Sharp Printer Not Printing Color? Fix Missing or Faded Colors (2026)

Introduction

Is your Sharp printer not printing color, even though black prints correctly? Perhaps your documents are coming out in grayscale, certain colours are missing, or prints appear faded and inaccurate.

Colour printing problems are common on Sharp laser and multifunction printers. In most cases, they’re caused by empty or faulty colour toner cartridges, incorrect print settings, outdated drivers, clogged imaging components, or printer maintenance issues—not a serious hardware failure.

The good news is that most colour printing problems can be resolved with a few simple troubleshooting steps.

This guide covers 10 proven fixes to help restore vibrant, accurate colour printing on your Sharp printer.

Common Symptoms

You may notice:

• Printer only prints in black and white
• Missing blue, yellow, magenta, or cyan
• Faded colour prints
• Incorrect colours
• Colour streaks
• Uneven colour distribution
• Colour toner error messages
• Blank areas where colour should appear

Fix 1: Check the Colour Toner Cartridges

Inspect each toner cartridge carefully.

Verify:

• Cyan toner level
• Magenta toner level
• Yellow toner level
• Proper cartridge installation
• Cartridge damage

Replace any empty or damaged cartridges before printing again.

Fix 2: Disable Grayscale Printing

Many users accidentally enable grayscale mode.

On Windows:

1. Open Printer Preferences.
2. Locate Colour Settings.
3. Disable Print in Grayscale or Black & White Only.
4. Save the settings.

Print a colour test page afterwards.

Fix 3: Print a Colour Test Page

Print an internal printer test page.

If colours are missing on the printer’s own test page, the issue is inside the printer rather than your computer or software.

Fix 4: Reinstall or Replace Colour Toner

Even if toner remains, a faulty cartridge can prevent colour printing.

Remove each cartridge and:

• Reinstall it securely.
• Check for protective seals on new cartridges.
• Replace defective cartridges if necessary.

If toner errors appear, read:

Sharp Printer Toner Not Recognized? Easy Fix Guide (Internal Link)

Fix 5: Verify Print Settings

Incorrect application settings often disable colour output.

Check:

• Colour mode
• Paper type
• Print quality
• Application preferences
• Driver settings

Ensure colour printing is enabled both in the application and the printer driver.

Fix 6: Update or Reinstall the Printer Driver

Outdated drivers can cause colour printing errors.

Download the latest Sharp printer driver.

Then:

• Remove the old driver.
• Restart your computer.
• Install the latest version.
• Print another colour test page.

Related guide:

Sharp Printer Driver Unavailable? Fix Driver Problems Fast (Internal Link)

Fix 7: Clean the Printer

Dust and toner residue can affect colour quality.

Clean:

• Laser window
• Toner compartment
• Paper path
• Feed rollers

Run the printer’s built-in cleaning function if your model supports it.

Fix 8: Inspect the Imaging Components

If one colour is consistently missing, inspect:

• Drum unit
• Developer unit
• Transfer belt
• Toner delivery system

Worn imaging components often cause uneven or missing colours.

Fix 9: Update Printer Firmware

Firmware updates improve:

• Colour calibration
• Toner management
• Driver compatibility
• Overall print quality

Install the latest firmware available for your Sharp printer model.

Fix 10: Test Printing from Another Application

Print:

• PDF
• Microsoft Word document
• Image file
• Windows Test Page

If only one application fails to print colour correctly, the issue is likely software-related rather than printer-related.

How to Prevent Colour Printing Problems

Use Genuine Sharp Toner

Original toner cartridges provide better colour accuracy and fewer recognition problems.

Print Colour Pages Regularly

Occasional colour printing helps maintain toner flow and keeps internal components functioning properly.

Keep Drivers Updated

Updated drivers improve colour management and compatibility.

Clean the Printer Periodically

Routine maintenance helps prevent toner contamination and colour quality issues.

Keep Firmware Updated

Firmware updates improve colour calibration and printer stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Sharp printer only printing in black and white?

Grayscale mode may be enabled, colour toner cartridges may be empty, or one or more cartridges may not be recognised.

Why is one colour missing?

A faulty toner cartridge, blocked developer unit, or worn imaging component commonly causes a single colour to disappear.

Can outdated drivers affect colour printing?

Yes. Corrupted or outdated printer drivers may cause incorrect colour settings or communication problems.

Should I replace all toner cartridges?

No. Replace only the cartridge that is empty, defective, or not recognised unless multiple cartridges have reached the end of their service life.

Why are my colour prints faded?

Faded colours are usually caused by low toner levels, worn imaging components, incorrect print settings, or dirty internal parts.

Related Guides

Continue troubleshooting with these Sharp printer resources:

• Sharp Printer Not Printing?
• Sharp Printer Not Printing Black?
• Sharp Printer Printing Blank Pages?
• Sharp Printer Printing Faded or Light?
• Sharp Printer Toner Not Recognized?
• Sharp Printer Driver Unavailable?
• Sharp Printer Alignment Problem?

Final Thoughts

A Sharp printer not printing color is typically caused by empty or faulty colour toner cartridges, incorrect print settings, outdated drivers, or worn imaging components rather than a major hardware problem. By checking the colour toner cartridges, disabling grayscale mode, cleaning the printer, updating the driver and firmware, and inspecting the imaging system, you can resolve most colour printing issues quickly.

If your Sharp printer still isn’t producing accurate colours, continue with the related Sharp troubleshooting guides above for detailed help with toner errors, faded printing, blank pages, driver issues, and overall print quality. Regular maintenance and genuine Sharp consumables will help ensure consistent, vibrant colour output for all your printing needs.