Wrong or missing colors on an HP inkjet usually mean one color has stopped printing, and HP's quality article covers it. Print a test page from the maintenance menu and see which color is absent or weak. Clean the printhead through the three cleaning levels, and if one color stays wrong, replace that cartridge, as HP advises, since a defective HP cartridge may be under warranty. Check for non-HP or refilled cartridges, which HP says it cannot guarantee, and check the vents. Check the print settings: the color option must be on rather than grayscale, the paper type must match the paper, and the quality setting should suit the job; a photo printed on plain paper settings looks dull.
HP notes that colors can look faded or not match the original, so also compare the screen and the print, because a screen is brighter and uses a different color space. Use the correct paper: HP Advanced Photo Paper for photos and plain ColorLok paper for documents. Some printers offer color calibration or printhead alignment from the maintenance menu or app, which helps when colors look offset. On a laser, wrong colors can mean a low or wrongly installed color toner. Check that the correct cartridges sit in the correct color-coded slots.
When comparing a print with the screen, use the same file printed on the same paper type, and check the print preview. A photo that looks wrong on plain paper may be right on photo paper, so test with the right paper before changing anything else.
Differential
Likely causes of “HP printers prints the wrong colors”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A blocked color nozzle
What separates it One color is missing because a color nozzle is blocked
How to confirm Clean the printhead, and print a test page to check the colors
- 2
An empty color cartridge
What separates it The colors have the wrong hue because a color cartridge is empty
How to confirm Replace the empty color cartridge with a new one
- 3
Grayscale selected
What separates it The prints have no color because grayscale is selected
How to confirm Turn color on in the print settings, and print again
- 4
Wrong paper type
What separates it The colors look dull because the paper type is wrong
How to confirm Set the right paper type, so that the printer uses the right color profile
- 5
A non-HP cartridge
What separates it The colors look off because a non HP cartridge is in use
How to confirm Use a genuine cartridge, and check whether the colors improve
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- A test page that shows the color fault
- Which color looks wrong on the page
- The color and paper settings that you chose
- The cartridge levels that the printer shows
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedPrint a test page
ReversiblePrint a test page, and find the bad color, by looking at each block of color.
Clean the printhead
ReversibleClean the printhead, working through up to three levels, and print another test page, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check cartridges
ReversibleCheck the cartridges, meaning their levels and their type, and replace any empty ones, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check settings
ReversibleCheck the settings, making sure that color is on, and the paper type is right.
Align or calibrate
ReversibleAlign or calibrate the printer if the model offers it, from the maintenance menu, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use suitable paper
ReversibleUse suitable paper, such as ColorLok or photo paper, so the colors look right, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Replace the color cartridge
ReversibleReplace the color cartridge if the color stays wrong after cleaning, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Tank models
- Smart Tank printers use ink bottles, so check the tank levels for the missing color.
- Laser
- Color lasers use four toner cartridges.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models OfficeJet Pro 9125e, OfficeJet Pro 9015e, ENVY Inspire 7955e, ENVY 6455e, DeskJet 4155e, Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw, LaserJet Pro 4101fdw, LaserJet M234sdwe, Smart Tank 7602, Smart Tank 5101.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If one color stays wrong after cleaning, replace that cartridge
- !If several colors fail, replace the printer if it is out of warranty
- !If colors look right in the test page but not from the app, check the file and settings
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Clean printhead, smears, vents and paper.
Color printing guidance.
Cartridge error topics.
How cartridge authentication and firmware updates work.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why are my colors wrong?+
A clogged nozzle, empty cartridge or wrong settings.
How do I find the bad color?+
Print a test page, which shows each color in its own block.
Do I clean the head?+
Yes, clean the head, using up to three levels, if one color is missing.
Can grayscale be on?+
Check the color setting, since grayscale can be switched on by mistake.
Can a screen differ from print?+
Yes, a screen can differ from print, since screens use light and printers use ink.
Is there calibration?+
Some models offer calibration, so check the maintenance menu of yours.
Can a warranty apply?+
Defective HP cartridges may be covered.