Canon Printer Not Printing Black — 6 Fixes That Work

FIX 1Check Black Ink Level

Before any other troubleshooting, confirm the black cartridge is not empty. Canon printers stop printing black when the cartridge drops below a usable threshold — even when the ink level indicator shows a small amount remaining.

1. Open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool on your computer (installed with the Full Software Package from ij.start.canon).
2. The ink level display shows the current level for each cartridge. If the black cartridge (PG-275 on the TS3522, PG-280 on the TR4720/TR4820, or the relevant cartridge for your model) shows empty or near-empty, replace it.
3. After replacing, press the black cartridge firmly into its slot until you feel and hear it click. Close the front cover completely.
4. Print a test page. If black now prints, the issue was simply a depleted cartridge.

FIX 2Run Nozzle Check and Cleaning

When ink is present but black still will not print, the most common cause is clogged print head nozzles. This happens when the printer sits unused for several weeks — ink dries in the tiny nozzle openings and blocks output. The Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool has a built-in cleaning function that clears most clogs without manual intervention.

1. Open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool → Maintenance → Nozzle Check. Click Print Check Pattern.
2. Examine the printed sheet. The black ink section should show solid horizontal lines with no gaps. If the black rows have gaps, horizontal streaks, or are completely missing, nozzles are clogged.
3. Go back to Maintenance → Cleaning. Select Black ink group only to target the problem cartridge. Click Execute and wait for the cycle to complete — approximately two minutes.
4. Print a second nozzle check. Most clogs clear after one cleaning cycle. If black is still missing or gapped, run one more cleaning cycle — maximum two in total per session.
5. If two cycles do not resolve it, wait 30 minutes and try a Deep Cleaning cycle from the same Maintenance menu. Deep cleaning uses more ink but clears stubborn dried nozzle blockages.

FIX 3Reseat the Black Cartridge

A cartridge that is not making proper electrical contact with the print head registers as present in the ink level display but cannot deliver ink. This happens after rough handling, after shipping damage, or sometimes spontaneously when a cartridge shifts slightly in its slot.

1. Open the front cover of your Canon printer. Wait for the print head carriage to stop moving before reaching inside.
2. Press down on the black cartridge tab and pull it out of its slot.
3. Look at the gold electrical contacts on the cartridge. If you see ink residue, fingerprints, or visible buildup, gently wipe the contacts with a dry lint-free cloth. Do not use paper towels, tissues, or wet cloths.
4. Check the corresponding contacts inside the printer where the cartridge seats. Wipe these gently as well if they appear dirty.
5. Reinsert the cartridge firmly, pushing until you feel it click into its locked position. Close the front cover.
6. Print a test page.

FIX 4Check Print Settings

Two specific settings cause black not to print even when the cartridge is full and nozzles are clear.

1. Colour mode set to Grayscale using colour only: Some Canon driver versions have a setting that prints black and white documents using colour ink mixed to simulate black. If your colour cartridge is empty, this setting produces nothing for black content. Open your print dialog → Printer Properties → Main tab and confirm Black and White Photo Print is not selected unless you specifically want that mode.
2. Print quality set to Draft: Draft mode sometimes skips black ink on lower-quality print heads. Change the quality setting to Standard or High and test again.
3. Document colour: If the document itself has white or very light text on a white background, the printer is technically printing correctly but nothing is visible. Check the source document and confirm the text colour is black before reprinting.

FIX 5Update or Reinstall Canon Drivers

On Windows 11 specifically, automatic updates frequently replace Canon's manufacturer driver with a generic Microsoft driver. The generic driver loses the ability to control individual ink channels correctly, which can result in black printing failure while colour continues to work.

1. Open Control Panel → Programs and Features and check whether Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool is still installed. If it is missing, Windows replaced your Canon driver during an update.
2. Uninstall all Canon software completely. Restart your computer.
3. Go to ij.start.canon, search your model, and download the Full Software Package. For a complete driver installation walkthrough, see our ij.start.canon setup guide.
4. Run the installer as administrator and complete the setup. After reinstalling, run a nozzle check to confirm black ink is now flowing correctly.

FIX 6Canon PIXMA Model-Specific Notes

Canon PIXMA TS3522: Uses PG-275 (black) and CL-276 (colour). The TS3522 has a button-only interface with no display panel, so all maintenance including nozzle check and cleaning must be done through Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool on your computer, not from the printer itself. If the TS3522 is not printing black after two cleaning cycles, the print head on this model is built into the printer body — it cannot be replaced separately. Contact Canon support for repair options.

Canon PIXMA TR4720 and TR4820: Uses PG-280 (black) and CL-281 (colour). These models have a small display that shows ink status. Navigate to Setup → Maintenance → Print Nozzle Check Pattern to run the nozzle test directly from the printer without needing a computer.

Canon PIXMA MG series: If the MG3620 or similar model stops printing black after a firmware update, check for a newer firmware version through Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool → Maintenance → Firmware Update. Firmware updates sometimes improve black ink detection on MG series models.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is my Canon printer not printing black but prints colour?
  This almost always means the black ink nozzles are clogged or the black cartridge is empty. Run a nozzle check through Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool to confirm which. If nozzle rows are missing, run one cleaning cycle. If the cartridge is empty, replace the PG-275 or appropriate black cartridge for your model.
• How do I run a nozzle check on a Canon PIXMA printer?
  Open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool on your computer. Click Maintenance, then Nozzle Check, then Print Check Pattern. The printed sheet shows coloured rows — if any black rows have gaps or are missing, clogged nozzles are causing the problem.
• Why is my Canon TS3522 not printing black?
  The TS3522 uses a PG-275 black cartridge. Check the ink level in Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool. If ink is present but black will not print, run a nozzle check and one cleaning cycle. If the issue persists after two cycles, the print head nozzles may need deeper cleaning through the Deep Cleaning option in the Maintenance menu.
• My Canon printer has black ink but will not print black — what do I do?
  Ink present but not printing means nozzles are clogged rather than the cartridge being empty. Run a nozzle check in Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool to confirm gaps in the black rows. Run one cleaning cycle, wait five minutes, then run a second nozzle check. For more detail on this specific scenario, see our guide on Canon printer has ink but won't print.