Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNot always. An HP inkjet printer may print with one cartridge installed, but the answer depends on the exact printer model and cartridge family. Some two-cartridge models support a single-cartridge mode after you remove the empty cartridge and confirm the on-screen message. Other HP cartridge families require usable ink in every cartridge and provide no bypass.
Before removing a cartridge or buying a replacement, identify the printer model and the cartridge number. “HP inkjet” is too broad a description to predict whether one-cartridge printing will work.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Can I print with only one ink cartridge?
In supported models, yes. HP documents two-cartridge printers that can continue printing after the empty cartridge is removed. When the printer displays a single-cartridge mode message, choose OK to continue. The result depends on which cartridge remains:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- A black cartridge by itself produces grayscale output.
- A tri-color cartridge by itself can produce color, but black areas may look lighter than normal.
HP advises continuing only while the output remains acceptable. If the printer refuses to print, its cartridge family may require ink in every cartridge, or the model may not support single-cartridge mode.
#1 Best Overall
- HP Ink Cartridges for HP printers are engineered to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- Works with these HP Printers: OfficeJet 8122e; OfficeJet Pro 8135e, 8138e, 8139e
- Cartridge yield (approx.): 500 pages black, 400 pages per color
- Trusted HP Printer Ink Cartridges for every printing need: HP 923 Ink Cartridges are perfect for everyday home, office, and small business printing needs
- HP has kept over 2,300 metric tons of plastic out of our world’s oceans to be upcycled into HP 923 color ink cartridges for HP printers and other everyday products
Why the printer model and cartridge number matter
“HP inkjet” is not one cartridge system
HP uses several cartridge families with different operating rules. Two printers that both carry an HP logo may respond differently when one cartridge is empty. Some families are designed to keep printing temporarily with one or more empty cartridges. Others use ink from every cartridge for printing and periodic servicing that helps prevent clogs and print-quality problems.
The cartridge number is therefore as important as the printer name. A statement that is correct for a DeskJet using one family may be wrong for an OfficeJet or another DeskJet using a different family. The lists below describe HP’s published groupings; they are not a substitute for checking the exact model support page.
How to find the information
- Read the model name on the printer’s front panel, control panel, or rear label.
- Open the printer software or embedded web page and view the supplies or ink information.
- Read the number printed on the cartridge or its packaging, such as 564, 932, or 63.
- Search HP Support for that exact model and cartridge number before removing a cartridge or ordering a replacement.
If you cannot identify both items, treat the answer as unknown rather than assuming that a generic black or color cartridge will fit.
Cartridge families that may print with an empty cartridge
HP says the following families may continue printing with one or more empty cartridges, although it recommends replacing empty cartridges as soon as possible to reduce the risk of printhead damage:
| Cartridge families | What HP guidance says |
|---|---|
| 178, 364, 564, 655, 862, 902–920, 934, 935 | Printing may continue with one or more empty cartridges. Replace the empty cartridge promptly; HP associates replacement with avoiding potential printhead damage. |
“May continue” is deliberate: the family-level guidance does not promise identical behavior for every printer model, firmware version, region, or error state. Use the model-specific instructions if the printer shows a different message.
Rank #2
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- Works with these HP Printers: OfficeJet 9122e; HP OfficeJet Pro 9110b, 9125e, 9128e, 9130b, 9135e; OfficeJet Pro Wide Format 9730e
- Cartridge yield (approx.): 1,450 pages black, 800 pages per color
- HP has kept over 2,300 metric tons of plastic out of our world’s oceans to be upcycled into HP Ink cartridges and other everyday products
- Trusted HP Printer Ink Cartridges for every printing need: Perfect for everyday home, office, and small business printing needs — choose HP 936 Ink Cartridges for reliable printing
Cartridge families that require ink in every cartridge
HP lists another group for which all cartridges must contain ink. The requirement supports both printing and periodic servicing intended to prevent clogs and other print-quality problems. HP says there is no bypass for this feature.
