Hi @ajcarbone,
Welcome to the HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.
Thanks for sharing the details. I understand how frustrating it can be when your printer suddenly stops printing black, especially when the color inks are working fine. Since your HP Smart Tank 7602 All-in-One was purchased recently (February), let's walk through some focused steps to resolve the black ink issue.
1. Check Ink Levels & Tubes
- Make sure the black ink tank is filled sufficiently and not below the minimum line.
- Look at the black ink line leading to the printhead — if there are visible air bubbles or gaps, it may affect printing.
2. Run Printhead Cleaning (Multiple Times If Needed)
- On the printer:
- Tap the gear icon (Settings).
- Go to Printer Maintenance > Clean Printhead.
- Perform the cleaning, then print a diagnostic page.
- If no improvement, repeat the cleaning up to 3 times, waiting 30 seconds between each.
3. Print Quality Diagnostic
- From the HP Smart App or the printer's control panel, print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page.
- Check if the black grid or text is faint, streaked, or missing.
4. Check the Printhead Assembly
- If you recently refilled ink or opened the printhead access area:
- Ensure the black printhead is fully seated and the latch is securely closed.
- You can gently remove and reinsert the black printhead.
5. Try a Printhead Flush (Advanced)
- Go to Printer Maintenance > Printhead Cleaning > Deep Cleaning or similar (may vary).
- If the printer has a printhead flush option, try it as a last resort.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
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VikramTheGreat
HP Support