Improve print quality

Note 

To protect the cartridges from drying out, always turn the printer off using the On button, and wait until the On button light goes out.

  1. Make sure you are using Original HP ink cartridges and HP recommended papers.

    For more information, see Recommended papers for printing.

  2. Check the printer software to make sure you have selected the appropriate paper type from the Media drop-down list and print quality from the Quality Settings drop-down list.

    In the printer software, click Print, Scan & Fax and then click Set Preferences to access the print properties.

  3. Check the estimated ink levels to determine if the cartridges are low on ink.

    For more information, see Check the estimated ink levels. If the ink cartridges are low on ink consider replacing them.

  4. Align the cartridges.

    To align the cartridges from the printer software

    Note 

    Aligning the cartridges ensures the high-quality output. The printer prompts you to align the cartridges every time you install a new cartridge. If you remove and reinstall the same ink cartridge, the HP All-in-One will not prompt you to align the ink cartridges. The HP All-in-One remembers the alignment values for that ink cartridge, so you do not need to realign the ink cartridges.

    1. Load letter or A4 unused plain white paper into the paper tray.

    2. Depending on your operating system, do one of the following to open the printer software:

      • Windows 8: On the Start screen, right-click an empty area on the screen, click All Apps on the app bar, and then click the icon with the printer's name.

      • Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP: From the computer desktop, click Start, select All Programs, click HP, click HP Officejet 4630 series, and then click HP Officejet 4630 series.

    3. In the printer software, click Print, Scan & Fax, and then click Maintain Your Printer to access the Printer Toolbox.

    4. The Printer Toolbox appears.

    5. Click Align Ink Cartridges on the Device Services tab. The printer prints an alignment sheet.

    6. Load the cartridge alignment sheet print side down on the right front corner of the scanner glass.

    7. Follow the instructions on the printer display to align the cartridges. Recycle or discard the cartridge alignment sheet.

    To align the cartridges from the printer display

    1. From the Home screen on the printer display, press the Up and Down buttons to select Tools, and then press OK.

      Note 

      If you do not see the Home screen, press the Home button.

    2. From the Tools menu on the printer display, select Align Printer. Follow the on-screen instructions.

  5. Print a diagnostics page if the cartridges are not low on ink.

    To print a diagnostics page from the printer software

    1. Load letter or A4 unused plain white paper into the paper tray.

    2. Depending on your operating system, do one of the following to open the printer software:

      • Windows 8: On the Start screen, right-click an empty area on the screen, click All Apps on the app bar, and then click the icon with the printer's name.

      • Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP: From the computer desktop, click Start, select All Programs, click HP, click HP Officejet 4630 series, and then click HP Officejet 4630 series.

    3. In the printer software, click Print, Scan & Fax, and then click Maintain Your Printer to access the printer toolbox.

    4. Click Print Diagnostic Information on the Device Reports tab to print a diagnostics page. Review the blue, magenta, yellow, and black boxes on the diagnostics page. If you are seeing streaks in the color and black boxes, or no ink in portions of the boxes, then automatically clean the cartridges.

      Graphic - Diagnostics page

    To print a diagnostics page from the printer display

    1. From the Home screen on the printer display, press the Up and Down buttons to select Tools, and then press OK.

      Note 

      If you do not see the Home screen, press the Home button.

    2. From the Tools menu on the printer display, select Print Quality Report. Follow the on-screen instructions.

  6. Clean the ink cartridges automatically, if the diagnostic page shows steaks or missing portions of the color and black boxes.

    To clean the cartridges from the printer software

    1. Load letter or A4 unused plain white paper into the paper tray.

    2. Depending on your operating system, do one of the following to open the printer software:

      • Windows 8: On the Start screen, right-click an empty area on the screen, click All Apps on the app bar, and then click the icon with the printer's name.

      • Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP: From the computer desktop, click Start, select All Programs, click HP, click HP Officejet 4630 series, and then click HP Officejet 4630 series.

    3. In the printer software, click Print, Scan & Fax, and then click Maintain Your Printer to access the Printer Toolbox.

    4. Click Clean Ink Cartridges on the Device Services tab. Follow the on-screen instructions.

    To clean the cartridges from the printer display

    1. From the Home screen on the printer display, press the Up and Down buttons to select Tools, and then press OK.

      Note 

      If you do not see the Home screen, press the Home button.

    2. From the Tools menu on the printer display, select Clean Printhead. Follow the on-screen instructions.

If the above solutions do not resolve the problem, click here for more online troubleshooting.