Printing in color requires setting the printer’s color option in the print dialog or printer preferences, and confirming the app, driver, and printer are all set to color instead of grayscale or black-and-white.
Nothing derails a project faster than hitting Print and getting a page of gray text and grayed-out images. The fix is almost always in two places: the app you’re printing from and the printer’s own settings. Most color-printing failures happen because one of these is set to Grayscale while the other is set to Color, so the printer follows whichever instruction it receives last. Here’s exactly where to look on Windows to get your colors back.
Where to Change the Color Setting on Windows
Windows gives you two paths to the printer’s color controls — the deeper Printer Properties or Printing Preferences menu, and the streamlined app print dialog. Start with the full-driver route, because it overrides the app-level choice.
Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, then click Manage. From there choose Printing preferences or Printer properties (the label varies by manufacturer). Look for a Color tab, a Quality tab, or a dropdown labeled Color Mode. Choose Color, Auto Color, or Automatic, and make sure Print in Grayscale, Gray Scale, Black & White, or Mono is not selected. Dartmouth’s guide follows the same pattern: Printing Preferences > Quality > Select Color > Auto Color > Apply > OK.
Where to Change It Inside the App
Every app’s print dialog also has its own color setting, often hidden behind a Printer Properties button or a Color menu. Open File > Print, then look for that button — it opens the same driver menu mentioned above. Cornell and Colorado State both note that choices like Pure Black and White or Grayscale may be set here without you noticing, especially in common document and photo apps.
If you set the printer driver to Color but the app’s dialog is still on Grayscale, the app-level choice typically wins. Check both places before printing.
Color Labels Are Not Standardized — What to Look For
Manufacturers use different names for the same setting. On some HP drivers, the Color tab lets you choose Automatic for color or check Print in Grayscale for black-and-white. On others, the option is Auto Color or Gray Scale under a Select Color dropdown. Colorado State gives real examples: for SHARP printers, look for Color in Color Mode; for Xerox, change Color from Black and White to Color.
| Manufacturer | Typical Color Option Label | Typical Grayscale Option Label |
|---|---|---|
| HP | Automatic (under Color tab) | Print in Grayscale |
| SHARP | Color (in Color Mode) | Black & White or Mono |
| Xerox | Color | Black and White |
| Generic/Other | Auto Color or Color | Gray Scale, Mono, or Black & White |
When Color Still Won’t Print
If the settings are correct and the page still comes out black-and-white, the problem is likely ink, toner, or the driver itself. Microsoft’s Q&A team confirms two common fixes: make sure color ink or toner is installed and has enough supply, then update or reinstall the latest printer driver from the manufacturer’s website. A driver that’s missing its color-profile data can hide the color options entirely. If your current printer is too old or unreliable for color work, our tested roundup of the best color printers for home offices can help find a dependable replacement.
One last check: some printers are forced into monochrome mode by a setting in the printer’s own control panel (the screen on the machine itself). If the driver and app are both set to Color and the page still prints gray, look at the printer’s onboard menu for a Grayscale or Mono override.
FAQs
Why does my printer default to black-and-white even after I set it to color?
Most printers use the app-level print dialog setting first, then the driver setting. If the app is still set to Grayscale, the driver change has no effect. Always check the application’s print dialog under Printer Properties before printing.
Where is the color option in Windows 11?
In Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click Printing preferences. The Color or Color Mode option works the same way as on Windows 10, usually under a Quality or Color tab.
Can I set color as the default for all documents?
Yes. Set the color option in the printer’s Printing Preferences menu and click Apply or OK. That choice becomes the default for every app until you change it again in a specific document dialog.
References & Sources
- Cornell University IT. “Set Your Printer for Color or Black-and-White Printing.” Documents the Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners path and manufacturer-specific labels for HP and generic drivers.
- Colorado State University. “How Do I Print in Color?” Provides real examples of HP, SHARP, and Xerox label differences.
- Dartmouth College ITC. “Print in Color (Windows).” Documents the Manage > Printing Preferences > Quality > Select Color > Auto Color sequence.