| Cartridge families | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 932, 933, 950, 951–959, 962–969 | Ink is required in all cartridges. The printer cannot bypass the requirement when one cartridge is empty or unavailable. |
For these families, removing the empty cartridge is not a workaround. Install a compatible replacement that matches the printer and cartridge number.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Two-cartridge printers: the single-cartridge procedure
The following long list covers HP two-cartridge systems that use one black cartridge and one tri-color cartridge. For these printers, HP says printing can continue with one cartridge empty after the empty unit is removed and single-cartridge mode is accepted:
21, 22, 27, 28, 46, 56–68, 61/301, 63/302, 64/303, 65/304, 74, 75, 92–98, 110, 121–125, 129–131, 134, 135, 140, 141, 300–305, 308, 336–339, 342–344, 350, 351, 650–654, 662, 664, 667, 668, 675, 678, 680, 682, 683, 703, 704, 802–805, 818, 851, 852, 855, and 901.
This list describes compatible two-cartridge behavior; it does not mean that every HP printer uses one of these cartridges. Once you have confirmed that your model belongs to this group, use this sequence:
Rank #3
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- Works with these HP Printers: DeskJet 1255, 2710e, 2720e, 2721e, 2722, 2722e, 2723e, 2724, 2725, 2732, 2742e, 2752e, 2755, 2755e, 4110e, 4120e, 4121e, 4122e, 4123e, 4130e, 4132e, 4152e, 4155e, 4158e; DeskJet Plus 4122, 4132, 4155
- Works with these HP Printers: ENVY 6010e, 6020e, 6022e, 6030e, 6032e, 6034e, 6050e, 6052e, 6055, 6055e, 6075, 6075e, 6420e, 6422e, 6430e, 6432e, 6450e, 6452e, 6455e, 6458e, 6475e; ENVY Pro 6455, 6458, 6475
- Cartridge yield (approx.): 120 pages black, 100 pages tri-color
- Trusted HP Printer Ink Cartridges for every printing need: Perfect for everyday home, office, and small business printing needs — choose HP 67 Ink Cartridges for reliable printing
- Turn on the printer and wait for the cartridge carriage to stop moving.
- Open the cartridge access door and identify the empty cartridge shown by the printer or software.
- Remove the empty cartridge. Keep the remaining cartridge installed and seated correctly.
- Close the access door and wait for the printer to display its single-cartridge mode message.
- Select OK when prompted. If no single-cartridge option appears, stop and follow the model-specific HP instructions instead of forcing the carriage or bypassing a sensor.
- Print a test page. Continue only if the contrast, color, and alignment are acceptable.
The procedure applies to a supported two-cartridge model, not automatically to a printer with three, four, or more individual cartridges.
What printing looks like with one cartridge
Black cartridge only
With only the black cartridge installed, HP’s general guidance is grayscale output. Color documents are converted to shades of gray, and any color information is lost. This mode is useful for text or forms when color is not essential, but it will not reproduce colored logos, photos, or highlighted data as color.
Tri-color cartridge only
A remaining tri-color cartridge can produce color. Black text and dark areas may appear lighter than they would with a working black cartridge because the printer is creating dark tones from the color inks. Check a sample page before relying on this mode for fine print, barcodes, or documents where strong black contrast matters.
Print quality is the stopping point
Single-cartridge printing is a temporary operating condition, not a way to obtain normal output indefinitely. Stop and replace the missing cartridge when text becomes faint, colors shift, banding appears, or the printer reports a quality problem. HP’s guidance specifically ties continued use to acceptable print quality.
Empty versus removed: why the distinction matters
An “empty” cartridge is still physically present and may be recognized by the printer. A “removed” cartridge is absent from the carriage. On supported two-cartridge models, HP’s instruction is to remove the empty cartridge and then accept single-cartridge mode. On other models, the printer may require every cartridge to be present, may refuse to initialize, or may show a replacement message without offering a bypass.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Rank #4
- Original HP Ink is engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- These cartridges work with: HP OfficeJet 9012e; HP OfficeJet Pro 9010, 9010e, 9014e, 9015, 9015e, 9016, 9018, 9018e, 9019, 9019e, 9020, 9020e, 9022e, 9025, 9025e, 9028e
- Cartridge yield (approx.): 2,000 pages black, 700 pages per color
- Up to 2x more prints with Original HP Ink vs. non-Original HP Ink
- 82% of HP ink cartridges are manufactured with recycled plastic
Do not interpret a low-ink warning as proof that the cartridge is completely empty. HP’s low-ink guidance notes that some printers continue operating or switch to a backup mode, while others prompt for replacement. The exact response is model-specific.
