select the Start button to begin the cleaning process.
-
Wait for the cleaning process to complete, and then select the OK button.
note:
A message box might open indicating that continuing will deplete the cartridge. This message is valid only if the printer cartridge is near the end of life or the ink level is almost empty.
-
Touch No or Cancel on the next dialog boxes.
note:
Do NOT proceed to the third level of cleaning as it not required to restart a printer not powered on for an extended period of time.
-
Allow the printer to be idle for an hour.
note:
Do not perform any jobs like copy or print during this time.
-
Print a document and determine if there are any print quality issues.
-
If the issue does not persist, it is not required to continue troubleshooting.
-
If the issue persists, repeat step 1 for at least two more times.
-
If the issue persists after repeating step 1, it is recommended to allow the printer to sit idle and connected to a power outlet for at least 12 hours.
-
If the print or image quality does not improve after performing the above steps, please contact HP customer support.
note:
The issue might not be related to a printer powered off for an extended period of time.
HP PageWide Pro MFP 772, 777 series and HP PageWide Managed P77740, P77750, P77760 series
Make sure to follow the steps in the Basic troubleshooting section, and then follow these steps:
-
Clean the printhead.
-
From the Home screen on the product control panel, touch Support Tools.
-
Touch the Troubleshooting icon, and then select Print Quality.
-
Touch Tools, and then select Clean the Printhead.
-
Touch Continue to begin the cleaning process.
-
Allow the printer to be idle for an hour.
note:
Do not perform any jobs like copy or print during this time.
-
Print a document and determine if there are any print quality issues.
-
If the issue does not persist, it is not required to continue troubleshooting.
-
If the issue persists, repeat step 1 for at least two more times.
-
If the issue persists after repeating step 1, it is recommended to allow the printer to sit idle and connected to a power outlet for at least 12 hours.
-
If the print or image quality does not improve after performing the above steps, please contact HP customer support.
note:
The issue might not be related to a printer powered off for an extended period of time.
HP PageWide Color MFP 774, 779 series, HP PageWide Enterprise MFP 780, 785 series and HP PageWide Enterprise Color MFP E77650, E77660
Make sure to do the steps in the Basic troubleshooting section, and then follow these steps:
-
Clean the printhead.
-
From the Home screen on the product control panel, scroll and select Support Tools.
-
Open the following menus:
-
Maintenance
-
Calibration/Cleaning
-
Advanced Calibration Support
-
Touch Continue, select the Clean the Printhead option, and then select the Start button to begin the cleaning process.
-
Select the OK button after the cleaning process is completed.
-
Allow the printer to be idle for an hour.
note:
Do not perform any jobs like copy or print during this time.
-
Print a document and determine if there are any print quality issues.
-
If the issue does not persist, it is not required to continue troubleshooting.
-
If the issue persists, repeat step 1 for at least two more times.
-
If the issue persists after repeating step 1, it is recommended to allow the printer to sit idle and connected to a power outlet for at least 12 hours.
-
If the print or image quality does not improve after performing the above steps, please contact HP customer support.
note:
The issue might not be related to a printer powered off for an extended period of time.