Why is only one colour missing from my prints?

That one cartridge is either empty, clogged, or very old. A cleaning cycle from the printer's menu usually clears a clog. If that does not work, the cartridge is at the end of its life and needs replacing.

Are refilled or third-party cartridges worth it?

Some are fine. Others cause exactly the kind of colour problems we see every week. For occasional home printing, good-quality third-party cartridges from a well-known brand can save money. For important prints like photos or documents, stick with the manufacturer's own cartridges.

How often should I print to keep my printer healthy?

About once a week is ideal. Inkjet printers hate sitting unused because the ink dries in the nozzles. Even printing a single coloured page now and then keeps the ink moving and prevents clogs.

Help Guides

Why is my printer printing the wrong colours?

A printer that prints green instead of blue, or washed-out pinks instead of reds, is a classic sign of an ink problem. The cause is almost always one of a handful of things.

Quick Answer

One ink cartridge is usually empty or clogged. Open your printer's ink level screen (from the printer itself or the computer software) to see which colour is low. If all colours show as full, run the print head cleaning cycle from the printer's menu. Dried ink from sitting unused is the second most common cause.

Not keen on fiddling with ink cartridges? That is fine. We handle printer colour problems in Durham Region homes every week. Give us a call.

The five most common causes

One cartridge is nearly empty
A printer mixes colours from several cartridges to make every shade on the page. If one cartridge is running low, the printer cannot mix accurately and the colours come out wrong. A red might look orange, a purple might look blue. Check the ink levels on the printer screen or in the printer software on your computer. Replace any cartridge that is under 20 percent, even if you have not been getting warnings.
Clogged print head nozzles
Inkjet printers have tiny nozzles that dry out if the printer has been sitting unused for a few weeks. A clogged nozzle blocks one colour entirely, which throws off every mix it is used in. The fix is your printer's built-in cleaning cycle, which lives under Settings or Maintenance. One cleaning is usually not enough after a long dry spell. Run two or three cycles in a row and then print a test page.
Wrong paper type selected in print settings
Most printers adjust how much ink they lay down based on the paper type (plain, glossy photo, matte). If you are printing photos on plain paper with the setting stuck on Photo Paper, the printer over-soaks the page and colours bleed and look wrong. Open the print dialog (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on Mac), click Properties or Preferences, and make sure the paper type matches what is actually in the tray.
Draft or Economy mode is on
Draft mode (sometimes called Economy, Fast, or Toner Save) uses far less ink to save money. The tradeoff is washed out, faded colours and light grey text. It is easy to leave on by accident. Open your printer's preferences on your computer and make sure Print Quality is set to Normal or Standard. Turn Draft mode off if you find it ticked.
Old or dried cartridge
A cartridge that has been in the printer for more than a year, or a replacement cartridge that sat in a drawer for a long time, may have dried out even if it still says it is full. Ink dries inside the cartridge and the sponge or print head goes hard. The only fix is a fresh cartridge, ideally from an unopened box bought within the last few months. Avoid cheap third-party cartridges from unfamiliar sellers, as quality varies a lot.

Would you rather we handled it?

We sort this out in homes across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa. One visit, flat-fee pricing.

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When to call us instead

Call us if fresh cartridges and a cleaning cycle have not fixed the colours, if you are not sure which cartridge is the problem, or if the printer is more than five years old and has been acting up for a while. We handle printer colour problems as part of our printer help service across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa.

If the printer is producing fully blank pages rather than wrong colours, our blank printer pages guide is the better starting point.

Get help today

We fix printer colour problems across Durham Region. Honest advice on whether to refill or replace.

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FAQ

Common questions about printer colour problems

Why is only one colour missing from my prints?: That one cartridge is either empty, clogged, or very old. A cleaning cycle from the printer's menu usually clears a clog. If that does not work, the cartridge is at the end of its life and needs replacing.
Are refilled or third-party cartridges worth it?: Some are fine. Others cause exactly the kind of colour problems we see every week. For occasional home printing, good-quality third-party cartridges from a well-known brand can save money. For important prints like photos or documents, stick with the manufacturer's own cartridges.
How often should I print to keep my printer healthy?: About once a week is ideal. Inkjet printers hate sitting unused because the ink dries in the nozzles. Even printing a single coloured page now and then keeps the ink moving and prevents clogs.