How to Print in Black and White Only

Windows

1. Open the print dialog (Ctrl+P), then click Printer Properties or Preferences.
2. Look for a Color/Quality or Paper/Quality tab — select "Grayscale" or "Black & White" or "Print in Grayscale."
3. Print as normal.

Mac

1. Open the print dialog (Cmd+P) and click Show Details if the simple view is showing.
2. From the dropdown that usually says "Copies & Pages," select "Color Matching" or "Quality & Media" (varies by driver).
3. Choose "Grayscale" or "Black & White."

Why this matters

Even a document that looks black-and-white on screen can trigger the printer to pull a tiny amount from every color cartridge, because black text is sometimes rendered as a composite of all four colors ("rich black") rather than pure black ink. Forcing grayscale mode prevents this and uses only the black cartridge.