Printer Quality Problems? Start Here
Faded printing, streaks, missing colours, lines, marks or smudges don't always mean you need a new cartridge. Use this guide to identify the symptom and work through the most likely causes for both inkjet and laser printers.
Identify Your Print ProblemDon't replace the cartridge straight away
Print quality problems can come from several parts of the printing process. Inkjet printers rely on very small printhead nozzles, while laser printers use toner, drums, transfer components and a fuser. Paper type and printer settings can also make a noticeable difference.
Not sure what your print problem means?
Tell Chat Assist your exact printer model and describe what the page looks like — for example faded print, missing colours, vertical lines, repeating marks or smudging. If you know the cartridge or drum code, include that too.
Identify the Print Quality Problem
Choose the description that most closely matches your printout.
Five Quick Checks for Any Printer
Whatever the symptom, these simple checks are worth doing first.
Inkjet or Laser Printer?
Ink Cartridge Printers
Missing lines, banding, incorrect colours and blank areas are commonly associated with the printhead or its very small ink nozzles. Start with a nozzle check before running cleaning cycles.
Toner Cartridge Printers
Fading, vertical lines, repeated marks, background toner or smudging can involve the toner cartridge, drum, corona wire, transfer system, fuser or the paper being used.
Fixing Poor Inkjet Print Quality
For inkjet printers, work through the maintenance process in this order rather than repeatedly running deep cleaning cycles.
Print a nozzle check or print quality test
Look for missing sections, broken lines or an entirely missing colour. The exact pattern varies by printer, but gaps normally indicate that one or more printhead nozzles are not firing correctly.
Run the standard printhead cleaning
If the nozzle check contains gaps, use your printer's normal Printhead Cleaning or Head Cleaning function. Allow the cycle to finish completely, then print another nozzle check to see whether it has improved.
Don't repeatedly clean the printhead
Cleaning cycles use ink. If one standard clean makes no difference, follow the procedure recommended for your printer rather than continuously repeating it. Some printers provide a Deep Cleaning or Power Cleaning function for more severe blockages.
Check printhead alignment
If colours are present but text looks fuzzy, doubled, jagged or misaligned, use the printer's Printhead Alignment function. Alignment and cleaning solve different problems, so don't substitute one for the other.
Faded or Very Light Printing
If the whole page looks too light, check whether the problem affects every colour or only one.
- Check ink or toner levels.
- Turn off Draft, Economy, Eco or Toner Save mode.
- Check that the correct paper/media type is selected.
- Inkjet: print a nozzle check and clean the printhead if required.
- Laser: remove and gently redistribute the toner cartridge if appropriate for your cartridge type.
- Laser: if fading continues after changing toner, the drum or another imaging component may require attention.
Missing Colours or Incorrect Colours
A completely missing cyan, magenta, yellow or black channel is particularly useful for diagnosis.
- Inkjet: run a nozzle check to identify the affected colour.
- Check the cartridge is properly installed and any vent or protective tape has been removed.
- Run a normal head clean if the nozzle test has gaps.
- Check that the document itself is not using unusual colour settings.
- Colour laser: confirm each toner cartridge is installed in the correct colour position and check the affected toner and drum/imaging component.
Horizontal or Vertical Lines and Streaks
The direction and regularity of a line can provide useful clues.
Horizontal banding or white lines commonly point to missing printhead nozzles. Run a nozzle check, clean the printhead if the pattern has gaps and check alignment if lines or text remain offset.
Vertical streaks may come from the drum, corona wire, toner cartridge, laser/scanner path or contamination inside the printer. A consistent line in exactly the same position is particularly significant.
Spots, Dots or Repeating Marks
If a spot or mark repeats at regular intervals down the page, a rotating component is often involved.
On a laser printer, repeated marks can point towards toner on the drum surface, a damaged or worn drum, transfer components or the fuser. If possible, print the printer's built-in print-quality or repeating-defect diagnostic page.
Smudged Printing or Toner Rubbing Off
- Check that the selected paper type matches the paper being used.
- Do not use damp, curled or unsuitable paper.
- Inkjet: allow sufficient drying time, especially on photo or coated media.
