Yoodley is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
In today’s digital world, printers are an essential tool for both personal and professional usage. Whether you want to print documents for work, school assignments, or personal use, having access to a printer certainly makes your life much easier.
However, despite so much usefulness, they can also be a source of frustration when they don’t work as expected. One of the most common issues you might encounter with your printer is when it has a sufficient amount of ink but isn’t printing.
Such an issue can occur due to several reasons, ranging from clogged print heads to outdated printer drivers. Regardless, it can be a frustrating experience when you need to print a document urgently, and your printer just won’t cooperate at all.
That’s why, in this blog post, we’ll be exploring some common reasons why your printer isn’t printing even when it has ink and provide some practical solutions to get rid of the issue. So, if you’re also struggling with this issue, keep reading.
Reasons Why Your Printer Has Ink but Won’t Print
There can be various reasons why your printer may have ink but isn’t able to print. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most common causes of this issue:
Blocked Printhead
When you don’t use the ink for an extended period, it may dry up and clog the printhead. It’s quite a common issue with printers that aren’t used frequently. The dried ink can harden and block the nozzles on the printhead, which makes it difficult or impossible for the ink to flow through.
In this case, your printer won’t be able to print at all, or even if it does, the quality will be extremely poor. It may even show an error message indicating that the printhead is clogged. Cleaning the printhead with a damp cloth may help you get rid of the issue.
Misaligned Cartridges
If the cartridges on your printer are not installed correctly, or if they’re not properly aligned within the printer, it won’t be able to detect the ink levels, even if the cartridges are full. This may cause the printer to have ink but not print properly.
That’s because the ink isn’t able to distribute evenly across the page, which results in a distorted or incomplete image. Moreover, if the cartridges aren’t seated properly, the ink won’t be able to flow properly, leading to printing issues.
Misaligned cartridges can be caused due to numerous factors, such as improper installation, incorrect handling, or a mechanical issue with the printer. This issue can be difficult to diagnose without professional assistance.
Low Ink Levels
If the ink levels have gone below the minimum level required for the printer to function properly, it may cause the printer to not print even when it shows that there’s ink in the cartridges. This usually occurs when your printer is used frequently, or if you’re using an older model.
With prolonged usage, the ink levels in the cartridges can drop significantly, and over time, the ink can also dry out, which may lead to clogging of the printhead or the nozzles, which can also prevent the printer from printing as stated above.
Also, keep in mind that even if your printer shows that there’s ink in the cartridges, it may not be an accurate representation of the actual ink levels. Therefore, using an ink level monitor can help you determine the actual ink levels.
Poor Data Communication
Sometimes, poor data communication between your printer and computer can also lead to the printer not printing even when it has sufficient ink in the cartridges. There can be several reasons for this issue to occur, including outdated drivers, faulty cables, or other software-related conflicts.
Since drivers are responsible for communicating with the printer and providing instructions, outdated drivers can cause issues by preventing your printer from receiving instructions from the computer. Even a damaged or loose cable can lead to poor data communication and give rise to issues.
There are also other software-related conflicts between different programs on the computer, such as the antivirus or the firewall, that can prevent your printer from receiving the instructions required to print properly.
How To Fix Your Printer That Has Ink but Won’t Print
Let’s explore some of the most effective methods that you can use to fix a printer that has ink but won’t print:
Restart Your Printer
To begin with, the first thing that you can try to fix your printer is to restart it. You can do this by simply turning off the printer, unplugging it from the power source, and then waiting for a few minutes before plugging it back and turning it on again.
This’ll help you reset the printer and clear any temporary issues that might be causing the problem.
Check The Ink Levels
You can also check the ink levels of the cartridges to find out if that’s what’s causing this issue. There are multiple ways to do this, including:
Using HP Printer Assistant (For HP Printers Only): If you’re using an HP printer, you can check the ink levels of its cartridges by using the HP Printer Assistant software. Simply launch the software and look for the ink level information under the “Estimated Ink Levels” section.
With The Printer Control Panel: A lot of printers feature a control panel that provides you insights into the ink level of your cartridges. You may consider checking your printer’s manual for instructions on how to access it and view the ink levels.
Through a Third-Party Application: There are also several third-party applications available that can help you check the ink levels of your cartridges. You can download these applications from the internet and install them on your computer.
Clean The Ink Cartridges
As stated above, clogged or dried ink cartridges can also cause the printer to not print despite having ink. To clean the cartridges, you can follow the steps given below:
- Start by removing the ink cartridges from the printer and keep them on a clean and dry surface
- Then, take a cotton swab and dip it in distilled water to gently clean the printhead of your printer’s cartridges
- Once done, use a dry, lint-free cloth to wipe away any excess water or ink
- Lastly, just allow the cartridges to dry out completely and then reinstall them on your printer
Clean The Printheads
Just like the ink cartridges, the printer heads can become clogged with dried ink too. Follow these steps to clean them:
- Start by opening the cover of your printer and then locate the printer heads
- Once you’ve located them, use a damp cloth to clean them but make sure to be careful not to touch the nozzles
- Then, use a dry cloth to wipe away the excess water or ink and then close the printer cover
Bottom Line
A printer with ink but not printing can be a frustrating issue, but it is usually solvable with some simple troubleshooting steps. By identifying the root causes of the issue and taking appropriate measures to fix them, you can get it back to printing high-quality documents and images.
