10 ways to fix the problem of printer printing blank pages

If your printer suddenly prints blank pages, the problem may not be immediately apparent. However, there are some fixes and workarounds you can try to prevent your Canon, Brother, Epson or HP printer - or any other printer - from printing blank pages.

1. Print the test page

To check if your printer is having problems, run a test print. This can help you isolate the underlying problem. Maybe the print head is not aligned or the ink flow is uneven. Printing a test page can help you learn more.

Here's how to print a test page on Windows:

1. In the Windows Start menu, navigate to the Control Panel application.
2. Click on the Devices and Printers option.
3. Right click on your printer and select Printer properties.
4. In the General tab, click the Print Test Page button.

Follow these steps to print a test page on your Mac:

1. Click the Apple menu in the upper left of the screen.
2. Select System Settings.
3. Click Printers & Scanners.
4. In your printer, click the Options button.
5. Click the Print Test Page option in the Utility tab.

Maybe your printer is printing blank pages because it's low on ink - or out of ink - or because its print head is vibrating. The test page will confirm this.

2. Restart the printer and PC

Many times, a simple reset can resolve the problem. Restarting the printer and restarting the PC may resolve the issue that results in your printer printing blank pages. Here's what you should do:

1. Press the power button on your printer to turn it off.
2. When the machine is turned off, unplug it from the computer and electrical outlet.
3. Restart your PC.
4. Once your PC has restarted, plug in the printer and start it up.
5. Print a test page to check if it works well.

 3. Troubleshoot ink/cartridge problems

The next step is to make sure you have installed the cartridge correctly. Refer to your printer manual to remove and inspect them for any damage or incorrect settings.

If your cartridge is new, check to see if the plastic protector has been removed. Once you are sure that your printer's ink cartridges are installed correctly, check their ink levels. These are all possible reasons why your printer is printing blank pages.

Follow these steps to check ink levels on Windows:

1. From the Control Panel, go to the Devices and Printers option.
2. Right click on your printer and select Printer properties.
3. In the Maintenance tab, click the View Printer Status button.
4. See the Estimated ink levels section to find out how much ink you have left.

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Here's how to check printer ink levels on Mac:

 Open System Settings through the Apple menu.

1. Click the Printers & Scanners option.
2. Select your printer and click the Options button.
3. The information you need should be in the Supply Levels tab.

Some printers allow you to check this amount of ink directly from the screen on the printer. Here's how to do it:

1. On your printer screen, go to the Setup or Settings option.
2. Find the Tools option and click the Estimated Ink Levels option.

If the ink level is low, you may need to replace the ink or toner cartridge. Refer to the instructions: How to choose ink type and refill ink properly.

4. Unclog the print head

If your printer suddenly prints blank pages, it could be a problem with the print head.

The print head is located at the bottom of the cartridge and sprays ink onto the paper through microscopic holes. These tiny holes can become clogged, leading to imperfect or disordered printing. You can often clean clogs simply by running a cleaning cycle, and here's how. Just make sure there is paper inserted in the print tray.

On Windows

1. Go to Devices and Printers in Control Panel.
2. Right click on your printer and select Printer properties.
3. In the Maintenance tab, click Maintenance and Preferences.
4. Perform regular cleaning or deep cleaning.

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On Mac

1. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners in the Apple menu.
2. Under printer options, in the Utility tab, click the Open Printer Utility button.
3. In the Control menu, select Maintenance.
4. Click Print Head Cleaning and follow the on-screen options to proceed with cleaning.

 With more severe blockages, you can try cleaning the defective cartridge with a tissue and moistening it with an alcohol-based solvent. Just be sure not to touch the electrical contacts on your cartridge, as this may render the cartridge unusable.

5. Align the printer cartridge

If your printer's ink cartridges are not installed properly, you may experience misaligned prints. To align printer cartridges, follow these steps on Windows:

1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click your printer and select Printing Preferences.
3. In the Maintenance tab, click Maintenance and Preferences.
4. Find the print head alignment option and follow the onscreen instructions.

Again, make sure you have paper inserted in the printer before starting.

6. Run Printer Troubleshooter on Windows

In most cases, running a troubleshooter for your printer will identify and resolve the problem. Here's how to run Printer Troubleshooter:

1. Click the Start menu and go to Settings.
2. Click Update & Security and navigate to the Troubleshoot tab on the left.
3. You will find the Printer Troubleshooter in the Get up and running section.

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7. Update the printer driver

Printer manufacturers regularly update their drivers. To keep your printer up to date, visit the printer manufacturer's driver website and find your model. Download and install the latest printer driver and print a one-page document to test whether this resolves the issue.

8. Print directly to the printer

Printer spooling allows print jobs to complete faster and in the background, so they don't use as many resources at once. But sometimes, it can also result in your printer printing out blank or nearly blank pages. Here's how to turn off the Printer spooling feature on Windows.

1. In the Control Panel app, go to Devices and Printers.
2. Right click on your printer and select Printer properties.
3. In the Advanced tab, select the Print directly to the printer option.

9. Check if you are printing only data

Certain print settings may affect your prints. Try this Word-specific solution: Uncheck the option to only print data from a form in Microsoft Word's advanced options.

 10. Check and reinstall missing fonts

Some printing errors may be due to missing fonts or improper settings. Check if the document you are trying to print has a custom font. If so, you may need to reinstall them for your prints to be accurate. There are many online resources where you can get free fonts.

Other causes could cause the problem

Some printer manufacturers offer subscription plans, such as HP's Instant Ink service, which can cause printer problems. If you are subscribed to such a service, check your subscription, although this will not usually result in the printer printing blank pages.

Lesley Montoya

Update 13 March 2024