it says 'toner is low' for one color but it's a brand new cartridge, and now prints have streaks.

— asked by Riley

DIAGNOSIS The printer isn't recognizing the new cartridge, or the cartridge's chip is faulty. The streaks suggest the cartridge might also be defective or not properly installed, preventing a good seal or clean drum contact.

FIX First, reseat the cartridge. Open the front door, press the latch for the problematic color, pull the cartridge out, and then firmly re-insert it until it clicks. Power cycle the printer (off, wait, on). If the message remains, go to the control panel: Setup > Print Quality > Replace Supplies > Override Low Cartridge. You can tell it to continue using the cartridge. For streaks, run a cleaning page. On the control panel, go to Setup > Print Quality > Print Quality Diagnostic Page. Examine it—it will show which color is problematic.

IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The transfer belt inside might be dirty or damaged, causing streaks and detection issues. With the printer off, open the front door and remove all four cartridges. You'll see a green handle. Pull that to remove the transfer belt assembly. Inspect the long, black belt for toner buildup or scratches. You can clean it gently with a dry, lint-free cloth, but don't use liquids.

HEADS UP Using non-HP cartridges or remanufactured cartridges can cause these exact recognition and streaking problems. The printer is pretty picky about its consumables.

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