How-to · Printer brand
Epson test page and nozzle check
Run an Epson nozzle check from the printer or your computer, then clean the heads only if the pattern shows gaps.
Print the built-in test page
Menu names depend on your model. Newer touchscreen models use Maintenance. Older models with arrow buttons use Setup, then Maintenance.
- 1Load plain paperLoad a few sheets of plain paper and make sure the screen shows no errors.
- 2Open the maintenance menuOn some models select Maintenance, then Nozzle Check. On some models with arrow buttons select Setup, then Maintenance, then Print Head Nozzle Check.
- 3Start the checkPress the start button to print the nozzle pattern.
- 4Read the resultNo gaps in the lines means you are done. Gaps or a faint pattern means the head needs cleaning, which you can select from the same screen.
- 1Open Printing PreferencesOn Windows 11 go to Start, Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Printers & scanners, select your Epson, then Printing Preferences. On Windows 10 use Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Devices and Printers, right-click the printer, then Printing Preferences.
- 2Open the Maintenance tabClick the Maintenance tab.
- 3Click Nozzle CheckClick Nozzle Check, then Print, and examine the pattern for gaps.
- 4Windows test page (optional)For the plain Windows connection test, open Printer properties instead and use Print Test Page on the General tab.
- 1Open Printers & ScannersChoose Apple menu, System Settings, then Printers & Scanners and select your Epson.
- 2Open the Printer UtilityChoose Options & Supplies, then the Utility tab, then Open Printer Utility.
- 3Choose Nozzle CheckSelect Nozzle Check and follow the on-screen instructions to print the pattern.
Epson menus differ between EcoTank, WorkForce, Expression and large-format models. Use these steps as a guide and confirm the exact wording for your model on Epson’s support site.
Run a nozzle check
Use plain paper. Menu names differ by model.
- 1Open MaintenanceSelect Maintenance (or Setup, then Maintenance on some models), then Nozzle Check or Print Head Nozzle Check.
- 2Print the patternPress the start button.
- 3Compare the linesComplete lines with no gaps are healthy. Gaps or faint lines point to a partly blocked nozzle.
Epson documents cleaning as a repeat-and-recheck routine.
- 1Start cleaningIf the pattern has gaps, choose Clean the print head or Head Cleaning and follow the screen prompts.
- 2Check againPrint the nozzle check again after each cleaning.
- 3Limit repeatsEpson’s guidance for some models says to wait several hours, with the printer left on, if gaps remain after several cleanings. The exact count and wait time vary by model, so follow your model’s official page.
Print our own pattern too: nozzle check sheet. Cleaning cycles use ink, so stop after two and recheck.
What a test page tells you
- A nozzle check shows whether ink is coming out of each nozzle. A Windows test page does not.
- Run the nozzle check before you clean. Cleaning uses ink, so only clean when the pattern shows gaps.
- Use plain white paper in the size your printer expects. Letter in the US, A4 elsewhere.
- If cleaning does not help after the number of attempts in your model’s guide, stop and read the official page before repeating.
Official sources
Steps follow these pages. Menu names can change with updates.
Epson inkjets have a maintenance routine built around one idea: print a nozzle check, look for gaps, clean only if you find them, then check again. This page walks through the places that routine lives and links to Epson’s own instructions.
Nozzle check versus test page
These are not the same thing. The Windows Print Test Page button confirms that your computer can send a job to the printer. A nozzle check is a pattern that shows whether each nozzle is putting down ink. If you suspect a clog, you want the nozzle check.
Three places to run it
- The printer’s panel: the Maintenance menu, or Setup then Maintenance on some models.
- Windows: the Maintenance tab in Printing Preferences.
- Mac: the Printer Utility, reached through Printers & Scanners, Options & Supplies, Utility.
How to read what you print
A healthy pattern has solid lines with no breaks. Gaps, thin lines or a missing block suggest a clogged nozzle. Our guide on reading a nozzle check shows what to look for. You can also print our own nozzle check sheet, which covers cyan, magenta, yellow and black in one page, and compare it with the printer’s built-in pattern.
Cleaning sensibly
Head cleaning uses ink and works best when it is deliberate. Clean, then reprint the check, rather than running several cycles in a row. If gaps remain after the number of attempts given in your model’s guide, stop and consult Epson’s documentation. Exact limits and waiting times differ by model, so we do not list a universal number here.
After a good nozzle check
If the pattern is clean but prints still look wrong, the cause is probably the file, paper or settings. Try the color test page, the alignment page, or read streaks or lines and missing color. Every sheet is available in Letter and A4 on the PDF hub.