How to Troubleshoot a Printer Printing Blank Pages: 10 Fixes to Try

It may be distressing once you want paperwork printed, however your printer gained’t comply. And whether it is printing clean pages rapidly, the issue won’t be instantly obvious.

However there are a number of fixes and workarounds you’ll be able to attempt to cease your printer from printing clean pages. Right here’s what you are able to do to get your printer working correctly once more.

1. Print a Take a look at Web page

To verify whether or not the issue is along with your printer, run a check print. This may help you isolate the underlying problem. Perhaps the print heads are usually not aligned, or there’s inconsistent ink movement. Printing a check web page may help you discover out.

Right here’s how to print a check web page on Windows:

1. Within the Windows Begin menu, navigate to the Management Panel app.
2. Click on on the units and printers possibility.
3. Proper-click in your printer and choose Printer properties.
4. Beneath the Basic tab, click on on the Print Take a look at Web page button.

Observe these steps to print a check web page on Mac:

1. Click on on the Apple menu on the highest left of the display screen.
2. Choose System Preferences.
3. Click on on the printer icon. The choice is perhaps labeled Printers and Scanners or one thing related.
4. Beneath your printer, click on on the choices button.
5. Click on on the choice Print Take a look at Web page below the Utility tab.

2. Restart Your Printer and PC

Many instances, a easy reset can resolve the difficulty. Restarting your printer and rebooting your PC could clear up the difficulty that causes your printer to print clean pages. Right here’s what it is best to do:

1. Press the ability button in your printer to show it off.
2. When it shuts down, unplug it out of your laptop and the ability outlet.
3. Restart your PC.
4. When your PC has restarted, plug your printer in and begin it up.
5. Print a check web page to verify whether or not it’s working.

3. Repair Ink/Toner Cartridge Points

Step one right here is to make sure your ink cartridges are put in correctly. Consult with your printer guide to take away and examine them for any injury or incorrect set up.

In case your cartridge is new, verify to see whether or not the protecting plastic has been taken off appropriately. When you’ve made positive that your printer’s cartridges are correctly fitted, verify their ink ranges.

Observe these steps to verify ink ranges on Windows:

1. From the Management Panel, go to the Units and Printers possibility.
2. Proper-click in your printer and choose Printer properties.
3. Beneath the Upkeep tab, click on on the View Printer Standing button.
4. Look below the Estimated ink ranges part to see how a lot ink you might have left.

Right here’s how to verify printer ink ranges on Mac:

1. Open System Preferences by way of the Apple menu.
2. Click on on the Printers & Scanners possibility.
3. Choose your printer and click on on the choices button.
4. The knowledge you want must be below the Provide Ranges tab.

Some printers assist you to verify these ranges straight from the display screen on the printer. Right here’s how to try this:

1. In your printer’s show, go into the setup or settings choices.
2. Search for a Instruments possibility, and click on on an Estimated Ink Ranges possibility.

If the degrees are low, it’s possible you’ll want to vary your ink or toner cartridges. Seek the advice of your guide on how to put in printer cartridges.

4. Unclog the Print Head

The print head sits on the underside of the cartridge and sprays ink onto the paper by means of microscopic holes. These tiny holes can get clogged, resulting in imperfect or disordered printing. Easy clogs can usually be cleared up by working a cleansing cycle, and right here’s how. Simply be certain to have paper inserted within the printing in-tray.

On Windows:

1. Go to Units and Printers in Management Panel.
2. Proper-click in your printer and choose Printer properties.
3. Beneath the Upkeep tab, click on on Upkeep and Preferences.
4. Carry out an everyday cleansing or deep cleansing.

On Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners below the Apple menu.
2. Beneath printer choices, within the Utility tab, click on on the Open Printer Utility button.
3. Beneath the Management menu, choose Upkeep.
4. Click on on Print Head Cleansing and observe the on-screen choices to run a cleansing.

With more severe clogs, you’ll have to get hands-on. You may attempt cleansing the offending cartridge with a paper towel and moistening it with an alcohol-based solvent. Simply be certain to not deal with {the electrical} contacts in your cartridge, as this may render it unusable.

5. Align the Printer Cartridges

In case your printer’s cartridges haven’t been put in correctly, it might result in misaligned or skewed printing. To align your printer’s cartridges, observe these steps on Windows:

1. Go to Management Panel > Units and Printers.
2. Proper-click in your printer and choose Printing Preferences.
3. Beneath the Upkeep tab, click on on Upkeep and Preferences.
4. Search for the choice to align the print head and observe the on-screen directions.

Once more, be certain to have paper inserted into the printer earlier than you begin.

6. Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Operating a troubleshooter in your printer ought to, usually, be capable to determine and resolve the difficulty. Right here’s how to run the printer troubleshooter:

1. Click on on the Begin menu and go to Settings.
2. Click on on Update & Safety and navigate to the Troubleshoot tab on the left.
3. You’ll discover the printer troubleshooter below the Rise up and working part.

7. Update Printer Drivers

Printer producers usually update their drivers. To maintain your printer updated, go to the driving force webpage of your printer’s producer and search for your mannequin. Obtain and set up the newest printer drivers and print a one-page doc to verify whether or not this has resolved the issue.

In case you have conflicting drivers in your Mac, observe this information on discovering and correcting potential driver conflicts.

8. Print On to the Printer

Printer spooling typically permits for printing duties to be accomplished quicker and within the background, in order that they don’t use lots of assets without delay. However generally, it will probably additionally result in clean or practically clean pages being printed. Right here’s how to disable printer spooling on Windows.

1. Within the Management Panel app, go to Units and Printers.
2. Proper-click in your printer and choose Printer properties.
3. Beneath the Superior tab, choose the Print on to the printer possibility.

9. Examine Whether or not You Are Printing Solely Information

Sure print settings can play havoc along with your prints. Do that Word-specific resolution: uncheck the choice to print solely the info from a type below Microsoft Word’s superior choices.

10. Examine and Reinstall Lacking Fonts

Some printing errors might be brought on as a result of lacking or improperly put in fonts. Examine to see whether or not the doc you are attempting to print has customized fonts. If it does, it’s possible you’ll have to reinstall them in your prints to be correct. There are lots of assets on-line the place you may get free fonts.

Printing With out the Trouble

Errors in printing could cause you lots of stress, partly as a result of printers are difficult machines. However with these simple troubleshooting tricks to remedy the difficulty of your printer printing clean pages, you ought to be again to regular, hassle-free printing.