Why Is My Printer Not Printing in Colour?

Whether you’re printing teambuilding event photos or preparing marketing materials, dealing with a printer not printing colour can quickly become a headache. There are several reasons this might be happening—and plenty of ways to fix it. Here at the Printer Repair Centre, we’ve seen these issues time and time again, and we’re here to help you troubleshoot the problem effectively.

1. Check Your Ink Levels

Low or empty ink cartridges are one of the most common reasons a printer stops printing in colour. Even if just one colour cartridge is low, it can affect the overall print quality, leading to faded or incorrect colours. 

How to Check:

• Go to the printer settings on your computer or printer display panel.
• Look for the ink level indicator.
• Replace any empty cartridges with fresh ones.

2. Verify That Colour Printing Is Enabled

Sometimes, the issue is as simple as your printer settings being set to grayscale or black-and-white printing. This can happen if the setting was accidentally changed or a recent print job required monochrome output.

How to Fix It:

• Go to your print settings.
• Look for an option labelled “Print in grayscale” or “Black & White.”
• Make sure it’s unchecked.
• Click “Apply” and try printing again.

3. Perform a Nozzle Check and Printhead Cleaning

If your printer’s ink levels are fine and colour printing is enabled, clogged nozzles could be the culprit. Over time, dried ink or dust can block the tiny nozzles that spray the ink onto paper, causing missing colours or faded prints.

How to Resolve It:

• Run a Nozzle Check through your printer’s maintenance settings.
• If the test print is incomplete or missing colours, initiate a Printhead Cleaning.
• After cleaning, print another test page to see if you’ve already resolved the issue.

Note that some printers offer multiple levels of cleaning. If the issue persists, a deep clean may help, but use it sparingly as it consumes a lot of ink. You can also manually clean a printhead if you’re comfortable with this task; otherwise, you might have to call the pros. 

4. Check for Clogged or Dried-Out Ink Cartridges

Do you have an inkjet printer in the office? If it’s been sitting idle for a while, the ink cartridges could dry out, blocking the flow and impacting print quality. This is something inkjet printers are especially prone to.

How to Fix It:

• Remove the ink cartridges and inspect the nozzles for dried ink.
• Use a lint-free cloth or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean the nozzles.
• Reinstall the cartridges and print a test page.

5. Use Genuine Ink Cartridges

Not all third-party ink cartridges are created equal. While some work perfectly fine, others may have compatibility issues, affecting colour output.

Why This Matters:

• Generic ink cartridges may not distribute ink properly.
• Some third-party cartridges are not recognised by printers, leading to printing errors.
• Printer manufacturers often optimise their printers for use with their brand’s ink.

6. Align the Printhead

Printhead misalignment can cause colours to print unevenly or not at all. This is particularly common after installing a new cartridge or moving the printer.

How to Resolve It:

• Access the printer’s maintenance settings.
• Select Printhead Alignment and follow the on-screen instructions.
• Print a test page to check if the alignment improved.

7. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause multiple printing problems, including missing colours.

How to Fix It:

• Visit the manufacturer’s website and check for driver updates.
• Download and install the latest version.
• If the problem persists, uninstall the printer driver completely and reinstall it.

For Windows users, you can also try updating the driver through Device Manager:

• Open Device Manager > Printers > Right-click your printer > Update driver.

8. Use the Right Paper

The type of paper you use can affect how ink adheres to the surface. Some coated or glossy papers require special print settings to produce accurate colours.

How to Fix It:

• Ensure your printer settings match the paper type you’re using.
• If printing on glossy or specialty paper, select the correct paper type in the settings.

9. Reset Your Printer

If none of the above fixes work, a factory reset may be necessary. Resetting the printer restores default settings, which can help resolve software-related issues.

How to Reset:

• Refer to your printer’s manual for specific reset instructions.
• Usually, this involves navigating to Settings > Reset to Factory Defaults.
• After resetting, reconfigure your printer and try printing in colour again.

10. Get Professional Help If Needed

Have you tried everything, and your printer still won’t print in colour? It might be time to call in the pros. Issues like a failing printhead or internal problems might need expert repair or replacement.

Signs your printer needs professional repair:

• Printhead cleaning doesn’t fix colour issues.
• You hear unusual noises during printing.
• The printer frequently displays error messages.
• Colour output remains blank despite full ink cartridges.
• Ink smears or streaks appear on printed pages.
• The printer fails to recognise or communicate with your computer.
• There’s leaking ink or toner around the cartridges.
• The printer is slow to respond or freezes during use.

Printing Issues with Specific Colours

In case you have trouble printing specific colours, there could be several factors at play affecting how the inks are mixed and applied.

Inkjet printers, for example, rely on precise amounts and proportions of ink to create different colours, layering tiny dots onto the paper. The sophisticated computer chips inside your printer convert electronic image data into detailed instructions for the printhead, ensuring accurate colour reproduction. If any stage of this process is disrupted, your prints might appear faded or missing colours.

Why Is My Printer Not Printing Red?

Red is made by mixing magenta and yellow inks. If red isn’t printing right, check if those cartridges have enough ink. If you’re using an inkjet printer, try running the cleaning cycle several times. 

Alternatively, look for a “Deep Clean” option in your printer’s settings to give the printhead a thorough clean.

How to Fix Colour Printing in Specific Printer Brands

In addition to basic troubleshooting, each brand has fixes to restore colour printing. Let’s explore some simple, brand-specific fixes for these popular printers.

HP Printer Not Printing Colour

• Go to “Printer Properties” or “Printing Preferences” and verify that the “Print in Grayscale” option is turned off.
• Visit the HP Support website, find your printer model, and download the latest drivers.
• Use the HP printer’s built-in cleaning utility, which you can find in the “Tools” or “Maintenance” menu on the printer or in the printer software.

Epson Printer Not Printing Colour

• Run a nozzle check on your Epson printer. If clogs are detected, use the head cleaning utility to clear them.
• Enable the “Print in Colour” option in the print settings. Also, check that the colour profile matches the document type you’re printing.
• Ensure your printer firmware and drivers are up-to-date by visiting the Epson website and downloading the latest versions.
• Use the alignment utility in your Epson printer’s settings to optimise performance.

Lexmark Printer Not Printing Colour

• Most Lexmark printers have a diagnostics mode to identify and fix colour printing issues. Access this through the printer’s menu or software.
• Visit the Lexmark website to download the latest drivers and firmware updates for your printer.
• Lexmark provides specific tools to manage colour output efficiently. Ensure these are updated to the latest version for optimal performance.

Where to Get Expert Help for Printer Colour Problems

If you’ve tried everything, and your printer still won’t print in colour, the Printer Repair Centre is here to help. We understand how crucial vibrant, accurate prints are for your work. Whether it’s due to clogged printheads, incorrect settings, or a more technical issue, our expert team is ready to help diagnose and fix the problem. From routine maintenance to emergency repairs, we’ll ensure your printer is back to producing high-quality colour prints.

Contact us today for fast, reliable solutions to keep your creative projects on track!