How-to · Device
Print a test page in Windows
Two ways: the built-in Windows test page, and a proper test sheet that shows you what your printer really does.
Step by step
Make sure the printer is on, connected, and loaded with plain paper first.
- 1Open SettingsSelect Start, then Settings. You can also press the Windows key and I together.
- 2Go to Printers & scannersChoose Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners.
- 3Pick your printerSelect your printer from the list, then choose Printer properties.
- 4Print the pageOn the General tab, select Print Test Page. Wait for the page to come out and check it.
Wording can differ slightly between Windows 10 versions.
- 1Open SettingsSelect Start, then Settings, then Devices.
- 2Open Printers & scannersSelect your printer from the list, then choose Manage.
- 3Open Printer propertiesChoose Printer properties from the Manage screen.
- 4Print the pageOn the General tab, select Print Test Page.
Useful if you prefer the classic Control Panel view.
- 1Open Devices and PrintersOpen Control Panel, then Hardware and Sound, then Devices and Printers.
- 2Right-click your printerChoose Printer properties from the menu. Do not pick “Printing preferences”, which is a different window.
- 3Print Test PageOn the General tab, select Print Test Page.
What a test page tells you
- The Windows test page proves that Windows can send a job to the printer. It does not prove the print heads, colors or alignment are healthy.
- If the Windows test page prints but your documents do not, the problem is usually in the app, the paper size or the print queue, not the printer.
- For a real quality check, print a dedicated sheet: the color test, the nozzle check or the alignment page.
- Print at 100% or Actual size. Letter and A4 differ slightly, so pick the PDF that matches the paper in your tray.
Official sources
Steps follow these pages. Menu names can change with updates.
Windows can print a small test page for any installed printer. It is quick, free and built in, which makes it the right first step when you set up a new printer or suspect a connection problem.
What the built-in page tells you
The Windows test page confirms that your computer, the driver and the printer can talk to each other. It usually lists the printer name and driver information. If it prints, the basic path from Windows to paper works.
What it does not tell you
It is not a quality test. A clogged print head, a missing color, weak alignment or a wrong paper size can all hide behind a successful test page. If your real prints look wrong, do not stop here.
- For color and ink problems, print the color test page.
- For streaks and gaps, use the nozzle check.
- For crooked or offset output, use the alignment page.
- For size problems, use the scale check.
Printing a proper test sheet from Windows
Download a PDF from our PDF hub and open it in a PDF reader or your browser. Choose your printer, pick the paper size you loaded, and set scaling to 100% or Actual size. Avoid “Fit to page”, which resizes the sheet and spoils the measurements. Our sheets come in both Letter and A4 versions, so choose the one that matches your tray.
Before you print
- Turn the printer on and wait until it is ready.
- Load plain white paper. Plain paper shows problems more honestly than glossy paper.
- Check that the printer in the print dialog is the one you mean to use.
If something goes wrong
If nothing prints, look at printer offline and print queue stuck. If the Windows test page works but your documents do not, read test page prints but documents do not. Driver trouble is covered in driver or connection issue.
Using a Mac, phone or Chromebook instead? See the how-to index for each platform.