The printer is working but it suddenly starts printing blank pages. Immediately, you will think that the printer has run out of ink and replacing hence replacing with a new cartridge will resolve the issue but this is not always the case.
A printer that randomly produces blank pages has many possible causes. Empty ink cartridges, incorrect cartridge installation and clogged nozzles are the most common errors. Driver and printer software can also sometimes cause this issue.
Reset the Printer
Most printer issues can be solved by just simply restarting the printer. Turn the printer off properly and then unplug it from the power source, wait for about 5 minutes and then plug it back and turn it on. Do a test print to see if it goes back to normal.
Replace Low/Empty Cartridges
If the ink or toner levels are low, immediately refill or replace them with new ones. Perform ink or print alignment after installing the new cartridge to make sure that the cartridge is installed properly.
Automated Cleaning of Clogged Print Heads
If the cartridge still has ink as shown on the ink levels and the printer still prints blank pages, then the print head of the ink cartridges might be blocked with dirt or dried ink. Good thing there’s a built-in maintenance tool provided by the printer’s driver software. Go to Control Panel, then open Devices and Printers, right click on your printer icon then choose properties, and click the Maintenance tab. Under the Maintenance tab choose Print Head Cleaning or Deep Cleaning, printer brands will differ in terms but choose the one that will clean the print head and unclogs them to perform back to normal. After the cleaning the printer will print a diagnostic page, check the patterns and colors if there are no issues. If it still didn’t solve the problem or has imperfections from the diagnostic page. Do this step three more times with a 10 minute interval.
Manual Cleaning of Clogged Print Heads
If the automated cleaning did not work, you can manually here are the steps to do this.
1.Gather cleaning supplies:- Clean distilled, filtered, or bottled water. Tap water may contain contaminants which could damage the cartridge.
- Clean cotton swabs or any soft, lint-free material that will not stick to the cartridges.
- Sheets of paper or paper towel to rest the cartridges on during cleaning.Remove the cartridges and place it on a piece of paper with the nozzle plate facing up.
2. Check the area around the nozzle plate. If there are any debris or ink buildup, clean the cartridge as follows:
- Lightly moisten the lint-free cleaning material with clean water.
- Use the swab to wipe clean the faces and edges around the nozzle plate. The area to be cleaned is cross-hatched in the picture below. Replace the cleaning material if it gets dirty.
- Avoid touching the nozzle plate and copper colored contacts
3. Reinstall the cartridges back to the printer and do a printhead cleaning once again and check the diagnostic page. If there are still errors, then the ink cartridge might be damaged and needs to be replaced with a new one.
