Epson Workforce Pro WF-3720 Not Printing Black? – Fixed

Are you having issues with your Epson Workforce Pro WF-3720 not printing black? Let me share the exact steps we used to solve this problem.

We recently had this issue with our printer, which only printed other colors, but not black.

This guide will detail proven solutions that will get you back to printing on all colors in less than 10 minutes.

Don’t panic. Let’s start fixing your printer.

To fix your Epson Workforce Pro WF-3720 printer that’s not printing black, you want to perform a nozzle check. You’ll need to clean the printhead using the Epson Utility if the results tell you it’s clogged. You also want to look at your color settings, as you may have set it to print only in color.

Let’s take a closer look at the possible sources of this error. We can then move on to the full troubleshooting guide to resolve this particular issue.

Why Epson Workforce Pro WF-3720 Black Ink Not Printing

If your Epson WF-3720 printer does not print black, there are a few culprits that you can keep an eye out for.

The first one is low ink levels, especially the black ink.

The other one that you need to look out for is clogged nozzles. If it’s blocked, the ink wouldn’t be able to pass into the paper.

1. Low Ink Levels

Your printer needs ink to operate. If your black cartridge becomes depleted, your printer won’t be able to print in black.

Your printer will even stop working if it runs out of black ink.

2. Dirty or Clogged Nozzles

Your printer’s nozzles or printheads need to be clean and free from obstruction.

3. Wrong Printer Settings

Certain settings will tell your printer not to print in black or not use black ink. Ensure your printer settings are correct before hitting the ‘Print’ button.

4. Outdated Software

Old software can cause many problems with your printer. Incompatibilities can occur that will top your printer from using black ink.

These are some of the primary problems you can expect when your Epson printer doesn’t print black.

We can now proceed to the full troubleshooting guide so you can get this issue fixed right away!

How to Fix Epson Workforce Pro WF-3720 Not Printing Black

Before we go ahead with the solutions, we want to eliminate any temporary problems.

The quickest way to deal with that is to open up your printer and reseat your ink cartridges.

You’ll need to remove them and put them back in, so their contacts reconnect again. You can also reboot your printer.

If these quick steps don’t resolve your issue, we know your printer has a more serious underlying problem.

Let’s go ahead to our tested and proven solutions so you can fix your printer in a matter of minutes:

Solution #1: Check the Black Ink Levels

Since we’re dealing with an ink issue, you’ll naturally want to check your printer’s ink levels.

You want to focus on the black ink, but you also don’t want to disregard the rest.

If your black cartridge runs out of ink, you won’t be able to print documents using black ink.

You’ll also have a hard time printing images as black ink plays a significant part in those prints.

Here’s how to check your printer’s ink levels:

1. Click on the printer icon on your taskbar.
2. Select the Maintenance tab.
3. Click on the Epson Status Monitor 3.
4. Check the graphic display for ink levels.
5. Replace the ink cartridge for those with low ink levels.

Note: Ink levels are approximate values, but they’re pretty accurate if you follow the instructions in replacing the cartridges.

Solution #2: Clean Your Printer’s Printhead with Software

If ink levels are not the issue of your printer not printing black, you will want to look at the condition of your printer’s nozzles.

There’s a good chance they’re clogged and dirty blocking the ink from flowing to the paper.

The good news is that you can clean the printhead or nozzle of your printer.

One of the ways to do that would be to use the Epson Utility, where you can perform a nozzle check and eventually go through a printhead cleaning cycle.

Here’s how to clean the printhead using the Epson Utility:

1. Open your printer’s settings by clicking on the icon in the taskbar.
2. Go to Head Cleaning.
3. Click on Start to begin the cleaning process.
4. After the cleaning cycle is done, click Print Nozzle Check Pattern.
5. The printed pattern should not have any gaps in the lines.

Pro Tip: If you see gaps in your nozzle check pattern, perform the head cleaning cycle again.

Alert: It may take up to 6 head cleaning attempts to clean your printhead completely.

Solution #3: Clean the Printhead Manually

You can still opt for the manual method if the software method does not work for you.

It requires a bit of elbow grease, but it should effectively ensure that your printhead is clear of debris and obstruction.

Epson printers are known to clog the printhead rather easily. Ink easily dries up and can block the holes where your ink is supposed to flow from the cartridge to the printhead.

Here’s how to clean the printhead manually:

1. Turn on your printer and open the lid.
2. Remove the cartridges from their tray.
3. Spray an ammonia-based cleaner like Windex into the cartridge tray.
4. Leave for a few hours or overnight.
5. Return the cartridges and start printing.

Note: You can also use a cotton swab to apply the cleaner into the small holes of your printer’s cartridge tray.

Solution #4: Clean the Ink Cartridge Chip

A dirty cartridge chip, especially with black ink, can cause this problem where your printer doesn’t print in black.

The chip on your cartridge saves a lot of information about your ink.

It can detect your ink consumption and ensure that you use the correct ink cartridge in the right spot.

If your cartridge chip is smudged or dirty, it can stop working and cause a malfunction with your printer.

Here’s how to clean your ink cartridge chip:

1. Get a clean pencil eraser and rub it into the cartridge chip.
2. You can also use a cotton swab with a bit of rubbing alcohol.
3. Use a soft dry cloth and wipe the chunk clean.

Note: Always use genuine Epson ink for your WF-3720 printer since the cartridge chip can make your life a lot easier if it’s working.

Solution #5: Check your Print Color Settings

If you want to optimize your prints, you want to ensure you’re using the right settings. Using the wrong ones can cause issues with your photos.

One, in particular, is that your printer can stop using the black ink, giving your prints a weird hue that lacks a lot of depth.

Epson’s print settings do offer an Automatic feature, but you can optimize it more by customizing it, giving you more control of all your prints.

Here’s how to configure your print settings:

1. Open your Printer Settings, then go to the Basic Settings tab.
2. Click on Advanced, then go to More Settings.
3. Choose Black as your Color Setting.
4. Choose a resolution that you like.

Note: If you’re still experiencing the issue with your ink, you don’t want to miss fixing here.

Solution #6: Update Your Printer’s Firmware

Lastly, you want to update your printer’s firmware to the latest version. There is a good chance that your printer will not update right away.

You’ll need to investigate the settings and check if your printer’s firmware needs updating.

Here’s how to update your printer’s firmware:

1. Go to Epson’s support website.
2. Select Support.
3. Search for the WF-3720.
4. Go to the Downloads tab and get the driver.
5. Install it on your computer.

Note: You can also use the Epson Software Updater to update your computer's firmware.

If none of these solutions resolve the issue, you can contact Epson customer support for additional assistance. A more serious underlying problem could be causing this issue with your computer.

Read Next: Epson ET-3750 Not Connecting to WiFi?

Bottom Line

Now that you know how to fix your Epson Workforce Pro WF-3720 not printing black, you’ll be able to print important documents and resolve your printer issue in no time.

As long as you follow our instructions to the letter, you should be able to get it fixed and your ink cartridge back and working again.