How To Print With Only Color Ink When Black Ink Is Empty (2026)

If your printer says the black cartridge is empty, you may still be able to print with the color cartridge alone, but only on some printers.

Most HP inkjets that use one black and one tri-color cartridge can do it, while printers with separate ink tanks usually cannot.

This guide shows which type you have, the exact steps for HP, and what Epson and Canon do instead, in about 10 minutes.

Can you print with only color ink when black is empty?

It depends on how your printer is built, so check the table before you pull out any cartridge.

Why do some printers allow it and others do not?

HP describes two designs: integrated printhead cartridges and separate individual ink cartridges.

With the first design, the printhead sits on the cartridge, so a missing color or black cartridge does not leave the printhead dry.

With the second design, ink also cools the printhead, and running it dry can permanently damage it, so most of those printers refuse to print.

Step 1: Find out which design you have

Open the cartridge door and look at what is inside.

• Two cartridges, one black and one tri-color: usually the integrated printhead design.
• Four or more small tanks, or ink bottles: usually the separate-ink design.

If you are unsure, search your exact model number plus “single cartridge mode” on the maker’s support site.

Step 2: Turn on single-cartridge mode on an HP printer

On HP printers that support it, single-cartridge mode starts when you remove the empty cartridge.

1. Open the cartridge access door and wait for the carriage to stop moving.
2. Remove the empty black cartridge.
3. Close the door and select OK if a single-cartridge message appears.
4. Send the print job from your computer.

An HP community expert confirms that the message appears when one cartridge is removed from a two-cartridge setup.

What will the printout look like?

Print quality changes in this mode, and HP says so in its own printer guides.

Treat the output as good enough for drafts, forms and boarding passes, not for final documents.

Step 3: Pick grayscale before you print

In the print dialog, open Printer Properties or Preferences, then look for the color or grayscale option.

Exact wording differs by driver and model, so use the setting that says grayscale or black and white.

With only the color cartridge, the printer builds black text from the color inks, which is why it looks gray.

Step 4: Fix a printer that will not enter the mode

If the message appears with both cartridges installed, check each one for leftover protective tape.

HP’s expert advice also says to clean the cartridge contacts if the printer keeps reporting a problem.

If the printer still refuses, HP Support suggests a power drain and a firmware update.

1. Remove the cartridges and unplug the printer from the wall, not a surge protector.
2. Hold the printer’s power button for about 15 seconds.
3. Wait about 30 seconds, plug the printer back into the wall, and reinsert the cartridges.
4. Install the latest firmware from HP’s site.

HP also notes that not every printer supports single-cartridge mode, so this may be a model limit.

What if your printer uses separate ink cartridges?

On these printers, a fully empty cartridge normally blocks printing until you replace it.

Also replace nearly empty cartridges at the same time, since the priming cycle after a swap uses ink from the others.

Epson and Canon: what they actually do

Epson’s “Black Print Mode” works in the opposite direction, letting you print in black for a limited time when a color cartridge is empty.

Epson’s page for the WorkForce WF-2950 says the printer stops once any cartridge is expended, even for black-only jobs.

On Canon, a Canon representative wrote that you can print black when color runs out but does not recommend it.

That Canon reply does not describe a color-only route, so contact Canon support for your model.

What are the risks of printing on one cartridge?

• Printhead wear: without ink, a printhead can overheat or clog, which may lead to costly repairs.
• Print defects: expect streaks, faded text or missing colors.
• Not for daily use: use this only until the new cartridge arrives.

An HP Community volunteer likewise advises replacing the missing cartridge with a new HP cartridge instead of running long on one.

What should you do if you need clean black text?

Replace the cartridge, using the exact model number printed on the empty one or listed in your printer’s manual.

If you replace cartridges often, a tank-style printer may cost less to run, and we compare current options in our ink tank printer roundup.

If your printer will not print at all after the swap, see our Brother printer won’t print checklist or the home printer guide.

Official sources: HP Community knowledge base and Epson FAQ.