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Not 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 HP printers support single-cartridge mode after you remove the empty cartridge and confirm the on-screen prompt. Other HP cartridge families require ink in every cartridge and provide no bypass.
When only one cartridge works, the result also depends on which cartridge remains: black-only printing is grayscale, while a tri-color cartridge can produce color with black areas appearing lighter. Check the cartridge number and printer model before removing a cartridge or buying a replacement.
Can I print with only one ink cartridge?
Use this decision rule:
- Two-cartridge printer with a supported cartridge family: HP says printing can continue with one cartridge empty. You may need to remove the empty cartridge and select OK when the printer displays a single-cartridge mode message.
- Cartridge families such as HP 932, 933, 950, 951–959, and 962–969: HP says ink is required in every cartridge for printing and for periodic servicing that helps prevent clogs and other print-quality problems. HP says this requirement cannot be bypassed.
- Unknown model or cartridge number: Do not assume either behavior. Identify the printer and cartridge family, then follow the model-specific HP instructions.
The phrase “HP inkjet printer” covers many designs, so a general yes or no is inaccurate. Cartridge numbers, not the HP name alone, determine whether single-cartridge printing is supported.
Which HP cartridge families allow printing with one cartridge?
HP’s general support guidance groups its cartridges by how the printer behaves when one is empty. The following families are documented as able to continue printing with one or more empty cartridges:
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- 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
- HP 178
- HP 364
- HP 564
- HP 655
- HP 862
- HP 902–920
- HP 934
- HP 935
That statement means the printer may continue operating; it does not mean every printer using one of these numbers behaves identically in every situation. HP still recommends replacing an empty cartridge as soon as possible, because continued operation with an empty cartridge can contribute to printhead damage.
HP also documents a larger group of two-cartridge systems—one black cartridge and one tri-color cartridge—in which printing can continue with one cartridge empty. The listed cartridge families are:
- HP 21 and 22
- HP 27 and 28
- HP 46
- HP 56–68
- HP 61/301
- HP 63/302
- HP 64/303
- HP 65/304
- HP 74 and 75
- HP 92–98
- HP 110
- HP 121–125
- HP 129–131
- HP 134 and 135
- HP 140 and 141
- HP 300–305
- HP 308
- HP 336–339
- HP 342–344
- HP 350 and 351
- HP 650–654
- HP 662
- HP 664
- HP 667 and 668
- HP 675
- HP 678
- HP 680
- HP 682 and 683
- HP 703 and 704
- HP 802–805
- HP 818
- HP 851, 852, and 855
- HP 901
These lists describe cartridge families covered by HP’s guidance; they are not a guarantee that every HP inkjet sold in every country uses the same rules. A cartridge number must be checked against the exact printer model.
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HP identifies another group in which the printer requires ink in all cartridges:
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- 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
- HP 932 and 933
- HP 950
- HP 951–959
- HP 962–969
For these families, HP says the printer needs ink in every cartridge not only to print, but also to carry out periodic servicing intended to prevent clogged nozzles and related quality problems. HP describes the feature as non-bypassable. If the printer reports that a cartridge must be replaced, installing only the other cartridge will not provide a supported workaround.
Do not infer that a printer using four cartridges always belongs to this group, or that a two-cartridge printer always permits single-cartridge mode. The model’s support page and the cartridge number are the deciding evidence.
What happens when only one cartridge is installed?
Black cartridge only
With the tri-color cartridge removed or empty, a supported printer uses the black cartridge and produces grayscale output. Color pages, diagrams, and photographs will not retain their normal colors. Text may remain readable, but color-dependent information can disappear or become difficult to distinguish.
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With the black cartridge removed or empty, HP says the tri-color cartridge can continue producing color. Black areas may print lighter than usual because the printer is creating dark tones from the color inks rather than from a dedicated black supply. HP recommends continuing only while the output remains acceptable.
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
Empty versus removed
An “empty” cartridge is still installed but has reached the printer’s low-ink or empty status. Single-cartridge instructions commonly require you to remove the empty cartridge before the printer will enter its backup mode. Do not pull a cartridge while the carriage is moving, and do not force the carriage or contacts. If your model does not display a single-cartridge option after removal, reinstall the cartridge and use the model-specific troubleshooting instructions instead.
How to enable single-cartridge mode
On a compatible two-cartridge HP printer, use this sequence:
- Save or pause the document you are printing.
- Read the printer’s message and confirm which cartridge is reported empty.
- Open the cartridge access door and wait for the carriage to stop.