What to do when the printer refuses to print
The message says to replace a cartridge
Read the complete message, including the cartridge number, and follow the instructions for your model. If the printer belongs to a family that requires ink in all cartridges, replace the named cartridge; there is no supported bypass. If it is a two-cartridge model that normally supports single-cartridge mode, look for the separate confirmation prompt after removing the empty unit.
No single-cartridge prompt appears
- Confirm that the cartridge is actually empty and that you removed the correct one.
- Reinstall the remaining cartridge firmly so its contacts and latch are seated.
- Close the access door completely and allow the printer to finish its startup checks.
- Check HP Support for the exact model rather than trying an undocumented sensor or firmware workaround.
If the model-specific instructions do not offer single-cartridge mode, assume that the printer requires both cartridges.
The page prints but quality is poor
For black-only mode, expect grayscale rather than color. For tri-color-only mode, expect lighter black. If the result is unacceptable, install the cartridge specified for the printer and run the model’s normal alignment or cleaning procedure only as directed by HP. Repeated cleaning cycles consume ink, so they are not a substitute for a compatible replacement.
Choosing the replacement cartridge
Buy a replacement that matches both the printer model and the cartridge number. Do not select a cartridge solely because it is labeled “HP black” or “HP color.” The number must belong to the printer’s supported family, and regional packaging or capacity variants can differ.
Best Value
- Original HP Ink is engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- These cartridges work with: HP OfficeJet 8702; HP OfficeJet Pro 7720, 7740, 8210, 8216, 8710, 8715, 8720, 8725, 8730, 8740
- Cartridge yield (approx.): 2,000 pages black, 630 pages per color
- Up to 2x more prints with Original HP Ink vs. non-Original HP Ink
- 82% of HP ink cartridges are manufactured with recycled plastic
- Check the number printed on the old cartridge or shown in the printer software.
- Verify the printer model on the cartridge compatibility list.
- Confirm whether the printer uses a standard or high-yield version when both are offered.
- Keep the protective tape on a new cartridge until installation and follow the orientation marks.
When the printer requires both cartridges, replacing only the visibly empty unit may restore operation if the other cartridge still has usable ink. If the other cartridge is also depleted or expired, the printer may continue to report a supply problem until both are replaced.
Examples from HP model guidance
DeskJet 1000, 2000, and 3000 series
HP’s model-specific pages for these DeskJet series describe operation with only one installed cartridge. The expected limitation follows the general rule: a black cartridge supports black or grayscale output, while relying on the tri-color cartridge can make black areas lighter.
ENVY 5530 and related two-cartridge guidance
The ENVY 5530 support guidance describes the same single-cartridge workaround: remove the empty cartridge and accept the printer’s single-cartridge message when it appears. HP also provides comparable guidance for the Deskjet Ink Advantage 4510 family. These examples show why a model page is more reliable than a general assumption about all HP inkjets.
A quick decision checklist
- Identify: record the exact printer model and cartridge number.
- Classify: check whether the cartridge family is one of HP’s groups that may print with an empty cartridge, a group that requires ink in all cartridges, or a supported two-cartridge family.
- Remove only when instructed: on an eligible two-cartridge model, remove the empty cartridge and accept single-cartridge mode.
- Set expectations: black-only means grayscale; tri-color-only can make black lighter.
- Replace when needed: install a model-matched cartridge when quality falls, the printer refuses to continue, or HP’s instructions require all cartridges.
The reliable answer to “Do I need both ink cartridges in my HP printer?” is therefore model-dependent: some HP inkjets can print temporarily with one cartridge, while others require ink in every cartridge and cannot bypass that requirement.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
