eeHow to Print Only in Black and White on Any Printer
Knowing how to print black and white only on any printer is one of the quickest ways to cut printing costs and extend the life of your color cartridges. Whether you use a Windows PC, a Mac, a smartphone, or a shared office device, every major platform lets you force grayscale output — but the steps differ by operating system and printer brand. This guide walks through every scenario so you can set it up correctly the first time. Before you start, it's also worth reviewing our guide on how to choose the right printer paper, since paper type affects how black ink renders on the page.
Contents
Why Print in Black and White Only
Most inkjet printers default to color mode even when the document contains no color. Worse, many blend all four ink cartridges — cyan, magenta, yellow, and black — to produce a composite black that the manufacturer considers richer. The result is that printing a plain text document quietly drains your color ink. Forcing grayscale or black-and-white mode stops this entirely and routes all output through the black cartridge only.
The Real Cost Difference
According to Wikipedia's overview of ink cartridges, the cost per milliliter of inkjet ink is among the highest of any liquid commodity. Color cartridges cost more to replace and deplete faster. The table below illustrates a typical comparison across printer types:
| Printer Type | Avg. Cost per Color Page | Avg. Cost per B&W Page | Savings Switching to B&W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Inkjet | $0.12 – $0.18 | $0.03 – $0.05 | ~70% |
| Mid-Range Inkjet | $0.08 – $0.14 | $0.02 – $0.04 | ~72% |
| Color Laser | $0.06 – $0.10 | $0.01 – $0.02 | ~80% |
| Monochrome Laser | N/A | $0.01 – $0.02 | Always B&W |
If you print frequently and want to manage ongoing cartridge costs, our comparison of printer ink subscription services covers whether a monthly ink plan can offset the expense.
When Grayscale Is the Right Choice
Grayscale is ideal for draft documents, contracts, shipping labels, invoices, meeting notes, and study materials. Any print job where color carries no informational value is a candidate. Reserve color mode for photos, marketing materials, and charts where color distinctions are meaningful.
How to Set Black and White on Windows
Windows Driver Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Click your printer, then select Printer properties.
- Open the Advanced or Device Settings tab.
- Locate Color Mode, Print in Grayscale, or Color and change it to Black & White or Grayscale.
- Click Apply, then OK.
Note that Printer Properties and Printing Preferences are different entries. Properties controls the device configuration; Preferences controls print defaults for all jobs — more on that in the defaults section below.
Per-Application Print Dialog
To change color mode for a single job without altering system defaults, press Ctrl + P in any application, then click More settings, Printer Properties, or Preferences. The exact label depends on the app. In the dialog that opens, find the color or quality tab and switch to grayscale. This setting applies only to that print job and resets afterward.
How to Set Black and White on Mac
macOS Print Dialog
- Press ⌘ + P to open the Print dialog in any application.
- Click Show Details if the expanded panel is not visible.
- Click the dropdown that shows Layout by default.
- Select the color panel — labeled Color Options (Epson), Quality & Media (Canon), or simply Color (HP), depending on your driver.
- Set the color option to Grayscale or Black & White.
- Print normally.
Saving a Grayscale Preset
After configuring grayscale in the print dialog, click the Presets dropdown and choose Save Current Settings as Preset. Name it something like "Grayscale" and select it from the Presets menu in future sessions to apply grayscale in one click.
Printing Black and White from Mobile Devices
Android
- Open your document, tap the menu or share icon, and select Print.
- Tap the expand arrow next to the printer name to reveal full options.
- Find the Color setting and change it to Black & White or Monochrome.
- Confirm and print.
If no color option appears in the standard dialog, open your printer's companion app — HP Smart, Epson iPrint, or Canon PRINT Inkjet — where a persistent grayscale mode can usually be set as the default.
iPhone and iPad
iOS uses AirPrint for wireless printing. After tapping the share icon and selecting Print, swipe up on the options panel to expand printer settings. If your printer supports AirPrint grayscale, a Black & White toggle will appear. If the toggle is absent, open the printer's dedicated iOS app and configure grayscale there — that setting persists for all future AirPrint jobs from that device.
Setting Your Printer to Default Black and White
Changing grayscale per job gets tedious. Setting it as the driver default means every application on the device prints in black and white automatically unless you override it for a specific job.
Windows Default Preferences
- Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
- Right-click your printer and select Printing Preferences — not Properties.
