testpageforprinter

How to clean a printer print head

Most clogged inkjets are fixed with the printer’s own cleaning cycle, used in the right order. Here is how to check first, clean once, and know when to stop.

First, confirm it is a clogged print head

Print head cleaning is for inkjet printers. A laser printer uses toner and a drum and has no print head to clean. Before you start a cleaning cycle, print our nozzle check sheet and look at it in good light. Gaps, missing lines or pale lines in one color point to blocked nozzles in that ink. A pattern that is complete and even means cleaning will not help, and the cause is probably paper, print settings or something else. Our guide on how to read a nozzle check shows what each result means.

Also check the simple things first: the printer’s ink or cartridge messages, and whether new cartridges still have a protective tape or cap that must be removed. Those are common reasons for a blank or missing color.

Use the printer’s own cleaning

Every maker builds a cleaning routine into its printers or software. The menu names differ by brand and model, so use your printer’s support page for the exact path. Some paths the makers publish:

  • Epson: in the Windows printing preferences, the Maintenance tab offers Nozzle Check and Head Cleaning. The same functions are on many printer panels and in the Mac printer utility. See our Epson guide.
  • Canon: in the Windows printer properties, the Maintenance tab offers Nozzle Check and Cleaning. See our Canon guide.
  • Brother: many inkjet models have a print quality menu under Settings, then Maintenance. See our Brother guide.
  • HP: many models offer a print quality report and printhead cleaning from the printer menu or the HP Smart app. See our HP guide.

We have checked some of these paths against the maker’s own pages and left others generic, so treat the names above as a starting point and confirm them for your model.

The order that avoids wasting ink

  1. Print the nozzle check first. This is your before picture.
  2. Run one cleaning cycle. Let it finish. Do not turn the printer off during the cycle.
  3. Print the nozzle check again and compare it with the first one.
  4. If the gaps are smaller, wait and try again. Follow your maker’s guidance on how many cycles to run and how long to wait between them. This differs by model, so we do not give a universal number. Each cycle uses ink.
  5. If nothing changed after the cycles your manual allows, stop. More cycles in a row rarely help.

What not to do

  • Do not run cleaning cycles back to back many times. They use a noticeable amount of ink.
  • Do not wipe, soak or take apart parts of the print head unless your printer’s manual tells you to. Some print heads are part of the cartridge and some are fixed in the printer, and they are easy to damage.
  • Do not clean to fix a problem a cleaning cannot fix. Doubled or wavy lines point to alignment, so use the alignment test page instead.

When to stop and get help

If the nozzle check still shows gaps after the cleaning your manual allows, the cartridge may be empty or faulty, or the print head may be worn. On printers where the print head is part of the cartridge, replacing the cartridge is the usual next step. On printers with a fixed print head, contact the maker’s support, especially if the printer is under warranty. Our pages on missing color and streaks or lines list other causes to rule out.

Keeping the print head from clogging again

Ink dries in nozzles when a printer sits unused. Printing something with all colors now and then keeps the ink moving, and our guide on how often to print a test page explains the reasoning. Check your printer’s manual for how it is meant to be switched off between uses, since some models need their own power button used rather than the wall switch.

Good questions

How do I clean a print head?
Use the printer’s built-in cleaning from its panel, driver or app. Print a nozzle check first, run one cleaning cycle, print the nozzle check again and compare. The menu names differ by brand and model, so follow your maker’s support page.
How many times can I clean the print head?
It depends on the model, so follow your printer manual. As a rule, run one cycle, check the result, and repeat only if the gaps are shrinking. Many cycles in a row use a lot of ink and rarely help more than waiting and trying again later.
Does cleaning the print head use a lot of ink?
Yes, each cleaning cycle uses some ink, and heavy repeated cleaning can use a noticeable amount. That is why the nozzle check comes first, to confirm cleaning is needed, and why you stop when it is not helping.
Can I clean the print head by hand?
Only if your printer’s manual says so for your model. Some print heads are part of the cartridge and some are fixed in the printer, and they are easy to damage. Start with the built-in cleaning.
Does a laser printer need a print head cleaning?
No. Laser printers have no print head or nozzles. For streaks from a laser printer, see streaks or lines.