How to fix printer not printing color correctly

The printer’s not printing color quite accurately. The red looks more like orange, while the other colors are not exactly what they should be. Printers have a knack for being fine one day, and totally acting up the next. If you’re facing this problem, here are a few tips on how to fix printer not printing color correctly.

1) Unselect the Grayscale setting

The grayscale setting essentially turns your printer into Leonardo da Vinci. It takes on a mind of its own, combining mainstream colors with black to yield new combinations. This can cause printer color issues. To disable the Grayscale setting, do this:

  • Open up any Word file
  • Click the File Tab at the top of the document
  • Click “Print” in the subsequent document side menu then “Properties”
  • From the Properties Dialogue tab, click the “Features” tab
  • At the bottom, you should see two options “print in color” and “print in grayscale”
  • Select the “Print in color” option (see image for reference)

2) Replace ink cartridge with an OEM

In the world of printers, there are two types of ink cartridges. The first is a compatible cartridge that a third party makes, which we also call an “unbranded cartridge.” The other type is a genuine or Original Equipment Manufacturer cartridge. Some compatible cartridge brands are not quite up to the same quality as an OEM. Hence, why your printer may not be printing correctly and may experience problems such as faded colors. Replacing your current ink cartridge with an OEM from your manufacturer’s website might just do the trick.

3) Clean your printer’s print heads

Over time, the print heads will get dusty from dried ink and debris, causing color problems. You’ll need to clean out the printer heads as well as your ink cartridges, and you may just crack how to fix printer not printing color correctly. You’ll need to open the access panel to get to your print heads, then wipe them down with an earbud or lint cloth as shown in the image above. A solution of isopropyl alcohol and water in a 1:1 ratio is highly ideal. Before you do though, confirm if your printer allows you to clean your print head via its software. For Windows, you can perform a self-clean this way:

  • Head over to the “Printers & Scanners” settings menu
  • Click Printer Properties > Maintenance > Clean Heads
  • Click “OK” then heed the prompts.

4) Check ink levels

For some printers, when ink levels are really low, the printer will outrightly stop printing color. So while you may not just be out of ink just yet, operating at a low level could be the reason for your trouble. To check the ink levels on your printer, do this:

  • In your Windows search box, type “Printers & Scanners”  and click on the option
  • From the list, identify your printer then select Properties> View Print queue
  • Make your way to the “Ink Levels” section
  • Refill any color tank that is running low.

Keep in mind that ink levels displayed on your PC might not be very accurate to what’s on the ground. Therefore, you may need to manually inspect the ink tank or cartridge.

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