- Remove the empty cartridge, following the handling instructions shown for your model.
- Close the access door.
- If a single-cartridge mode message appears, select OK.
- Print a small test page and inspect text, graphics, and any areas that require black or color detail.
HP’s instructions specifically mention selecting OK when that message appears. If no such message appears, the printer may not support this mode, the cartridge family may require all cartridges, or the cartridge may not be correctly recognized.
How to identify your printer’s rule before removing anything
Find the printer model
Look at the label on the front or top of the printer, the display’s information screen, the HP printer software on your computer, or the original setup documentation. Record the full model name, including any series or regional suffix. “DeskJet,” “ENVY,” or another product line by itself is not enough to identify the cartridge rule.
Rank #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
Find the cartridge number
Check the number printed on the cartridge label, its packaging, or the printer’s supplies screen. Numbers that look similar can belong to different printer families, and regional versions can use different numbering. Match both the number and the printer model before ordering a replacement.
Check the exact support instructions
Search HP Support for the full model name and the terms empty cartridge, single-cartridge mode, or low ink. HP’s support guidance for the specific printer takes priority over a general cartridge-family list when the two appear to conflict.
Documented model examples
HP’s model-specific guidance gives examples of printers that can work with one installed cartridge. DeskJet 1000, DeskJet 2000, and DeskJet 3000 series models are described as supporting this behavior. HP’s support information for the ENVY 5530 also describes the same workaround. In these examples, the output remains limited: the black cartridge supports black or grayscale printing, while the tri-color cartridge can produce color with lighter black areas.
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These examples demonstrate the feature; they do not extend it to every DeskJet or ENVY printer. Product generations and cartridge systems differ, so use the exact model number rather than the product-line name.
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- 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
What to do when the printer still refuses to print
The screen says both cartridges are required
First, check the cartridge number. If it is in the HP 932, 933, 950, 951–959, or 962–969 families, HP says there is no bypass and both cartridge supplies must contain ink. Install the correct replacement rather than trying to override the message.
The printer shows a low-ink alert but will not start
HP’s low-ink guidance says behavior varies: some printers continue operating, some switch to a backup mode, and others prompt for replacement. Follow the exact message on the printer and consult the support page for that model. A low-ink warning is not proof that removing the cartridge will work.
The printer enters backup mode but quality is poor
Print a nozzle or alignment test if the printer offers one, then examine the page under normal lighting. Replace the empty or depleted cartridge if text is too light, color information is missing, or banding makes the page unusable. HP advises replacing an empty cartridge promptly, particularly where continued operation could risk printhead damage.
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The printer does not recognize the replacement
Turn the printer off using its normal power control, check that the cartridge is the exact model for the printer, and reinstall it with the protective tape removed as directed by the packaging. If the recognition message remains, use HP’s model-specific cartridge-recognition procedure. Do not substitute a cartridge solely because its shape appears similar.
Choosing the right replacement cartridge
When a replacement is necessary, use this checklist:
- Record the complete printer model.
- Record the cartridge number currently installed or listed by the printer.
- Confirm that the replacement is intended for that model and region.
- Decide whether you need black, tri-color, or the complete set.
- Check whether the printer’s support instructions require all cartridges before placing the order.
A “black cartridge” is not a universal HP part. The correct replacement is the one whose cartridge number is listed for your printer. If the printer requires every cartridge, buying only the color that ran out will leave the printer unable to print.
Practical decision guide
| What you know | Likely action | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| Your printer uses a supported two-cartridge family and displays single-cartridge mode | Remove the empty cartridge and select OK | Black-only grayscale or tri-color output, depending on the cartridge left installed |
| Your cartridge is HP 932, 933, 950, 951–959, or 962–969 | Replace the required cartridge or cartridges | The printer requires ink in all cartridges; HP says there is no bypass |
| You know only that the printer is an HP inkjet | Find the full model and cartridge number first | The correct rule can then be checked against HP’s model-specific guidance |
| Single-cartridge printing works but the page is unacceptable | Replace the matching cartridge | Normal color or black output can resume when the printer accepts the replacement |
Bottom line for HP inkjet owners
An HP inkjet printer does not universally need both cartridges to print. Compatible two-cartridge models can often continue with one cartridge after you remove the empty unit and accept single-cartridge mode. The remaining cartridge determines whether the page is grayscale or color with lighter black. Other cartridge families, including HP 932/933, 950, 951–959, and 962–969, require ink in every cartridge and cannot be bypassed. Identify the exact printer model and cartridge number before relying on one-cartridge printing or purchasing a replacement.
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