Why Is My Printer Not Printing In Color? 8 Easy Fixes September 2025

Your printer suddenly stopped printing in color, and you need those colorful documents right now. Don’t worry – in most cases, the fix is simpler than you think. The most common reason printers stop printing color is incorrect grayscale settings, which you can fix in under a minute by checking your print preferences and making sure “Color” is selected instead of “Black and White” or “Grayscale.”

Whether you own an HP, Canon, Epson, or any other printer brand, this guide will walk you through every possible solution. We’ll start with the quickest fixes that work 80% of the time, then move to more advanced solutions if needed. By the end, your printer will be producing vibrant colors again.

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

Before diving deep, try these fast fixes that solve most color printing problems:

• Check if grayscale or black-and-white mode is accidentally turned on
• Verify all color ink cartridges have ink
• Run your printer’s automatic cleaning cycle
• Restart both your printer and computer
• Make sure you’re using the right paper setting

If these don’t work, keep reading for detailed solutions.

1. Check Your Print Settings (The #1 Fix)

This simple oversight causes most color printing failures. Your printer might be set to print in grayscale without you realizing it.

For Windows Users:

1. Click File → Print in any program
2. Select Printer Properties or Preferences
3. Look for these settings:
   • Color Mode: Make sure “Color” is selected
   • Print in Grayscale: This should be unchecked
   • Black & White: This should NOT be selected
4. Click Apply and OK
5. Try printing again

For Mac Users:

1. Click File → Print
2. If you don’t see color options, click Show Details
3. Find the dropdown menu (usually says “Copies & Pages”)
4. Select Color Matching or Quality & Media
5. Uncheck any “Black & White” or “Grayscale” options
6. Click Print

Pro Tip: Some Mac users report there’s no color checkbox at all. In this case, just uncheck the black and white option – this automatically enables color printing.

2. Verify Your Ink or Toner Levels

Empty or low ink cartridges are the second most common culprit when your printer will not print color. Even if one color is low, it can affect all color printing.

How to Check Ink Levels:

From Your Printer:

• Look for an ink icon on your printer’s display
• Navigate to “Setup” or “Tools”
• Select “Ink Levels” or “Cartridge Information”

From Your Computer:

• Windows: Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Right-click your printer → Printing Preferences → Maintenance tab
• Mac: System Preferences → Printers & Scanners → Select your printer → Options & Supplies → Supply Levels

What to Look For:

• Any cartridge showing less than 10% needs replacement
• Check ALL color cartridges (cyan, magenta, yellow)
• Some printers need black ink to print colors, too

Important Notes About Cartridges:

• Always remove protective tape from new cartridges
• Shake cartridges gently before installing
• Use genuine cartridges when possible for best results

3. Run Printhead Cleaning (For Inkjet Printers)

If you haven’t used your printer in a while, the printheads might be clogged. This is especially common with Epson printers when colors are not printing correctly.

Automatic Cleaning Process:

1. Go to your printer’s maintenance menu
2. Select “Clean Printhead” or “Deep Cleaning”
3. Choose “All Colors” when prompted
4. Let the process complete (takes 2-5 minutes)
5. Print a test page
6. Repeat if needed (maximum 3 times)

Warning: Cleaning uses a lot of ink. Don’t run it more than 3 times in a row.

When to Try Manual Cleaning:

If automatic cleaning doesn’t work after 3 attempts, you might have severely clogged nozzles. However, manual cleaning is risky and can damage your printer. Consider professional service instead.

4. Update or Reinstall Your Printer Driver

Outdated or corrupted drivers often cause color printing failures, especially after Windows updates. This is a common issue when HP printers are not printing in color on Windows 10 or 11.

How to Update Your Driver:

Automatic Update:

1. Go to Device Manager (Windows) or System Information (Mac)
2. Find your printer under “Printers”
3. Right-click and select “Update Driver”
4. Choose “Search automatically”

Manual Update (Recommended):

1. Visit your printer manufacturer’s website
2. Search for your exact printer model
3. Download the latest driver for your operating system
4. Uninstall the old driver first
5. Install the new driver
6. Restart your computer

Important: Some users report color printing problems specifically after upgrading to Windows 11. The solution is to completely remove all printer software and reinstall fresh drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

5. Check Paper Type Settings

Believe it or not, wrong paper settings can prevent color printing. Some printers limit color based on paper type to save ink.

Common Paper Setting Issues:

• Plain Paper: Should allow color printing
• Draft Mode: Often forces black and white
• Economy Mode: May disable color
• Glossy Photo: Always allows color

The Glossy Paper Trick: Many users report their printer only prints color when set to “Glossy Paper.” While this works, it uses more ink and prints more slowly. To fix the root cause:

1. Change to Glossy Paper and print
2. Then run a printhead cleaning
3. Switch back to Plain Paper
4. The color should now work normally

6. Software Conflicts and Compatibility Issues

Third-party programs can interfere with color printing. This explains why your printer won’t print in color from certain applications.

