Printing in color on Windows 10 isn’t exactly rocket science, but it can be a bit tricky if your printouts come out monochrome or faded. Sometimes, the issue is just a matter of the right settings — maybe the printer’s default is set to grayscale, or the driver needs a quick update. Whatever the case, fixing this isn’t too complicated once you know where to look. Following these steps should help you get crisp, vibrant prints, especially if you’ve been pulling your hair out over dull, black-and-white outputs when color would make all the difference.
How to Print in Color on Windows 10
Check your printer setup and settings from the get-go
First off, ensure your printer is actually set up to handle color printing. Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners and pick your printer. Then click Manage and go to Printing preferences. Here, you’ll find the color options. Sometimes, it’s defaulted to black & white or grayscale. Switch it back to color — look for a toggle or dropdown labeled “Color Mode” or similar. On some printers, you might need to go into the driver software directly. For example, if you’re using HP, it’s worth opening HP Smart or the printer’s control panel app to double-check.
Also, make sure your ink cartridges have enough color ink. Because, obviously, low ink levels can prevent color printing even if everything’s set up correctly.
Ensure the application you’re printing from has the right color settings
Some programs have their own color controls which override system defaults. For example, in Microsoft Word, go to File > Print, then click Printer Properties or Preferences. Look for a section about color and verify it’s set to print in color instead of grayscale or black & white. On Photoshop or other image editors, double-check your color profiles or print settings to avoid surprises.
Update your printer drivers if things are still wonky
If the above steps don’t do the trick, updating drivers might help. Head over to the printer manufacturer’s website (like HP, Canon, Epson, etc.) and grab the latest driver. Sometimes, Windows Update doesn’t deliver the newest or most compatible version, so a manual update can fix weird issues like printing entirely in black and white or missing color options. Just download the driver, run the installer, and restart your PC.
Pro tip: Use tools like the manufacturer’s software or device manager (Device Manager in Windows) to confirm the driver’s actually up to date and installed properly.
Try a test print with direct driver commands
On some setups, the first print might still be monochrome even after fixing settings. In such cases, opening the Printer Properties and running a diagnostic print or test page can reveal what’s going on. If you see the test page in black & white but the application setting claims it’s configured for color, it might be time to uninstall and reinstall the driver — or try a different driver version.
Disconnect and reconnect to see if it resets the bug
Sometimes, a quick disconnect and reconnect can force the system to acknowledge the new settings. Turn off the printer, disconnect it from the PC, restart Windows, then reconnect and try again. On rare occasions, Windows has a hiccup that prevents the new settings from applying until a proper restart or reinstall.
From experience, these fixes usually work, but on some machines, you might need to dive deeper or try a different port (USB vs. Ethernet).Because, of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary sometimes.
Summary
- Check your printer’s color mode in the settings and ensure it’s set to color, not grayscale.
- Make sure your ink cartridges are filled with enough color ink.
- Verify application-specific print settings for color output.
- Update your printer drivers directly from the manufacturer’s site.
- Run test prints and consider reinstalling drivers if needed.
Wrap-up
Getting color printing to work consistently often boils down to a few hidden settings or driver quirks. If things aren’t cooperating, double-check those color toggles and ink levels first. Updating drivers is usually the easiest way to fix mismatch problems, especially if your printer is a bit older or Windows has automatic updates enabled but behind the scenes.
Hopefully, this gets one less headache out of the way — because nothing beats watching your documents pop out in full, vibrant color.