Your HP DeskJet 4255e is running through its print motion, grabbing paper, and ejecting completely blank pages. Or maybe you're getting partial output where just the black or just the color shows up. The 4255e is a 2022 budget all-in-one that uses HP 67 or HP 67XL black and tri-color cartridges, and blank-page issues on this model almost always trace back to the cartridge itself rather than the printer's mechanics.
Start by checking your ink levels in the HP Smart app. Tap on your 4255e and look at the cartridge status. If the levels show there's ink but pages are still blank, the print head on the cartridge is likely clogged or wasn't seated properly. Run a print head cleaning cycle from HP Smart before you try anything else.
Run a Cleaning Cycle From HP Smart
Open HP Smart on your phone or computer and select your 4255e. Head to Printer Settings > Maintenance/Tools > Clean Printhead. Run Level 1 first, then print a diagnostic page and run Level 2 only if needed.
After it finishes, print a diagnostic page. If the output is still blank, run Level 2 if HP Smart offers it, then test again.
Wipe the Nozzles on the HP 67 Cartridge
If the cleaning cycle didn't do the trick, HP recommends a manual nozzle wipe as the next step. Open the cartridge access door and lift each HP 67 cartridge out. The nozzle plate is the small copper-colored strip on the bottom (that's different from the gold chip contacts on the side).
Dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water and swipe across the nozzle plate exactly once in one direction. Don't scrub or rub in circles, and avoid touching the contacts. Reinstall the cartridge, close the door, and print a test page. If you see ink on the cloth, you cleared the clog.
Is the Protective Tape Still On?
This one is easy to miss with a new HP 67 cartridge. Pull the cartridge out and look at the bottom. If you see orange protective tape or clear plastic covering the nozzle plate, peel it off completely before reinstalling.
Reinstall the cartridge by sliding it into the slot at a slight upward angle, then push up until it clicks. Print a test page to confirm.
Reseat the Black and Tri-Color Cartridges
A cartridge that looks installed but isn't fully clicked in can cause blank pages. Open the cartridge door, press down on the cartridge to release it, and pull it out of the slot. Slide it back in at a slight upward angle, then push up until it clicks into place.
The printer can operate in single-cartridge mode when only one cartridge is installed, but both cartridges should be installed securely when available. If one cartridge is missing, reinstall it to exit single-cartridge mode.
Print a Self-Test Page to Isolate the Problem
The 4255e has reports that bypass your computer entirely. With paper loaded and the printer powered on, press and hold the Cancel button for three seconds to print a Printer Status Report. To print the information page, press the Information button.
If the printer report is blank, the issue is likely on the printer side, such as a cartridge, ink flow, or printhead-cleaning problem. If the report prints normally, continue with driver, print settings, or firmware troubleshooting on your computer.
The HP+ and Instant Ink Catch
If you enrolled the 4255e in HP+ during setup, that printer is permanently locked to official HP cartridges for life. Instant Ink is different: HP-supplied subscription cartridges work only while the printer is enrolled and are disabled after cancellation; after that, use standard cartridges compatible with your printer and HP+ status.
If you swapped to a non-HP cartridge and the printer is enrolled in HP+, this can be the culprit. Open HP Smart and check your printer's enrollment status. Switching back to genuine HP 67 or HP 67XL cartridges should restore printing if cartridge eligibility is the only issue.
Clear Air Trapped in a Fresh Cartridge
If ink levels look fine but output is still blank, HP says dried ink, clogged nozzles, or air bubbles can block ink flow. Run the printhead cleaning utility and print a diagnostic page rather than sending multiple blank print jobs.
If pages are still blank after ten prints and a cleaning cycle, the cartridge likely has a defect and needs to be returned.
Check the Paper Orientation
If you're using photo paper or letterhead, you might be printing on the wrong side. Plain copy paper is symmetric, so this isn't usually an issue. But specialty paper has a printable side that needs to face up in the input tray.
Pull the paper out, flip the stack, reload, and try again. It takes about ten seconds to rule out.
Swap in a New HP 67 Cartridge
If the self-test page from the printer is blank and the nozzle wipe made no difference, the cartridge has a manufacturing defect or a fully dried head that distilled water can't recover. The HP 67 series has the print head built directly into the cartridge, so a permanently clogged nozzle plate means the cartridge itself is the failed part.
Install a fresh HP 67 or HP 67XL black or tri-color cartridge. Run one cleaning cycle and print a test page. If output is clean, the old cartridge was the issue and can be returned within HP's warranty window.