How to Fix Streaks, Faded Prints and Blank Pages

1What this lesson covers

This lesson helps you improve print quality when pages come out streaky, faded, smudged or completely blank. You’ll start with the quickest causes (settings, paper and supplies), then use the printer’s own diagnostic page and maintenance tools. There are separate steps for inkjet and laser printers, because the causes differ. Keep a bad print beside you; it’s your best clue.

2Before you start

Look closely at the bad print and note:

• Is the whole page faint, or only some colors?
• Are there lines? Horizontal lines across the page usually point to an inkjet’s nozzles; vertical lines or repeating marks are more common on laser printers.
• Is it only copies? If prints from the computer are fine but copies have lines, the scanner glass is dirty.
• Is the page completely blank?

3Quick checks for every printer

1. Check ink or toner levels on the printer’s screen or software. Replace anything empty or very low.
2. Check the quality settings. Make sure Draft, Economy or Toner save mode isn’t on. Choose Normal or Best.
3. Check the paper type setting. It should match the paper you loaded. Plain paper set to photo, or the other way round, can cause smudges or pale output.
4. Check the paper. Use dry, flat paper and print on the correct side for photo paper.
5. For blank pages, check the obvious. A new cartridge with its protective tape still on prints nothing. Also check the document itself: empty pages at the end of a file print blank.

4Fix inkjet and ink tank print quality

1. Print a nozzle check from the printer’s maintenance menu or software. You should see: a grid or line pattern in each color. Gaps mean blocked nozzles; a missing color means that color isn’t printing.
2. Run one printhead cleaning cycle if there are gaps.
3. Print another nozzle check. You should see: fewer or no gaps. If gaps remain, wait a while and repeat once more. Don’t run many cycles in a row; it uses a lot of ink.
4. Run printhead alignment if text looks blurry or lines are jagged.
5. Print regularly. An inkjet used every week or two keeps its nozzles clear. See printer maintenance.

5Fix laser printer print quality

1. Print the printer’s print quality page from its reports menu, if it has one.
2. Take out the toner cartridge and gently rock it side to side (with the printer off and cooled), then reinstall it. This spreads the remaining toner and often fixes faint pages when toner is low.
3. Replace the toner if pages stay faded. See how to replace toner and drum units.
4. Look for repeating marks. Marks at the same interval down the page often come from the drum. Your manual’s print quality section explains how to match the spacing to the part for your model.
5. Check the drum message. If the printer reports that the drum is near its end, replace it as the manual describes.

6Check that it worked

Print a nozzle check or the printer’s test page, then the document that printed badly. You should see: solid, even colors with no gaps, sharp text and no streaks. Compare it with your bad sample to confirm the improvement.

7Troubleshooting

• One color is missing after a new cartridge. Reseat it, check the tape is off, and run a cleaning cycle. See how to replace an ink cartridge.
• Smudges on every page. Check the paper type setting and let pages dry. On lasers, smudges that rub off can point to a fuser problem, which needs the manufacturer.
• Lines only on copies. Clean the scanner glass and the feeder’s glass strip.
• Prints are fine from one app but not another. Check that app’s quality and color settings.
• Black prints as gray. Look for a grayscale or toner-save setting in the print dialog.

8When to get more help

Contact the manufacturer’s support if quality stays poor after cleaning and new supplies, a color never returns, the printer reports a printhead, drum or fuser error, ink leaks inside the printer, or toner rubs off the page. Those need model-specific service. Don’t open the printer beyond the doors the manual shows, and never try to clean a laser printer’s fuser.

9FAQ

Why is my printer printing blank pages?

Common causes are protective tape left on a new cartridge, an empty cartridge, badly blocked inkjet nozzles, or blank pages in the document itself. Work through the quick checks above.

How many cleaning cycles should I run?

One, then check. If needed, rest the printer and run one more. Repeated cycles waste ink and rarely help more.

Can the paper cause poor print quality?

Yes. Damp, rough or the wrong type of paper causes smudges, faded areas and bleeding. Use paper listed in your manual and match the paper type setting.

Why are my prints streaky even with new ink?

New ink can’t flow through blocked nozzles. Run a nozzle check and a cleaning cycle, and print regularly to keep the printhead clear.