Troubleshooting
Printer printing blank pages?
Paper comes out clean. The cause is often simple and fixable in a few minutes.
When do the pages come out blank?
1 of 2Likely cause
Likely cause: an empty cartridge, protective tape or cap left on a new one, or badly clogged nozzles.
- 1Check that every cartridge is installed and that no tape, cap or plastic strip remains on any of them.
- 2Check ink or toner levels.
- 3Print the nozzle check. If it is empty or nearly empty, run one cleaning cycle.
Likely cause
Likely cause: the wrong printer is selected, the file itself has no printable content, or the driver is not handling that app’s output.
- 1Confirm the correct printer is selected in the print dialog.
- 2Try printing a different document or use Print to PDF to see whether the file has content.
- 3Update or reinstall the driver from the manufacturer’s official page if only some apps print blank.
Likely cause
Likely cause: a page break or trailing space in the document, or a separator page setting in the printer.
- 1Use print preview to look for empty pages at the end of the document.
- 2Check the printer’s separator page or banner page setting.
- 3Print only the pages you need by entering a page range.
Most likely causes
- 1
Empty cartridge, or tape or cap left on
A new cartridge with its protective tape or cap still on prints nothing. So does an empty one.
- 2
Clogged nozzles (inkjet)
A printer left unused for a long time can have nozzles dry out so badly that nothing prints at all.
- 3
Wrong printer selected
If you have more than one printer, such as a PDF printer or a second device, the job may be going somewhere else, producing a blank or no output.
- 4
Driver or document problem
An outdated or corrupt driver, or a document with no printable content, can send a blank page. A test page that prints while documents do not points to the driver or file.
What to try, in order
- 1Print the blank-page test and a test pageThe blank page print test is almost empty but has a header and footer. If even those do not print, the problem is supplies or hardware, not the document.
- 2Check cartridgesMake sure every cartridge is seated, all tape and caps are removed, and nothing is empty. Replace empty ones.
- 3Check the printer and driverConfirm the right printer is selected. If only documents are blank, try another app, then update or reinstall the driver from the official manufacturer site.
- 4Run a nozzle checkPrint the nozzle check. If it is blank or very weak, run one cleaning cycle, recheck, and rest the printer before trying again.
A cleaning cycle uses ink, and several in a row can waste more than they help. Try at most two, then rest and recheck.
When to stop and replace
If cartridges are new and installed correctly, the nozzle check is still blank after two cleanings and a rest, and a different computer prints blank too, the print head or feed system may have failed. On a laser, a blank page on every job with a fresh toner cartridge points to a drum, transfer or internal fault. Compare repair with replacement.
Inkjet or laser?
Inkjet printers
Blank inkjet pages are usually an empty cartridge, tape left on, or dried nozzles after a long idle period. A nozzle check shows quickly whether any ink reaches the paper.
Open the nozzle checkLaser printers
Blank laser pages often mean a sealing strip was left on a new toner cartridge, the cartridge is not seated, or a drum or transfer part has failed.
Print the blank-page testBlank pages are frustrating because nothing on the paper tells you what went wrong. The good news is that the list of causes is short, and the first two checks take under a minute.
Start with the simplest checks
Open the printer and look at each cartridge. A new cartridge may have a piece of protective tape, a cap or a plastic strip that must be removed. Make sure every cartridge is fully seated, then check ink or toner levels in your printer software.
Use a page that needs very little ink
The blank page print test is nearly empty, with just a header and footer. It is useful because it separates two cases. If even that prints, your printer can put ink on paper, and the issue is with the document or driver. If it prints blank, the problem is supplies or hardware. For inkjets, follow up with the nozzle check, which shows whether any ink is reaching the paper at all.
Document prints blank but test page works
This is a common split. It usually means a driver, app or file problem. Try printing from another app, or use Print to PDF to see whether the file has visible content. If the test page works and documents do not, read test page prints, documents don’t and driver or connection issue. Our Windows, Mac and Chromebook guides show how to print a built-in test page.
Check the selected printer
With more than one printer or a PDF printer installed, the dialog may default to the wrong one. Confirm the name before printing.
Long idle periods
If the printer has been unused for weeks or months, inkjet nozzles may be dry. One cleaning cycle and a recheck is reasonable. If the printer prints weak color instead of blank, see missing color and faded print.
