How to Fix HP ENVY Printer Printing PDFs in Black and White on Windows 10
Question details
The user needs to successfully print a PDF file in color from a Windows 10 computer using an HP ENVY printer.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / HP ENVY
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Attempting to print PDF files in color from a Windows 10 desktop environment.
- Observed behavior
- The HP ENVY printer outputs the PDF files in black and white, despite color settings being selected on the PC and color printing working properly from a mobile phone.
Verify that your HP ENVY printer has sufficient color ink and print a test page from another application (like Word or Paint) to confirm if the issue is isolated to your PDF reader.
Adjust Advanced Color Output Settings in Adobe Acrobat
Modify the advanced output settings in your PDF reader to ensure color printing is explicitly processed by the application.
Often, the issue is not with the printer itself but how the PDF software handles the print job. Adjusting the advanced color options in Adobe Acrobat or Reader can force the document to output in composite color.
If you are trying to print from an email client or web browser, download the PDF file and save it directly to your computer's local drive.
Launch Adobe Acrobat or Reader, open the locally saved PDF, and go to File > Print to launch the print dialog.
In the print dialog under Page Handling or Comments And Forms menu, select 'Document And Stamps' to ensure all visible content is queued to print.
Click the Advanced button, select Output from the left-hand menu, and choose a composite option from the Color drop-down menu. Click OK and hit Print.
Update PDF Reader and Windows Printer Preferences
Ensure your PDF viewer is up to date and verify that Windows 10 is commanding the printer to use color.
Print PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
If you continue to experience color printing issues with Adobe Acrobat on Windows 10, try using WPS Office. Its robust PDF reader handles color profiles accurately and provides a simple, unified print dialog configuration.
- 1. Open your PDF with WPS Office: Locate your PDF file, right-click it, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office from the list of applications.
- 2. Open the Print window: Click the Menu icon in the top left corner, choose Print, or simply press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
- 3. Print in color: Ensure the 'Print in grayscale' box is unchecked, select your HP ENVY printer from the Printer list, and click the Print button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my HP ENVY print in color from my phone but not my Windows 10 PC?
Mobile devices typically use built-in print services (like AirPrint or HP Smart integration) which bypass specific driver or application bugs. If it prints fine from your phone, the issue lies within the Windows 10 printer driver settings or the PC application generating the print job.
Can printing a PDF directly from Chrome or Edge cause black and white printing issues?
Yes. Built-in web browser PDF viewers often struggle with complex color profiles or printer spooling commands. Downloading the PDF to your desktop and printing it using a dedicated desktop software usually resolves the issue.
How do I reinstall my HP ENVY printer driver on Windows 10?
Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select your HP ENVY, and click 'Remove device'. Once removed, visit the official HP Support website, download the latest driver software for your specific printer model, and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall it.
