The printer takes the paper and seems to print, but the page comes out blank, faded, streaky, or missing a color. This is usually ink, toner, a clogged printhead or a print setting, and you can fix most of it from the printer's own menu.
⚡ Quick fix (try this first)
- Check ink or toner levels on the printer's screen or in its app, and replace anything empty or low.
- Just put in a new cartridge? Make sure the protective tape or plastic strip is fully removed, and it clicks into place.
- Print a test page from the printer itself (its menu or buttons, not the computer). This tells you whether the problem is the printer or the computer.
First: is it the printer or the computer?
- The printer's own test page is also blank or faded → the problem is in the printer. Follow the steps for your printer type below.
- The test page looks fine → the printer is OK. Skip to Check your print settings.
Not printing at all? See Printer says offline or Printer won't connect.
Fix it on the printer
- Print a check page. Load plain white paper and print the printer's quality check. Each maker names it differently: Print Quality Report (HP), Nozzle Check (Epson and Canon). Gaps, missing lines or faint blocks mean the printhead nozzles are clogged.
- Clean the printhead. Run the cleaning tool from the printer's Maintenance, Tools or Setup menu, or from the maker's app. It's often called Clean Printhead, Head Cleaning or Cleaning. A test page prints when it's done.
- Check again, and clean again only if needed. HP says to run up to three cleaning cycles (HP print-quality guide). Epson says that if gaps remain after three cleanings, turn the printer off and wait at least 12 hours before checking again. Canon says to try a deep cleaning if two cleanings don't fix it. Cleaning uses ink, so only clean when print quality is actually bad.
- Align the printhead if lines are crooked or blurry. It's in the same maintenance menu.
- Still blank or faded? Replace the cartridge for the missing color. HP recommends replacing cartridges if the page still has defects after three cleanings.
Don't turn the printer off during a cleaning cycle, and use its Power button rather than unplugging it. HP warns never to turn the printer off without cartridges installed. Canon says not to rinse or wipe the printhead yourself.
- Turn off Toner Save. If the whole page is too light, Toner Save (or Economy) mode may be on. Turn it off in the printer's menu and in the printer settings on your computer.
- Clean the drum, if your printer has one. Some laser printers (for example many Brother models) have a corona wire on the drum you can clean by sliding its tab; follow your printer's manual.
- Replace the toner, and if pages are still faint, the drum unit.
Check your print settings
If the printer's own test page looks fine, check the settings on your computer:
- Select Start → Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, select your printer, then Printing preferences. (Windows 10: Devices → Printers & scanners → your printer → Manage → Printing preferences.)
- Set print quality to Normal or Best, and turn off Draft, Economy or Toner saver mode.
- Make sure the paper type matches the paper in the tray. Check color isn't set to grayscale if you want color.
- Try printing the same thing from a different app (for example, Notepad). If only one app has the problem, the issue is that app or file.
On a Mac: choose File → Print in your app and check the quality, paper type and color options (often under Media & Quality).
If that didn't work
EasyCheck the paper
Use clean, dry, flat paper. Load it print side correctly: HP says the print side is usually the smoother side, facing up in a rear tray and down in a front tray.
MediumUpdate the driver and printer firmware
Get the latest driver or app for your exact model only from the manufacturer's official website. HP also suggests updating the printer's firmware for blank pages.
When it needs service: if the check page is still blank after cleaning and a new cartridge, contact the printer maker's support. Your cartridges or printer may be under warranty.
Sources
- Microsoft: Fix poor print quality in Windows (blurry, faded or streaked prints)
- HP: HP printer prints blank pages (general blank-page steps)
- HP: No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues (OfficeJet) (up to three cleaning cycles)
- Epson: Checking the nozzles and cleaning the print head
- Canon: Printing the nozzle check pattern / cleaning the print head