- Laser: try the correct Heavy/Thick Paper setting when using heavier media.
- If laser toner can be easily wiped from normal paper after printing, the fuser or temperature/media setting may require investigation.
Blank or Almost Blank Pages
A blank page can have a very different cause depending on the printer technology.
- Check all cartridge seals and protective strips have been removed.
- Check that the cartridges contain ink or toner.
- Inkjet: print a nozzle check. A missing or nearly blank pattern may indicate heavily blocked nozzles or interrupted ink flow.
- Laser: check the toner cartridge is properly seated and the sealing strip has been completely removed.
- Print an internal printer test page to rule out the computer, application or print driver.
Ghosting or Repeated Shadow Images
Ghosting is mainly associated with laser printers. Check that the paper is suitable for laser printing and that the correct media type is selected. Persistent repeated images can point towards the drum, transfer system or fuser and may require a printer-specific diagnostic.
Grey Background or Unwanted Toner Across the Page
Background shading on a laser printer can be caused by toner, the drum, contamination, incorrect media or printer settings.
- Try clean, dry paper from a fresh pack.
- Check the selected paper type.
- Remove and reseat the toner cartridge.
- Check for loose toner or contamination around the cartridge/drum area.
- Inspect or clean the drum and corona system only in accordance with the instructions for your printer model.
Toner, Drum and Corona Wire Checks
If your printer uses toner, remember that the toner cartridge is only one part of the image-forming system.
Brother Printer Showing Lines or Poor Toner Quality?
Many Brother laser printers have a small coloured tab on the drum unit for cleaning the corona wire. If your model has this feature, remove the toner/drum assembly as instructed in the printer manual and gently slide the cleaning tab from side to side several times.
Does the Problem Affect Only One Colour?
This is one of the most useful troubleshooting clues.
If black, cyan and yellow print correctly but magenta consistently contains lines or is completely missing, concentrate your checks on the magenta cartridge, nozzle channel, drum or imaging position rather than replacing or cleaning everything.
Does the Problem Appear on Copies Too?
If you have a multifunction printer, comparing prints and copies can help isolate the problem.
Avoid Repeated Cleaning Without Checking the Result
Maintenance cycles should be used to diagnose and correct a specific problem. Print a test pattern after cleaning and compare it with the previous one. If several cleaning cycles make no improvement, continuing to run them is unlikely to help and can waste ink.
Print Quality FAQs
Why is my printer suddenly printing faded pages?
Check ink or toner levels, printer quality settings and the paper first. On an inkjet, print a nozzle check. On a laser printer, fading may also involve the toner cartridge, drum or another imaging component.
Why are there horizontal lines through my printing?
On an inkjet printer, horizontal white lines or banding often indicate blocked printhead nozzles. Run a nozzle check before starting a printhead cleaning cycle.
What causes vertical lines on a laser printer?
Possible causes include toner or contamination on the drum, a corona wire that needs cleaning, the toner cartridge, the laser/scanner path or another imaging component. A line that repeatedly appears in exactly the same place can be especially useful when diagnosing the cause.
Should I clean my inkjet printhead several times?
Start with a nozzle check and one normal cleaning cycle. Check the result before repeating it. Cleaning consumes ink, and some manufacturers recommend allowing time between repeated cleaning attempts.
Can paper really cause print quality problems?
Yes. Damp, rough, curled, unsuitable or incorrectly configured paper can cause faded printing, ghosting, poor toner adhesion, smudging and other defects. Trying a fresh pack of appropriate paper is an easy diagnostic step.
Does poor print quality always mean the cartridge is faulty?
No. The cartridge is only one part of the printing process. Paper, settings, printheads, drums, transfer systems and fusers can all affect the finished page.
What should I do if the problem continues?
Use Chat Assist or contact our support team. A clear photograph or scan of the faulty print can be particularly useful because the pattern, direction and spacing of marks often provide clues to the component causing the problem.
Still Having Print Quality Problems?
If you've worked through the guide and the problem remains, ask Chat Assist to continue troubleshooting or contact our UK support team. Tell us your printer model and cartridge reference and, if possible, have a clear photo or scan showing the print defect available.