the printed pages from my hp all-in-one come out with black smudges or smears all over them, what's causing that?

Diagnosis

Smudging and black streaks on the HP DeskJet 4155e typically occur when excess ink accumulates on the printhead assembly or the internal rollers, which then transfers to the page as it passes through the paper path. Because this model uses a combined ink system, a "leak" or over-saturation of the black cartridge (HP 67) often causes ink to pool on the bottom of the carriage. As the carriage moves back and forth, it drags this excess ink across the surface of the paper, creating linear smears or random blotches. Another common cause is "ink buildup" on the platen or the star wheels. If a page previously jammed or if you are using non-standard, high-gloss photo paper in the plain paper tray, residue can cling to the rollers. When the next page passes through, these rollers act like a stamp, leaving repetitive black marks or "tracks" along the edges of the document. You can confirm this by printing a "Printer Status Report" from the HP Smart app; if the smudges appear in the same geometric location on every page, the issue is mechanical contamination of the rollers rather than a software setting.

How to Fix It

Follow these steps to deep-clean the internal components and reset the ink flow:

1. Power Down and Access: Turn the printer off and unplug the power cord. Open the front ink access door and the cartridge access door.
2. Clean the Ink Cartridges: Remove the HP 67 Black cartridge. Use a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water to gently wipe the copper-colored electrical contacts and the bottom print nozzle. Do not scrub; simply dab until no excess black ink transfers to the cloth.
3. Clear the Carriage Path: Use a flashlight to look for "ink puddles" on the plastic strip where the cartridges sit. Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (70%) to carefully wipe away any accumulated ink buildup on the carriage frame.
4. Clean the Paper Feed Rollers: Locate the rubber pickup rollers. Dampen a lint-free cloth with water and gently wipe the rollers, rotating them manually to clean the entire circumference. This removes the "track" marks that cause edge smudging.
5. Calibrate Paper Settings: Reinsert the cartridges and close the doors. On your computer, open the Print dialog, go to Preferences > Paper/Quality. Ensure the "Paper Type" is set exactly to "Plain Paper" for standard sheets or "HP Photo Papers" for glossy sheets. Selecting "Plain Paper" when using glossy paper causes the printer to dump too much ink, leading to smears.
6. Run the Automated Clean: Open the HP Smart App, select Printer Settings > Advanced Settings > Tools > Print Quality Tools. Run the "Clean Printheads" cycle twice to clear any clogged nozzles that may be dripping.

If That Didn't Work

• Replace the Black Cartridge: If the smudging persists, the internal seal of the HP 67 Black cartridge has likely failed, causing it to "leak" ink onto the page. Replace the cartridge with a genuine HP 67 or 67XL to ensure the ink flow is regulated correctly.
• Check Paper Weight: Ensure you are not using paper heavier than 20 lb (75 g/m²) for standard documents. Overly thick or textured "craft" paper can scrape the printhead, causing ink to smear across the page.
• Update Firmware: In the HP Smart app, check for firmware updates. HP occasionally releases updates that adjust the "drying time" between carriage passes to prevent smudging on specific paper types.
• Hard Reset: With the printer on, unplug the power cord from the back. Wait 60 seconds. Plug it back in. This clears the temporary memory and resets the carriage alignment sequence.

Heads Up

• Avoid Third-Party Inks: Refilled or "compatible" cartridges often have different viscosities, which can lead to excessive dripping and smudging on the DeskJet 4155e.
• Store Paper Correctly: Damp paper (from humidity) does not absorb ink quickly, which is a leading cause of smears. Keep your paper in a sealed ream.
• Regular Maintenance: Print at least one page every week. This prevents ink from drying and pooling around the nozzles, which reduces the likelihood of "ink blobs" hitting your pages.
• Handle with Care: Never touch the copper contacts on the cartridges with your fingers, as skin oils can cause erratic ink delivery and spotting.