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Faded or Streaky Prints: Nozzle Check & Head Cleaning

Check ink or toner, run the printer's own quality checks, then clean the print head only if needed.

Steps

Check the ink or toner levels on the printer's screen or in the maker's app.
Print a nozzle check or print quality report from the printer's Maintenance or Tools menu.
If the pattern has gaps, run Print Head Cleaning from the same menu, then print the check again.
If prints are still poor, wait a few hours before another cleaning; repeated cleanings use a lot of ink.
For laser printers, take out the toner cartridge, rock it gently side to side and put it back.
Make sure the paper type and quality in the print settings match the paper you loaded.

Printing at least one page a week helps keep inkjet nozzles from drying out.
Your manual says how many cleanings to run before trying a deep cleaning or contacting support.

Updated November 4, 2026. Menu names and buttons differ by model; your printer's official manual has the exact steps.