How to Print in Color (and What to Do When Your Printer Only Prints Black and White)

Published September 28, 2026. Written by William Elward, founder of Castle Ink.

Quick answer

To print in color, open the Print dialog (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on Mac), find the Color setting, and choose Color instead of Black & White or Grayscale. On Windows it's often under Printer Properties or Preferences; on a Mac, make sure Black & White is unchecked. If color is already selected and pages still come out gray, the cause is usually an empty, clogged or unrecognized color cartridge, or a grayscale default saved in the driver.

How to print in color, by device and app

Windows 10 and 11

1. Press Ctrl+P in the app you're printing from.
2. Choose your printer, then click Printer Properties, Preferences or More settings.
3. Find the Color or Paper/Quality tab and select Color. Uncheck Print in Grayscale if you see it.
4. Click OK, then Print.

To make color the default for every job: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Printing preferences, set Color, and click Apply.

Mac

1. Press Cmd+P.
2. Uncheck Black & White. On some macOS versions, click Show Details or open Printer Options first.
3. If there's a Color or Color Matching section, make sure it isn't set to grayscale.
4. Save the setting as a preset under Presets > Save Current Settings as Preset so it sticks.

Microsoft Word and Excel

Office uses the printer's settings. Click File > Print > Printer Properties and choose Color. In Excel, also check Page Layout > Page Setup > Sheet and make sure Black and white is unchecked.

Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDFs)

In the Print dialog, uncheck Print in grayscale (black and white). It's easy to miss and Acrobat remembers it. More PDF tips: How to print a PDF.

Chrome and Google Docs

Press Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P), click More settings if needed, and set Color to Color. See How to print from Google Docs.

iPhone, iPad and Android

Tap Share > Print (iPhone/iPad) or Print in the menu (Android). Turn off Black & White on iPhone, or set Color in the Android print options. In HP Smart, Canon PRINT or Epson Smart Panel, the color option is in the print settings before you tap Print. See How to print from your phone.

Printer only printing black and white? 8 fixes

1. Grayscale is saved as the default. Check Printing preferences in Windows (not just the one-time Print dialog) and your saved presets on Mac. Some office computers have grayscale set by IT to save ink.
2. The app has its own black-and-white setting. Acrobat, Excel and some browsers override the driver. Check the app's own print options.
3. The color cartridge is empty. Check ink levels. On HP, see How to check HP ink levels. Many printers keep printing in black when one color runs out.
4. The printer is in "single cartridge" or black-only mode. Many HP printers switch to black-only if the tri-color cartridge is missing or failed. Reinstall a working color cartridge and the printer returns to normal.
5. The color cartridge isn't recognized. Remove it, check the protective tape is fully removed, wipe the contacts gently with a lint-free cloth, and reseat it until it clicks. See Ink cartridge not recognized.
6. Clogged color nozzles. Print a nozzle check. If colors are missing or streaky, run a cleaning cycle. See How to clean print heads. Epson owners: Epson not printing color.
7. A new cartridge came with a problem. See New ink cartridge not working.
8. Your printer is monochrome. Many laser printers only print black. If yours takes a single toner cartridge, it can't print color. See What is a monochrome printer? and Can a laser printer print in color?

Printing in color but the colors look wrong (pink, green, faded)? That's a different problem. See Printer printing the wrong colors.

Common questions

What's the difference between grayscale and black-and-white printing?

Depending on the printer, "grayscale" may mix a little color ink to make richer grays, while "black ink only" uses just the black cartridge. If you want to save color ink, pick the black-only option. Full explanation: Grayscale vs. monochrome vs. draft mode.

Does my printer use color ink when I print in black and white?

Often a little, yes. Many inkjets use small amounts of color ink for printhead maintenance, and some mix color into grayscale prints. Choosing "black ink only" reduces it but rarely to zero.

Why does my printer refuse to print black if the color cartridge is empty?

Some printers, especially many Canon and Epson models, block all printing when any cartridge is empty. Replacing the empty cartridge is the only reliable fix.

Is color printing much more expensive?

Yes. A full-color page can cost several times more than a black text page. XL cartridges and compatible or remanufactured cartridges cut that cost. See Is XL ink worth it? and the printer ink cost calculator.

Refill your color cartridges for less

• HP ink, Canon ink, Epson ink, Brother ink
• Find your exact cartridge: Find ink by printer

Related guides

• How to fix printer color problems
• Printer settings explained: grayscale vs. monochrome vs. draft
• HP printer not printing black
• Free printer test page
• Printer troubleshooting center

About the author: William Elward is the founder of Castle Ink and has written about printers, ink cartridges, and printing technology for more than 20 years.