Troubleshooting
Printer prints faded or light?
Pale text and washed-out images have a short list of causes. Check the cheap ones first.
How does the fading look?
1 of 2Likely cause
Likely cause: low ink or toner, or an economy or draft setting turned on.
- 1Check ink or toner levels in the printer software.
- 2Open the print settings and switch from draft or toner save to normal or best quality.
- 3Reprint the black-and-white test page and compare.
Likely cause
Likely cause on a laser: uneven toner in the cartridge. On an inkjet: partly blocked nozzles.
- 1Laser: remove the toner cartridge, rock it gently side to side as your manual describes, and reinstall.
- 2Inkjet: print the nozzle check and look for gaps.
- 3Run one cleaning cycle if gaps appear, then recheck.
Likely cause
Likely cause: paper type, ink type or storage. Some inks and papers fade faster in light and heat.
- 1Use paper that matches the print type, such as photo paper for photos.
- 2Set the paper type in the print dialog to match what is loaded.
- 3Store finished prints away from direct sunlight.
Most likely causes
- 1
Low ink or toner
The simplest cause. As a cartridge empties, prints get lighter before they stop altogether.
- 2
Economy, draft or toner save mode
These modes deliberately lay down less ink or toner. A setting left on from an earlier job can make every print look pale.
- 3
Partly blocked nozzles (inkjet)
If some nozzles are clogged, text looks thin and solid areas look streaky or light.
- 4
Worn drum, toner or fuser (laser)
An aging toner cartridge or drum may give uneven or faint prints, and a fuser that is not heating properly can leave toner that rubs off.
What to try, in order
- 1Print the black-and-white test pageLook at the solid steps and the text at small sizes. Note whether the whole page is pale or only part of it.
- 2Check levels and settingsConfirm ink or toner is not low, and that the print dialog is not set to draft, fast or toner save. Match the paper type setting to the paper loaded.
- 3Clean or reseatInkjet: print the nozzle check and run one cleaning cycle if needed. Laser: remove the cartridge, check for tape or damage, and reinstall firmly.
- 4Reprint on fresh plain paperUse the same sheet at normal quality. If it is still pale, try a different cartridge or paper before going further.
Do not run repeated cleaning cycles for pale prints. Try at most two, then rest the printer and recheck.
When to stop and replace
If levels are fine, settings are normal and a new cartridge still prints pale, the print head, drum or fuser may be worn. If the nozzle check is unchanged after two cleanings and a rest, or a laser prints pale on every page with a new cartridge installed, repair or replacement is the next step. Check what the manufacturer supports for your model.
Inkjet or laser?
Inkjet printers
Pale inkjet prints usually come from low ink, draft quality, wrong paper type or partly blocked nozzles. Print the nozzle check to separate them.
Open the nozzle checkLaser printers
On a laser, faded output often means toner save is on, the cartridge is running low, or the drum is worn. Rocking the cartridge only helps if your manual says to.
Print the black-and-white test pageFaded printing is rarely a mystery. It is usually low ink or toner, a quality setting that saves supplies, or partly blocked nozzles. The trick is separating them without wasting ink.
Check settings before hardware
Open the print dialog and look at quality and paper type. Draft, fast, economy and toner save modes all print lighter. If your document looks fine on screen but pale on paper, this is the first thing to change. Our Windows, Mac and Chromebook guides show where each dialog hides these options.
Use a sheet built to show fading
Print the black-and-white test page. It has eleven steps from light to full black, a smooth gradient and small text. If the darkest steps look gray or the lightest steps vanish, you have a density problem. If only part of the page is pale, that points to a specific part of the printer rather than the whole supply.
On an inkjet, follow up with the nozzle check to see whether any color is dropping out. Our reading guide explains what to look for.
Fading versus missing color
If the whole page is pale, think supplies and settings. If one color is absent, see missing color. If you see lines or stripes as well, streaks or lines and banding cover those cases.
Paper and storage
Prints can look faded because they are, over time. Direct sunlight and heat shorten the life of many prints. Use paper intended for the job, such as photo paper for photos, and keep finished pages out of strong light. The photo test page is useful for checking how smooth tones and skin colors look on your paper.
When it is the printer
If the cartridge is full, settings are normal and cleaning has not helped, the part that lays down ink or toner may be worn. Read the stop section above before spending money on supplies that will not fix it.
