HP DeskJet 2800 Prints Poorly: Streaks, Faded Text, Incorrect Colors, or One Color Does Not Print

Last Updated on 30.06.2026 by DriverNew

This guide will help if an HP DeskJet 2800 MFP prints with streaks, prints faintly or blurry, prints with incorrect colors, skips lines, does not print in black, or does not print one of the colors.

This article applies to the following models: HP DeskJet 2820, HP DeskJet 2821, HP DeskJet 2822, HP DeskJet 2823, HP DeskJet 2828, HP DeskJet 2829, HP DeskJet 2820e, HP DeskJet 2821e, HP DeskJet 2822e, HP DeskJet 2823e, HP DeskJet 2842e, HP DeskJet 2852e, HP DeskJet 2855e, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2874, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2875, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2876, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2877, HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2878, and HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2879.

In most cases, poor print quality does not mean that the printer is broken. The most common causes are low ink level, dried cartridge nozzles, incorrect paper, incorrect print settings, dirty contacts, or incomplete HP software installation.

What the Problem May Look Like

Print quality problems usually look like this:

• white streaks appear in text or images;
• text prints faintly or in gray instead of black;
• letters look blurry;
• photo colors are incorrect;
• black does not print;
• one of the colors does not print;
• spots or ink marks appear on the sheet;
• some lines are missing;
• printing is normal at the beginning of the page but becomes worse toward the end;
• print quality did not improve after replacing the cartridge.

Method 1. Check Whether There Is an Error on the Printer

Before cleaning and changing settings, check whether there is an error on the printer itself.

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Wait 1–2 minutes.
3. Check the display and lights.
4. If the E0 error is displayed, check the cartridges first.
5. If the E1 or E2 error is displayed, check the paper size.
6. If the E4 error is displayed, clear the paper jam.
7. If the E5 or E6 error is displayed, turn off the printer, disconnect it from power for 60 seconds, and turn it on again.

If there is an error on the printer, fix it first. Until the error is fixed, print quality may be poor or printing may not start.

Method 2. Check the Ink Level

If ink is low, printing may become faded, streaky, or incomplete.

You can check the ink level through HP app, HP Smart, or the installed HP software.

1. Open HP app, HP Smart, or the HP software for your printer.
2. Select HP DeskJet 2800 series.
3. Open the printer status or supplies section.
4. Check the level of the black and color cartridges.

If one of the cartridges is almost empty, replace it. If the ink level is shown approximately, also rely on print quality. Sometimes a cartridge may print poorly even when some ink is still shown.

Method 3. Check Whether the Cartridges Are Installed Correctly

If a cartridge is not fully inserted, the printer may print poorly or may not print one color.

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Open the cartridge access door.
3. Wait until the carriage stops.
4. Carefully remove the black cartridge.
5. Check it for damage.
6. Install the cartridge again until it clicks into place.
7. Repeat the same steps with the color cartridge.
8. Close the cartridge access door.

Make sure the black cartridge is in its own slot and the color cartridge is in its own slot. Do not swap them.

Method 4. Check the Protective Tape on a New Cartridge

If the problem appeared immediately after installing a new cartridge, check the protective tape.

1. Open the cartridge access door.
2. Remove the new cartridge.
3. Inspect the bottom of the cartridge.
4. Make sure the protective tape has been completely removed.
5. If the tape is still there, carefully remove it by pulling the tab.
6. Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or nozzles with your fingers.
7. Install the cartridge again until it clicks into place.

If the protective tape has not been removed, the cartridge may not print at all or may print very faintly.

Method 5. Check the Paper

Unsuitable paper often causes blurry text, spots, uneven colors, and poor photo printing.

1. Remove the paper from the input tray.
2. Remove wrinkled, damp, very thin, or damaged paper.
3. For testing, use plain white A4 paper.
4. Align the paper stack.
5. Load the paper back into the tray.
6. Move the paper guide against the edge of the stack.
7. Do not press the guide too tightly.

If you print photos, use photo paper and select the correct paper type in the print settings. If photo paper is selected in the settings but plain paper is loaded in the tray, quality may be poor.

Method 6. Check the Print Quality Settings

If draft mode is selected, text may be faint and images may be less sharp.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Select HP DeskJet 2800 series.
5. Open Printing preferences.
6. Find the print quality setting.
7. Select Normal or Best.
8. Check Paper Type.
9. For plain paper, select Plain Paper.
10. Save the changes.

Windows 10

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Select HP DeskJet 2800 series.
5. Click Manage.
6. Open Printing preferences.
7. Select Normal or Best quality.
8. Check Paper Type and Paper Size.
9. Save the settings.

If the driver interface is in English, look for Print Quality, Paper Type, and Paper Size.

Method 7. Do Not Use Draft Mode to Check Quality

Draft mode saves ink, but the quality becomes lower. Therefore, do not use draft mode when checking print quality.

The print settings may include these options:

• Draft — fast, but lower quality;
• Normal — suitable for most documents;
• Best — slower, but higher quality.

