The color/black and white selection does not affect the display.
The color/black and white selection does not affect the display.
This isn't related to an empty cartridge or a faulty print head. It seems the search results aren't providing clear guidance on how to address the problem. When choosing to print, the Windows print settings window appears, allowing options like page selection, layout, color, black and white, and more. Selecting BnW always prints in color. I explored the printer software's advanced settings, specifically the "greyscale" option—choosing "off," "high quality greyscale," or "BnW only." If "BnW only" is selected, print preferences in the preview screen become irrelevant; everything defaults to BnW. Turning it off ensures color printing regardless of settings. We attempted resetting the printer and reinstalling the drive package, but issues persist.
Someone using an older laptop with Windows 10 Home had a different setup—using an older HP laptop with W10H. They opted to share the same machine, with the husband as admin and the wife as user. The new PC functioned normally, but the updated system didn’t. Anyone have suggestions on what might help?
Yup confirmed all those settings too. The only factor affecting changes is the HP printers own software located in the Taskbar. That’s where the checkbox for color or B/W is placed. With the other laptop, it functions properly by applying preferences right after pressing the print key and before sending to the spool.
Any time I look for this issue, it appears the results suggest I’m out of ink or that the printer can’t detect it. This isn’t true, but I can’t grasp why it doesn’t work when using OS (automatically).
Interesting points. Are there any HP Smart options available for this device?
I explored HP's "AI" section and tried a few methods, but the response didn’t mention HP Smart.
I checked the HP print driver settings and found that certain advanced options are missing.
If you need more details, installing the full feature driver from 123.hp.com/setup might help.
On the paper quality, color, or features page, you can select specific printing modes based on your needs.
Also, if you often print in black and white but use color ink, your printer uses a blend of colors to reduce grain. Some ink is also used for regular maintenance to avoid clogs and maintain print quality. You can’t skip these settings.
Black and white, Monochrome, Black Ink Only, or Grayscale: Uses only the black cartridge for black and white printing.
High Quality Grayscale: Uses all colors plus black for better black and white prints.
To save ink, choose Draft or EconoMode from Print Quality, Output Quality, or Media menu.
The status/config matches the printed version on the test page you can print.
I am familiar with this problem from my previous Lexmark laser printer, and my current Brother model also has this issue. In both instances, selecting to print only black toner—often in greyscale or just black and white—is handled through the printer's configuration tool. I suspect Windows lacks the capability to transmit the correct signals for all available printers, so it delegates that responsibility to the manufacturer. The decision is managed by the driver software associated with each printer. On Windows, I usually opt for the basic Print screen option to access the printer’s custom settings instead of depending solely on Windows. This helps me prevent unnecessary colour ink usage on simple documents.
A nice feature I received with my latest Brother printer is that their tool excels at this task. I’ve utilized it to configure various printing profiles and select the optimal one for each job. A saved profile holds details such as resolution, colour mode, side count, etc. On a convenient screen, I can adjust paper type, size, and orientation. This handy utility (provided by the printer manufacturer) lets me fine-tune every print job.