If your Canon PIXMA TR4520 color not printing correctly, you're likely dealing with clogged print head nozzles, depleted color ink cartridges, or software configuration problems. This compact all-in-one wireless printer uses the PG-243/PG-245 black and CL-244/CL-246 color cartridge system, which requires proper maintenance to deliver consistent cyan, magenta, and yellow output. Below, our printer repair specialists walk you through proven troubleshooting steps to restore full color printing without unnecessary service calls.
Quick Hardware Checks
Before diving into advanced troubleshooting, verify the physical components that most commonly cause Canon PIXMA TR4520 color not printing issues. These preliminary checks resolve the majority of cases without further intervention.
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Check Color Ink Levels: Press and hold the Stop button until the alarm lamp flashes 15 times, then release to print a nozzle check pattern. Alternatively, open the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app on your mobile device and tap "Ink Levels." If the CL-244 or CL-246 color cartridge shows empty or critically low, replace it immediately. The TR4520 will not print color if any of the three color chambers (cyan, magenta, yellow) are depleted, even if black ink remains available.
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Verify Cartridge Installation: Open the front cover and wait for the cartridge holder to move to the replacement position. Remove the color cartridge and reinstall it firmly until you hear a distinct click. Ensure the orange protective tape was completely removed from the cartridge bottom during initial setup—residual tape blocks ink flow and triggers the Canon PIXMA TR4520 color not printing symptom. Check that you're using genuine Canon cartridges; third-party alternatives often cause recognition failures.
3
Perform Print Head Cleaning: On the printer control panel, press and hold the Stop button until the alarm lamp flashes twice, then release to start standard cleaning. For deeper cleaning, flash the lamp three times. After cleaning completes (approximately 2-3 minutes), print a nozzle check pattern by flashing the lamp once. If gaps appear in the color lines, repeat cleaning up to two more times. Excessive cleaning wastes ink; if three cycles don't help, proceed to manual cleaning or deep cleaning via the Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool on your computer.
Advanced Troubleshooting and Software Fixes
When hardware checks don't resolve your Canon PIXMA TR4520 color not printing problem, the issue typically stems from driver settings, print queue corruption, or operating system conflicts. These advanced steps require computer access and address software-related causes that standard maintenance misses.
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Disable Grayscale Printing: Open your document and access Print Preferences (Windows) or Print Dialog (Mac). Navigate to the "Main" tab and ensure "Grayscale Printing" is unchecked. On Mac, look for "Quality & Media" and confirm "Color" is selected rather than "Black & White." Many users accidentally enable grayscale in previous print jobs, and the setting persists across documents, making this a frequent hidden cause of printer repair requests.
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Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers: Visit Canon's support website and download the latest TR4520 Full Driver & Software Package for your operating system. Uninstall the existing driver through Control Panel > Programs (Windows) or System Preferences > Printers & Scanners (Mac), then restart your computer before installing the fresh download. Outdated drivers frequently cause color processing errors where the printer receives incorrect color data or drops color channels entirely during rendering.
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Reset Print System and Clear Spooler: On Windows, open Services.msc, stop the Print Spooler service, delete all files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then restart the service. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, right-click the printer list area, and select "Reset printing system." Re-add your TR4520 afterward. Corrupted print jobs in the queue can send malformed color data, resulting in blank color pages or missing hues even when hardware functions normally.
⚠️ Important: Never perform more than three consecutive print head cleanings without printing a test page between each cycle. Excessive cleaning depletes your CL-244/CL-246 color cartridge rapidly and can potentially damage the print head by forcing ink through already-clear nozzles at excessive pressure. If three standard cleanings and one deep cleaning fail to restore color output, the print head may require professional replacement rather than further maintenance attempts.
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Why is my Canon PIXMA TR4520 only printing black and white?
The most common cause is grayscale printing enabled in your driver settings. Check Print Preferences > Main tab and uncheck "Grayscale Printing." If that's not selected, your color cartridge may be empty or unrecognized—verify ink levels through the Canon PRINT app or by printing a nozzle check pattern. Third-party cartridges often trigger this issue due to chip incompatibility.
How do I manually clean the print head on a TR4520?
Remove both cartridges and lift the print head lock lever. Gently pull out the print head assembly and place it on a paper towel dampened with warm distilled water—never use tap water or alcohol. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes, then blot dry and reinstall. Run one cleaning cycle afterward. For most users, the automatic deep cleaning function in the IJ Printer Assistant Tool provides sufficient maintenance without physical removal.
Can I print color if one color cartridge chamber is empty?
No. The Canon PIXMA TR4520 uses a tri-color CL-244/CL-246 cartridge where cyan, magenta, and yellow share a single unit. If any one color depletes, the entire cartridge must be replaced. The printer firmware prevents partial color printing to avoid quality issues. Always keep a spare color cartridge available, as you'll lose all color output simultaneously when any chamber empties.