To check print quality, select Normal or Best.

Method 8. Print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page

A diagnostic page helps you understand which cartridge is printing poorly: black or color.

If HP software is installed, follow these steps:

1. Open the HP software for the printer.
2. Select HP DeskJet 2800 series.
3. Open the printer maintenance, tools, or printer settings section.
4. Find the print quality check option.
5. Print a print quality diagnostic page.

In different software versions, the item names may vary. In the English interface, look for Print Quality Diagnostic Page, Tools, Printer Maintenance, or Device Services.

If the diagnostic page has gaps in the black lines, the problem is usually related to the black cartridge. If one of the colors is missing, the problem is usually related to the color cartridge.

Method 9. Clean the Cartridges Through HP Software

If the diagnostic page has streaks or gaps, clean the cartridges.

1. Open the HP software for the printer.
2. Select HP DeskJet 2800 series.
3. Open the maintenance or tools section.
4. Find Clean Cartridges.
5. Start the cleaning.
6. Wait for the procedure to finish.
7. Print a print quality test page.
8. If quality improved but streaks remain, run cleaning one more time.

Do not run cleaning many times in a row unnecessarily. Cleaning uses ink. Usually, one or two procedures are enough.

Method 10. Align the Cartridges

If text is blurry, lines are uneven, or the image is shifted, align the cartridges.

1. Load plain white A4 paper into the tray.
2. Open the HP software for the printer.
3. Go to the maintenance or tools section.
4. Select Align Cartridges.
5. Wait for the alignment page to print.
6. Place the alignment page on the scanner glass with the printed side facing down.
7. Align the sheet with the mark in the corner of the glass.
8. Close the scanner lid.
9. Follow the HP software instructions.

After alignment, print a test page and check the quality.

Method 11. If HP Software Is Not Installed or Does Not Work

If HP app or HP Smart does not start, requires an HP account, does not install from Microsoft Store, or cannot connect to HP servers, use the official HP Easy Start installer for the HP DeskJet 2800 series:

Download HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe

Installation procedure:

1. Download the HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe file.
2. Run it by double-clicking.
3. If Windows asks for permission to run it, click Yes.
4. When asked about sending data, click No.
5. If you are offered to download HP Easy Start, click Continue with current software.
6. Select USB cable or Wireless network.
7. Complete the installation.

After installation, check whether printer maintenance tools are available: cartridge cleaning, alignment, and printing a diagnostic page.

Method 12. Clean the Cartridge Contacts

If the cartridge is detected unreliably or one color disappears, check the cartridge contacts.

Prepare a dry, lint-free cloth. If the contamination is heavy, you can slightly dampen the cloth with clean water and wring it out well.

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Open the cartridge access door.
3. Wait until the carriage stops.
4. Remove the cartridge.
5. Hold the cartridge by its plastic sides.
6. Do not touch the nozzles or copper-colored contacts with your fingers.
7. Gently wipe the copper-colored contacts on the cartridge.
8. Wait 5–10 minutes for the contacts to dry completely.
9. Install the cartridge again until it clicks into place.
10. Close the cartridge access door.

Do not use alcohol, solvents, cleaning sprays, or wet wipes with additives. They may damage the cartridge.

Method 13. If Black Does Not Print

If color printing works, but black text does not print or prints gray, check the black cartridge.

1. Check the black ink level.
2. Remove the black cartridge and install it again until it clicks into place.
3. Check whether the protective tape has been removed if the cartridge is new.
4. Clean the black cartridge contacts.
5. Run Clean Cartridges through the HP software.
6. Print a print quality diagnostic page.
7. If black lines are missing or have gaps, repeat cleaning once.
8. If there is no improvement, replace the black cartridge.

If the printer has not been used for a long time, the black cartridge nozzles may have dried out. In this case, cleaning through the HP software may help, but if the cartridge is badly dried out, it will need to be replaced.

Method 14. If One of the Colors Does Not Print

If a photo prints with incorrect shades, for example without red, blue, or yellow, the problem is usually related to the color cartridge.

1. Check the color ink level.
2. Remove the color cartridge and install it again.
3. Check the protective tape if the cartridge is new.
4. Clean the color cartridge contacts.
5. Run Clean Cartridges through the HP software.
6. Print a print quality diagnostic page.
7. Check which color is missing or printing with streaks.
8. If the color does not appear after cleaning, replace the color cartridge.

A color cartridge contains several colors in one body. If one color runs out or dries out, the entire color cartridge may need to be replaced.

Method 15. If Print Quality Became Poor After a Long Period of Non-Use

Inkjet printers may print worse after a long break. Ink in the cartridge nozzles may dry out.

1. Check the ink level.
2. Print a print quality diagnostic page.
3. Run cartridge cleaning through the HP software.
4. Wait 10–15 minutes.
5. Print the diagnostic page again.
6. If there is improvement but streaks remain, run cleaning one more time.
7. If there is no improvement, replace the problematic cartridge.

