How to Deal with an HP Printer Not Printing Correctly
When an HP printer starts producing faded text, streaks, missing colors, or misaligned lines, you can usually fix it with a systematic approach: check paper and cartridges, run alignment and cleaning tools, reset the driver, and verify print settings. This guide gives you a clear order of operations to restore clean output without wasting ink or time.
Check Paper and Environment First
Damp or curled paper causes smears and jams. Replace open reams with fresh, dry sheets. Use the correct size in the tray guides and choose paper that matches your job: plain paper for everyday text, matte or glossy photo paper for images. Avoid storing paper in humid rooms. If you see wrinkles or bent corners, discard those sheets—damaged paper often leads to skewed or streaked prints that look like ink problems.
Inspect Cartridges and Levels
Open the cartridge access area and make sure each cartridge is seated firmly. Remove and reseat them to clear poor electrical contact. Check ink levels in HP Smart or on the printer's display; replace low or empty cartridges. For models with tri-color cartridges, remember that one empty color can affect all output. If you use refilled or third-party cartridges, ensure the vents are open and any protective tape is removed—blocked vents stop ink flow and mimic clogs.
Run Alignment and Cleaning
From the printer's maintenance menu or HP Smart, run a Printhead Alignment after installing or reseating cartridges. Then print an Alignment Page and follow on-screen steps to scan it if prompted. Next, run a Clean Printhead or Clean Cartridges cycle. Check the Print Quality Diagnostic or Test Page to see if colors and black appear without gaps. Repeat cleaning once if needed; avoid multiple deep cleanings in a row to prevent excessive ink use.
Check Driver and Application Settings
In the print dialog, choose the correct paper type and print quality. Printing photos on plain paper settings can flood sheets, while using photo mode on plain paper can cause smears. Make sure Grayscale is off if you want color. On Windows, verify the printer is not set to Use Printer Offline and that the port points to the correct device or IP. On macOS, ensure you selected the HP driver (or HP Smart) instead of AirPrint if features are missing.
Firmware and Driver Updates
Open HP Smart or the Embedded Web Server (enter the printer's IP in a browser) and check for firmware updates. Updates often improve color management and clog detection. On Windows, reinstall the full HP software suite if prints stay incorrect—generic drivers can omit color profiles. On macOS, remove and re-add the printer using the HP driver from HP Smart or Apple Software Update.
Fix Streaks or Missing Colors
Persistent streaks typically mean the printhead needs deeper cleaning or the cartridge is failing. Run a second cleaning cycle and print a full-page block of the problem color to prime the nozzles. If the issue remains, replace the suspect cartridge. For models with integrated heads (common in DeskJet and ENVY), the head is part of the cartridge, so swapping it resolves most streaks. For OfficeJet and PageWide models with separate heads, consult HP for head replacement steps.
Correct Faded Black Text
Make sure EconoMode or Draft is not selected in the driver. Use genuine or high-quality compatible black ink; poor ink often produces pale text. Run a Printhead Cleaning and then print several pages of dense black text to re-prime. If the black cartridge is new but still faint, reseat it and confirm the vent is open.
Handle Smudges and Smears
Smudging usually comes from too much ink or slow drying. Choose the correct paper type; glossy photo settings on plain paper lay down excess ink. Ensure the output tray is extended so pages don't rub against the body. Let photo prints dry for several minutes before stacking. Clean the paper path if you see repeating marks—some models have a Clean Paper Feed or Clean Smear option in maintenance menus.
Align Duplex and Borderless Jobs
If duplex pages don't line up, verify you're using supported paper weights for two-sided printing and that guides are snug. In the driver, enable Automatic Two-Sided Printing and choose the correct binding edge. For borderless photos, select the exact paper size and borderless option; mis-matched sizes cause clipping and banding at the edges.
Network vs. USB Test
If prints look wrong or stop mid-page over Wi-Fi, try a USB connection to isolate network issues. If USB prints correctly, reconnect to Wi-Fi using HP Smart and reserve the printer's IP in your router. If both USB and Wi-Fi prints are flawed, focus on cartridges, alignment, and cleaning—hardware is the more likely culprit.
Paper Path Cleaning
Some HP models include a Clean Paper Path option. Run it if you hear grinding or see repeating marks. If not available, gently wipe rollers with a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with water. Remove any small paper scraps from inside the tray and output path. Reload fresh paper and test again.
Quick Recovery Checklist
- Use dry, correct paper and set guides snugly.
- Reseat cartridges, check vents, and replace low or failing ones.
- Run alignment, then clean the printhead and review a diagnostic page.
- Set the right media type and quality; disable draft or grayscale if unwanted.
- Update firmware and reinstall the HP driver if needed.
- Test via USB to separate network glitches from hardware issues.
Work through these steps and most HP printers will return to sharp, accurate output. Keep this page nearby for the next time prints fade, smear, or misalign so you can recover quickly without replacing the printer.