Printer is printing faded or streaky pages
Your print heads or toner cartridge are either dirty, low on ink or toner, or need cleaning. Run the printer's cleaning cycle first. Most printers have a built-in cleaning function that takes 2 minutes. If that doesn't work, check your ink or toner level and replace cartridges if they're low.
Faded and streaky printing happens when the print heads are clogged with dried ink, the cartridges are running low, or the toner in a laser printer isn't flowing properly. For inkjet printers, running a cleaning cycle forces fresh ink through the print heads and clears clogs. For laser printers, the toner cartridge can need to be reseated or replaced.
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Skip — I just want a technicianCommon mistakes to avoid
- Not removing the protective plastic tape from new cartridges before installing them. The tape blocks all ink flow and must come off
- Running only one cleaning cycle when two or three are needed. Persistent clogs can need a deep clean or multiple regular cleans
- Replacing cartridges when the real problem is clogged print heads. Always clean first before buying new cartridges
Signs you need professional help
- If you've tried all these steps and it still doesn't work, give us a call and we'll sort it out.
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