Experiencing issues with black ink not printing on your HP Photosmart 6520? It’s a common frustration, and while your first thought might be to change ink cartridges, the problem could stem from other factors. This guide provides troubleshooting steps to help you restore black ink printing and potentially avoid unnecessary ink cartridge replacements.
First, it’s important to understand how your printer operates. Even when printing in black, your HP Photosmart 6520 might use a combination of color inks for diagnostic pages to ensure readability even if black ink is not functioning correctly. A quick workaround to print black text when facing this issue is to select glossy photo paper as your media type in print settings. This setting often forces the printer to use color inks to simulate black, providing a temporary solution.
If standard troubleshooting hasn’t resolved the issue, let’s delve into more specific checks. Begin by removing the black ink cartridge and inspecting it closely. Turn the cartridge upside down and examine the ink port area. You’ll notice four small orange plastic spots, remnants from the protective cap. Ensure these are perfectly flush with the cartridge body. If any of these plastic nubs protrude, they can prevent the cartridge from seating correctly and thus hinder ink flow. If you find any protruding nubs, carefully trim them flush with a sharp blade.
Before re-installing the cartridge, try a simple yet effective trick. Dribble a few drops of hot water – about four should suffice – directly into the ink port within the printer itself. Similarly, add two drops of hot water into the ink port on the black ink cartridge. This can help dissolve any dried ink that might be clogging the nozzles. After this, firmly snap the cartridge back into its designated slot.
Another helpful technique is to manually clean the printhead. This process involves accessing the printhead and gently cleaning the ink nozzles. Detailed instructions for manually cleaning the printhead can usually be found in your printer’s manual or on HP’s support website by searching for “manually clean printhead hp photosmart 6520”. This can dislodge stubborn clogs that automatic cleaning cycles might miss.
In some instances, simply allowing the printer to rest overnight after performing cleaning cycles can be beneficial. This downtime can give the ink time to redistribute and potentially resolve minor clogs.
If, after trying all these steps, your HP Photosmart 6520 still refuses to print black ink, it unfortunately indicates a more significant issue. In such cases, your printer may require professional repair or even replacement. Contact HP support or a qualified printer technician to explore your repair options or consider purchasing a new printer if repair is not feasible.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can systematically address the common causes of black ink printing problems on your HP Photosmart 6520 before assuming you need to change ink cartridges, potentially saving you time and money.