- Find the Color or Color Mode setting and set it to Grayscale.
- Click OK.
This change applies system-wide. Word, Excel, Chrome, Adobe Reader, and every other application on that PC will now default to grayscale.
Mac Default Preset
macOS doesn't have a true system-level default for color mode in the same way Windows does. The closest equivalent is a named preset. Configure grayscale in the print dialog, save it as a preset, and select it each session. Alternatively, set grayscale in each application's own preferences where supported.
Printer-Specific Grayscale Menus
Driver interfaces vary significantly between manufacturers. Here's what to look for on the most common brands — browse our full printer reviews if you're evaluating a new device.
HP Printers
In the HP print driver on Windows, open Printing Preferences → Color tab and select Print in Grayscale. On the HP Smart app, go to Print → Advanced Settings → Color and toggle grayscale. HP printers with a touchscreen panel also offer Setup → Preferences → Grayscale directly on the device.
Epson Printers
In the Epson Windows driver, go to Printing Preferences → Main tab and set Color to Black/Grayscale. On Mac, select Print Settings from the print dialog dropdown and change the Color option. Epson's ink tank models (EcoTank) have the same driver path — grayscale is especially valuable on those because color tanks refill at different rates.
Canon Printers
In Canon's driver on Windows, open Printing Preferences → Main tab and locate the Color/Intensity section. Set Color Mode to Black and White. On Mac, look for Quality & Media in the print dialog dropdown, then change Color Mode accordingly.
Brother Printers
Brother's print driver includes a Grayscale checkbox directly on the Basic tab — one of the most accessible implementations among major brands. On Brother printers with an LCD menu, navigate to General Setup → Ecology → Grayscale Print and enable it. This locks the device itself to monochrome regardless of what the connected PC requests.
Once you've locked in grayscale output, you may also want to review our guide on how to calibrate printer color — useful for when you do switch back to color and want accurate results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does printing in grayscale use only the black ink cartridge?
On most laser printers, yes — grayscale routes everything through the black toner. On inkjet printers, it depends on the driver setting. Choosing "Black & White" typically uses only the black cartridge, while "Grayscale" sometimes blends color inks for a composite black. Check your driver's description carefully and test with a small document to confirm which mode your printer uses.
Will setting grayscale as default affect all applications on my PC?
Yes. Changing the grayscale setting under Printing Preferences in Windows Control Panel applies a driver-level default that all applications inherit. Individual applications can still override this within their own print dialogs, but the default will always be grayscale unless changed there.
How do I print in black and white from Google Chrome?
In Chrome, press Ctrl + P (or ⌘ + P on Mac) to open the print dialog. Click More settings, then scroll to the Color option and change it to Black and white. Chrome's built-in print dialog includes this option directly without requiring access to the driver panel.
Can I set a Brother or HP printer to always print in black and white from the device itself?
Yes, both brands support on-device grayscale locks. On Brother printers, navigate the LCD menu to General Setup → Ecology → Grayscale Print. On HP printers with a touchscreen, go to Setup → Preferences → Print in Grayscale. When set at the device level, the grayscale mode applies regardless of what the connected computer requests.
Why does my printer still use color ink even when I select black and white?
Some printer drivers distinguish between "Black and White" (black cartridge only) and "Grayscale" (blended color inks for richer blacks). If you're still seeing color ink depleted, ensure your driver is set to Black and White, not Grayscale. Also check that the change was made under Printing Preferences (driver default), not just Printer Properties, which controls hardware configuration rather than output color mode.
Does grayscale printing affect print quality for text documents?
For plain text documents, grayscale quality is essentially identical to color mode. Text printed with the black cartridge alone is typically sharper because it uses a single ink without blending artifacts. Quality differences only become noticeable for documents with detailed photographs, where composite black (using all four cartridges) can produce slightly richer shadow tones than black ink alone.
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About Marcus Reeves
Marcus Reeves is a printing technology specialist with over 12 years of hands-on experience in the industry. Before turning to technical writing, he spent eight years as a service technician for HP and Brother enterprise printer lines, where he diagnosed and repaired thousands of inkjet and laser machines. Marcus holds an associate degree in electronic engineering technology from DeVry University and a CompTIA A+ certification. He is passionate about helping home users and small offices get the most out of their printers without paying ink subscription fees. When he is not testing the latest cartridge refill kits, he tinkers with vintage dot-matrix printers and 3D printers in his garage workshop.
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