Printers · Repair guide

How to fix a printer printing blank pages

8 fixes, easiest first4 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Check the ink or toner level, and if you just installed new ink, make sure all protective tape and film is removed and the cartridge clicks into place. Then run a nozzle check and the printer's print head cleaning.

What it means

When a printer feeds paper but the page comes out blank, ink or toner is not reaching the paper. On inkjets the usual reasons are empty ink, protective tape left on a new cartridge or tank, or dried-up print head nozzles. Sometimes the document itself has blank pages, or the print settings are wrong.

Common causes

  • Ink or toner has run out
  • Protective tape or film left on a new cartridge, ink tank or toner cartridge
  • A cartridge not fully seated
  • Clogged or dried print head nozzles, often after the printer sat unused
  • The document contains blank pages, or the paper size or layout setting is wrong
  • An outdated or damaged printer driver
  • A damaged print head or other hardware fault

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Check the document and print settingsEasy

  1. Open the print preview in your app and look for empty pages in the document; remove them.
  2. Check that the paper size, orientation and layout in the print window match the paper in the tray.
  3. Try printing a different, simple document, such as one line of text in Notepad or TextEdit.
  4. If only some pages come out blank, the blank pages are probably in the document itself.

Why it helps: Extra blank pages and the wrong paper setting are common reasons for empty sheets that have nothing to do with ink.

02Make a copy to see where the problem isEasy

  1. If your printer has a scanner, place a printed page on the glass and make a copy using the printer's control panel.
  2. If the copy is also blank, the problem is in the printer, such as ink or the print head. Continue with the next fixes.
  3. If the copy prints fine, the problem is on the computer side. Check the document, settings and driver.

Why it helps: A copy skips the computer completely, so it tells you whether to fix the printer or the computer.

03Check the ink or toner levelEasy

  1. Check the ink or toner level on the printer's screen, in the maker's app or in the printer's software on your computer.
  2. On ink tank printers, look at the tanks themselves and refill any that are low.
  3. Replace or refill any color that is empty, using the steps in your printer's manual.
  4. Make sure the printer sits on a flat, level surface.

Why it helps: An empty cartridge or tank is the most common reason for blank pages.

04If you just installed new ink, remove all tape and reseat itEasy

  1. Follow your printer's manual to open the cartridge access door. Most inkjets need to be switched on so the cartridge holder moves to where you can reach it; wait until it stops moving and keep your fingers clear of it.
  2. Take out the new cartridge and check for any remaining plastic tape, orange tape or protective film. Peel all of it off.
  3. Do not touch the ink nozzles or the copper-colored contacts on the cartridge.
  4. On ink tank printers, check that all protective film has been removed from the tank as the manual shows, including any air hole.
  5. Push the cartridge back in until it clicks, close the door and print a test page.

Why it helps: Tape left on a new cartridge or tank blocks the ink, and a loose cartridge may not make contact.

05If it's a laser printer, check the toner cartridgeEasy

  1. Turn the printer off and unplug it. Warning: the fuser area inside a laser printer can be very hot, so let it cool before reaching inside.
  2. Open the cover and take out the toner cartridge as the manual shows.
  3. Check for shipping tape or a seal that is still attached to a new cartridge, and remove it as the cartridge instructions describe.
  4. Put the cartridge back in firmly, close the cover, plug in and turn on the printer, then print a test page.

Why it helps: A new toner cartridge with its shipping seal still on, or one that is not seated, prints blank pages.

06Run a nozzle check and clean the print headEasy

  1. Load plain paper. Print a nozzle check pattern from the printer's control panel, the maker's app, or the Maintenance section of the printer's preferences on your computer.
  2. If lines are missing or faint, run Print Head Cleaning (some printers call it Head Cleaning or Clean Printhead), then print the nozzle check again.
  3. Canon suggests trying the cleaning twice; if it still fails, run a deep cleaning if your printer offers it.
  4. If that does not help, turn the printer off, wait 24 hours so the ink can soak in, then try the cleaning again.
  5. Do not run cleaning over and over in a row, since every cleaning uses ink.

Why it helps: Dried ink blocks the tiny nozzles that spray ink; cleaning pushes fresh ink through to clear them.

07If you have an Epson printer, turn on Skip Blank PageEasy

  1. This setting stops the printer feeding pages that have nothing on them. It is in many Epson drivers, but not all.
  2. On Windows: open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the Epson printer and choose Printing preferences.
  3. Select the Maintenance tab, choose Extended Settings, tick Skip Blank Page and select OK.
  4. On a Mac: open Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer, choose Options & Supplies, then look under Driver or Options for Skip Blank Page and turn it on.

Why it helps: It stops the printer wasting paper on blank pages that are part of the document or print job.

08Update or reinstall the printer driverMedium

  1. Download the latest driver or software for your exact model from the printer maker's support website.
  2. On Windows: open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, choose Remove, then Yes, and install the new software.
  3. On a Mac: open Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners, Control-click the printer, choose Remove Printer and confirm, then add it again with Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax.
  4. Print a test page.

Why it helps: If copies print fine but computer jobs come out blank, a damaged driver is a likely cause.

Check it's fixed

  • The nozzle check pattern prints with every line complete.
  • A test page and a normal document print with text and images.
  • A copy made on the printer's scanner prints correctly.

When to get help

If pages are still blank after a deep cleaning, a 24-hour rest and a second deep cleaning, the print head may be damaged; contact the printer maker's support or a repair shop. Also contact them if a laser printer stays blank with a new, correctly fitted toner cartridge.

Questions

Why is my printer printing blank pages with new ink?

The most common reason is tape or protective film left on the new cartridge or tank, or a cartridge that has not clicked into place. If those are fine, the print head nozzles may be clogged and need cleaning.

How many times should I clean the print head?

Run it once or twice, checking the nozzle pattern after each try. Canon advises a deep cleaning after two normal cleanings, and waiting 24 hours before trying again if that fails. Cleaning uses ink, so avoid running it many times in a row.

Can not using my printer cause blank pages?

Yes. Ink can dry in the nozzles of an inkjet that sits unused. Printing a page every week or two helps keep the nozzles clear.

Why does my printer print one extra blank page at the end?

The document often has an empty page or a page break at the end. Check the print preview and delete it, or print only the pages you need.

Related fixes

How to fix a printer that won't printCheck the printer for paper, ink, jams and error messages, then restart it and your computer. Make sure you picked the right printer, cancelHow to fix a printer that is not recognizing an ink cartridgeCheck that the cartridge number matches your printer, remove all packaging and tape, then take the cartridge out and push it back in slowly How to fix an Epson printer that is not workingPrint a nozzle check from the printer to confirm it works on its own, then clear the Epson print queue and make sure Use Printer Offline is How to fix a Canon printer that is not workingTurn the Canon printer off and on, check its screen for a support code, then make sure the Canon driver is the default printer and Use PrintHow to fix an HP printer that is not workingRestart the HP printer, your computer and your router, make sure the printer and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network, then run Diagnose &

Still stuck?

Paste the exact message to find the closest fix, or search it on Google, Microsoft, Apple, Reddit and YouTube.

Sources