HP LaserJet Pro M375/M475 — Black in wrong position
The black cartridge is installed in a slot intended for another color.
Error meaning
The black cartridge is installed in the wrong slot.
This meaning is tied to the reviewed family/platform and subsystem below; do not reuse the number or wording by itself on a different printer family or protocol.
Applies to
LaserJet Pro 300/400 color MFP M375/M475 Series
- HP LaserJet Pro 300 color MFP M375
- HP LaserJet Pro 400 color MFP M475
Common formatting
These are formatting/lookup aliases for this reviewed condition, not separate error pages.
- Black in wrong position
- cartridge-wrong-position
What usually causes it
- Cartridges were removed together and reinstalled in the wrong order.
- The black cartridge was inserted into a color slot during supply replacement.
- More than one cartridge may be misplaced after maintenance or shipping.
What to try
Open the cartridge access area and identify the labeled positions
Use the printer's color labels rather than cartridge shape alone; color cartridges can look similar.
Move the black cartridge to the black position
Do not force it into place. If another cartridge occupies that slot, restore each supply to its matching color position.
Check all remaining cartridges before closing the door
A second swapped cartridge can produce a new color-position message after the first is corrected.
Close the door and let the printer recheck supplies
Wait for initialization to finish, then retry printing only after the wrong-position message clears.
After each corrective action
Retry the same operation that produced Black in wrong position. If it now works, stop there rather than changing unrelated printer, network, supply, or service settings.
If the code returns
If the printer still says the black cartridge is in the wrong position when every cartridge matches its labeled slot, remove and reseat the affected supplies once and check for damaged or incorrect cartridges.
When service may be needed
This is normally a supply-placement issue. Persistent incorrect-position detection with the right cartridges installed may require HP support; do not defeat slot keys or sensors.
Continue with guided troubleshooting
If the printer still is not working after the reviewed checks, carry this verified error context into the guided troubleshooter.
Related information
Verified source
Official HP family support document explicitly covers M375/M475 and provides supply and 79-series control-panel meanings/actions. Color variants are reviewed as variants, not separate SEO opportunities.