Frustrating Printing Problems: No Color, Slow Speeds, and Total Failure
One of the most vexing issues for HP ENVY 4526 users is the printer’s inability to print correctly. Many report a sudden loss of color printing capability, with documents and images only printing in black and white or not printing certain colors. This can happen even when brand new, genuine HP ink cartridges are installed and printer settings appear correct. Another common complaint is excessively slow printing speeds. Users feel that the printer takes an inordinate amount of time to complete a print job, suggesting the bottleneck might be internal to the printer itself rather than the computer sending the job. Beyond specific issues like color or speed, general printing failures are also frequent; the printer might simply stop printing altogether or show as being offline.
When faced with printing problems, a fundamental diagnostic step is to print a test page for printing. A printable test page can help determine if the issue lies with the printer hardware, ink cartridges, or the computer’s connection and software. If the print test page comes out correctly, the problem is likely with the document, application, or computer settings; if it fails or has errors, it points to the printer or its software/drivers.
_Source:_ HP envy 4526 not printing any images or any color at all. – HP Support Community – 7705910, Envy 4526 all in one printer printing really super slow – HP Support Community – 8072892, HP 4526 is a piece of **bleep**!!!!!! Now that I have got your …, HP ENVY 4526 printer is not printing in color, Common HP Envy Printer Issues and How to Fix Them, Troubleshooting Common HP Envy Printer Issues: Not Printing and Offline …
Scanner Producing Black Pages
Beyond printing, the scanning function of the HP ENVY 4526 can also present issues. A notable problem reported by users is the scanner producing entirely black pages. This occurs when performing scanning or copying tasks, and it seems to affect the function regardless of whether the operation is initiated from a connected computer or directly from the printer’s control panel. This points to a potential hardware issue with the scanning mechanism itself.
_Source:_ HP Envy 4526 scanner comes back with fully black pages.
Error Codes and Connectivity Challenges
Users of the HP ENVY 4526 frequently encounter cryptic error codes displayed on the printer’s screen. One specific code mentioned is “oxoof81d42”. These error codes often indicate underlying problems, and “oxoof81d42” has been linked to Wi-Fi connectivity issues. Some users find that after resetting the printer, it may work for one print job before the error code reappears and prevents further operation. General connectivity problems, especially with wireless networks, are a common reason for the printer to become unresponsive, appear offline on a computer or device, or fail to complete tasks sent to it.
_Source:_ Fix HP ENVY 4526 Error oxoof81d42 – WiFi Issues?, Troubleshooting Common HP Envy Printer Issues: Not Printing and Offline …, Solution to fix HP Envy 4526 Printer Problems (Solved)
Impact of Drivers and Paper Handling Issues
Outdated or corrupt printer drivers are a significant, yet often overlooked, cause of printing problems, including the inability to print correctly or print in color. Reinstalling the printer driver is a recommended troubleshooting step to ensure the printer software is functioning properly and communicating correctly with the computer. Another physical issue users encounter is related to paper handling. The HP ENVY 4526 may display an ‘Out of Paper’ error even when there is paper loaded in the input tray. This can be caused by issues with the paper itself or the printer’s paper pickup rollers. Troubleshooting for this includes verifying the paper is loaded correctly and cleaning the paper tray rollers.
_Source:_ Fixed HP Envy 4520 Not Printing Color/Black or Prints Blank Pages – MiniTool, HP ENVY 4520 – ‘Out of Paper’ Displays, Printer Does Not …, Solution to fix HP Envy 4526 Printer Problems (Solved)