To prevent drying, it is recommended to print at least a few pages per month. This is especially important for inkjet printers that remain unused for a long time.

Method 16. Check Color or Black-and-White Printing Mode

Sometimes a user accidentally enables black-and-white printing and then thinks the printer does not print in color.

1. Open the document or image.
2. Click File — Print.
3. Select HP DeskJet 2800 series.
4. Open printer properties or settings.
5. Check whether Black & White printing is enabled.
6. If you want to print in color, select Color printing.
7. If the interface is in English, look for Color, Black & White, or Grayscale.

If Grayscale or Black & White mode is enabled, color documents will print without color.

Method 17. Check Photo Print Settings

When printing photos, quality depends heavily on the paper type and settings.

1. Use photo paper of the correct size.
2. In the print window, select the correct paper size.
3. Under Paper Type, select photo paper if you are using photo paper.
4. Select Best quality.
5. Check the preview.
6. Make sure the image is not stretched or cropped incorrectly.
7. Start printing.

If you print a photo on ordinary office paper, colors may look faded and the image may be less sharp. This is not always a printer malfunction.

Method 18. If Spots or Ink Marks Appear on the Sheet

Spots may appear because of unsuitable paper, print quality that is too high for plain paper, dirt inside the printer, or ink leaks on the cartridge.

1. Check whether the paper is damp.
2. Load new dry A4 paper.
3. In the print settings, select Plain Paper.
4. Do not select photo paper if you are printing on plain paper.
5. Remove the cartridges and check for ink leaks.
6. Carefully clean accessible dirt with a dry, lint-free cloth.
7. Print one test page.

If a cartridge is leaking, it is better to replace it. Do not install a cartridge with heavy ink leaks in the printer.

Method 19. Remove Old Printer Copies and Reinstall the Driver

If print quality became worse after a Windows update, printer reinstallation, or several installation attempts, the problem may be with the driver.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Remove old copies of HP DeskJet 2800 series.
5. Restart the computer.
6. Reinstall the printer through HP Easy Start.

Windows 10

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Devices.
3. Open Printers & scanners.
4. Remove old copies of HP DeskJet 2800 series.
5. Restart the computer.
6. Reinstall the printer through HP Easy Start.

Use the official file for installation:

Download HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe

Method 20. If You Have HP DeskJet 2800e, HP+, or Instant Ink

Models with the letter e, such as HP DeskJet 2820e, 2821e, 2822e, 2823e, 2842e, 2852e, and 2855e, may support HP+ features.

For HP+, Instant Ink, and some cloud features, the following may be required:

• internet connection;
• an HP account;
• Original HP cartridges;
• connecting the printer to a network.

If Instant Ink cartridges are used, check the subscription status and the printer’s internet connection. If the printer cannot communicate with the HP service, cartridge messages or print restrictions may appear.

If you need ordinary printing from one computer, you can install the driver through HP Easy Start and connect the printer by USB. However, HP+ or Instant Ink restrictions may still apply to features related to an HP account and Original HP cartridges.

When the Cartridge Needs to Be Replaced

The cartridge most likely needs to be replaced if:

• the ink level is low or the cartridge is empty;
• one color is completely missing after cleaning;
• black does not print after cleaning and reinstalling the cartridge;
• the cartridge has not been used for a long time and the nozzles have dried out;
• the cartridge has damage or ink leaks;
• the problem appears only with one specific cartridge;
• another compatible cartridge prints normally.

Before buying, check the cartridge number for your exact model and region. Different countries may use different compatible cartridge numbers.

What You Should Not Do

• Do not run cartridge cleaning many times in a row unnecessarily.
• Do not touch the nozzles or copper-colored cartridge contacts with your fingers.
• Do not use alcohol, solvents, or cleaning sprays.
• Do not print photos on plain paper and expect photo print quality.
• Do not use damp, wrinkled, or damaged paper.
• Do not install a cartridge with ink leaks.
• Do not download drivers from unverified websites.
• Do not change random driver settings if you do not know what they do.

Short Step-by-Step Checklist

If HP DeskJet 2800 prints poorly, follow these steps:

1. Check whether there is an error on the printer display.
2. Check the ink level.
3. Check whether the cartridges are installed correctly.
4. Make sure the protective tape has been removed from new cartridges.
5. Load plain white A4 paper.
6. In the print settings, select the correct paper type and Normal or Best quality.
7. Print a print quality diagnostic page.
8. Run Clean Cartridges.
9. Run Align Cartridges.
10. If black does not print, check the black cartridge.
11. If one of the colors does not print, check the color cartridge.
12. Clean the cartridge contacts.
13. If HP app or HP Smart does not work, install the driver through HPEasyStart-15.8.1-DJ2800_57_2_1683_3_Webpack.exe.
14. If quality does not improve, replace the problematic cartridge.

In most cases, streaks, faded printing, and incorrect colors disappear after checking the ink, cleaning the cartridges, aligning them, and selecting the correct paper type in the print settings.