Common Problematic Software:

• PDF readers (especially older versions)
• Office 365 applications
• Photo editing software
• Web browsers

How to Test for Software Conflicts:

1. Try printing from a different program
2. Print a test page directly from printer settings
3. If the test page has color but your documents don’t, it’s a software issue

Solutions:

• Update the problematic software
• Print from a different program
• Use the “Print as Image” option in PDFs
• Check application-specific color settings

7. Operating System Specific Fixes

Different operating systems have unique color printing issues. Here’s how to fix them.

Windows 10/11 Color Printing Issues:

Problem: No color option appears in the print dialog Solution:

1. Remove printer from Devices and Printers
2. Restart computer
3. Add printer again using “Add a printer” wizard
4. Choose the manufacturer’s driver, not the generic one

Mac Color Printing Problems:

Problem: Color option missing or grayed out Solution:

1. System Preferences → Printers & Scanners
2. Delete the printer
3. Re-add it while holding the Option key
4. This forces Mac to reload all driver options

Office 365 Specific Issues:

Some users can’t find color options in Word or Excel:

1. File → Options → Display
2. Check “Print background colors and images”
3. In Page Setup → Paper → Print Options
4. Ensure color printing isn’t disabled

8. Hardware Problems and Physical Damage

If software solutions don’t work, you might have hardware issues.

Signs of Hardware Problems:

• Leaking ink cartridges
• Damaged printhead
• Broken color sensors
• Faulty circuit board

What You Can Check:

• Look for ink spills inside the printer
• Check if cartridges are seated properly
• Ensure all doors and covers close completely
• Look for error lights or messages

When to Seek Professional Help?

If you’ve tried everything and colors still won’t print, it’s time for professional repair. The cost might exceed the printer’s value, so consider replacement for older models.

Brand-Specific Troubleshooting

HP Printer Not Printing in Color:

HP printers have unique quirks:

• Run “Print Quality Diagnostic Report” from HP Smart app
• Use HP Print and Scan Doctor tool (free download)
• Check if “HP Instant Ink” subscription is active
• Some HP models need all cartridges full, even to print one color

Epson Not Printing Color Correctly:

Epson printers colors not printing correctly often means clogged nozzles:

• Run “Power Ink Flushing” for severe clogs
• Check for air bubbles in ink tubes (EcoTank models)
• Don’t overfill ink tanks
• Print something weekly to prevent clogs

Canon Color Printing Issues:

Canon printers have different cleaning options:

• Try “Deep Cleaning” instead of regular cleaning
• Check if “Quiet Mode” is limiting color
• Update firmware through Canon’s website
• Some models need genuine Canon cartridges for color

Prevention Tips

Keep your printer printing in color with these habits:

1. Print weekly – Even a single color page prevents clogs
2. Use quality ink – Cheap third-party ink causes more problems
3. Keep drivers updated – Check monthly for updates
4. Store properly – Keep printer covered when not in use
5. Clean regularly – Monthly maintenance prevents major issues

Cost-Saving Tips

Color printing doesn’t have to break the bank:

• Set default to black and white, choose color only when needed
• Use draft mode for internal documents
• Buy high-yield cartridges for better value
• Consider ink subscription services
• Print preview to avoid waste

Environmental Considerations

Reduce your environmental impact:

• Recycle empty cartridges at office stores
• Choose refillable EcoTank-style printers
• Print double-sided when possible
• Use digital documents when you can
• Buy recycled paper

Advanced Troubleshooting

If basic fixes fail, try these advanced solutions:

Registry Fix (Windows – Advanced Users Only):

1. Press Windows+R, type “regedit”
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\Settings
3. Look for entries forcing monochrome
4. Delete suspicious entries (backup first!)

Terminal Commands (Mac):

1. Open Terminal
2. Type: sudo lpadmin -p PrinterName -o ColorModel=Color
3. Replace “PrinterName” with your printer’s name
4. Enter password and restart

When Nothing Works?

If you’ve tried everything and still wonder why is my printer not printing in color, consider these final options:

1. Factory Reset: Most printers have a reset option in settings
2. Different Computer: Test on another device to isolate the issue
3. Professional Repair: Get a quote from authorized service
4. Replacement: Sometimes a new printer costs less than repair

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Color printing problems are frustrating, but they’re usually simple to fix. Start with checking your print settings – this solves most issues in seconds. If that doesn’t work, verify your ink levels and run a cleaning cycle.

Remember these key points:

• Grayscale settings are the #1 culprit
• Regular maintenance prevents most problems
• Updated drivers ensure compatibility
• When wondering why won’t my printer print in color, work through solutions systematically

Most importantly, don’t give up too quickly. Even stubborn color printing problems usually have solutions. Work through this guide step by step, and you’ll likely find the fix that works for your specific situation.