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If your HP Smart Tank 7605 is refusing to print black ink even after trying the basic troubleshooting steps, don’t worry—you can try a few more advanced solutions to fix the problem.
First, it’s a good idea to print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page directly from your printer’s control panel. To do this, go to Setup, then Maintenance, and select Print Quality Report. If the section for black ink is blank, it means ink isn’t reaching the printhead or the nozzles might be blocked. If the lines are faint or broken, there could be a partial clog or an air bubble in the ink line causing the issue.
Next, check the ink system itself. Sometimes, even with enough ink in the tank, airlocks can develop that block ink flow. Make sure the black ink tank vent plug is open. Then, from your control panel, go to Setup, Maintenance, and choose Restore Ink System, followed by Prime Ink System. This process will push ink through the printhead and help clear air bubbles. After priming, run a printhead cleaning cycle and try printing again.
If priming doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to clean the printhead manually. Power off the printer and unplug it to unlock the carriage. Carefully slide the carriage to the center. Remove the black printhead and gently clean the nozzle area with a lint-free cloth dampened with warm distilled water—avoid using alcohol or tap water, as these can damage the nozzles. Let the printhead dry completely, then reinstall it, reconnect the power, and run another cleaning cycle.
To rule out a software problem, try printing a color document—such as text in blue. If color prints fine but black does not, then the problem is likely with the printhead or ink channel, not your drivers or firmware.
If none of these steps work, the next option is to replace the black printhead. Sometimes, airlocks or electrical damage can make the printhead stop working properly even if no error shows. Replacing it is straightforward, and after doing so, run Setup > Maintenance > Align Printheads and Clean Printheads to ensure everything is properly calibrated. This should restore your ability to print black ink.
In summary, the common causes for black print issues are airlocks, clogged nozzles, or a faulty printhead. Prime the ink system for airlocks, clean the nozzles manually for clogs, or replace the printhead if necessary. If you’ve tried all these steps and still have problems, replacing the printhead is often the best solution.
Once you’ve tried priming the ink system or a manual cleaning, you’ll likely get your smart tank printer printing in black again.
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