Air in the ink tubes or ink not reaching the print head
A color prints blank or keeps dropping out even with ink in the tank? Air in the ink path is a likely cause. Here's how to clear it and keep it out.
Quick fix
Fill the affected tank to the upper line, make sure any transport lock or ink valve is open, and print a nozzle check. If a color is missing, run a standard cleaning once or twice. If it's still blank, run the printer's power cleaning or ink flush once, then let the printer rest for several hours before checking again.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsYou might see
- One color, or black, prints completely blank while its tank still has ink
- A nozzle check shows a color block missing or mostly empty
- Gaps in the nozzle check move or change from one check to the next
- The problem started after a tank ran low, or after the printer was moved or tilted
- On models where the tubes are visible, gaps or bubbles in the ink line
Usually caused by
- A tank allowed to run below the lower line, so air was drawn into the tube
- The printer moved without its transport lock set, or tilted or laid on its side
- A print head removed and refitted, on models with user-installed heads
- Months without use, letting the ink path partly dry
- An ink valve lever left closed, which starves the head of ink
Safety first. Keep the printer level and switched off while you inspect the tanks or tubes, protect the surface underneath with paper towels, and keep bottles capped and away from children and pets, since ink stains and must not be swallowed.
Step-by-step fix
Work through the steps in order and check each one off. Most people are printing again before the last step.
Any ink tank printer
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Refill before anything else
Top up every tank that is near or below the lower line, not just the problem color. Many cleaning cycles draw on several tanks at once, and running one on a near-empty tank can pull in more air.
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Check the transport lock or ink valve
If your printer has a transport lock or ink valve lever, make sure it's in the printing position. A lever left locked after a move looks exactly like air in the tubes: the color simply stops printing.
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Print a nozzle check and keep it
Print a nozzle check from the printer's menu, the maker's app or the button combination in your manual. A color that's missing completely usually means ink isn't reaching the head; scattered gaps usually mean dried or partly blocked nozzles instead.
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Run a standard cleaning once or twice
Run a standard cleaning and print another check. If the missing block starts to fill in, a second cleaning often finishes the job. If nothing changes at all, move on rather than repeating it.
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Use power cleaning or ink flush once
Run the stronger cycle, called power cleaning, ink flush or system cleaning depending on the maker. It pulls a large amount of ink through the tubes to push the air out, which is why it uses so much ink and fills the waste ink pad faster. Some printers ask you to top up low tanks before it starts.
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Let it rest
After a strong cycle, leave the printer idle for several hours, ideally overnight; some manuals suggest 12 hours or more before another strong cycle. Resting lets ink fill the tubes and soften dried nozzles, and it often fixes what an extra cycle wouldn't.
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Check whether it is fixed
Print a nozzle check after the rest. It's fixed when every color shows a complete pattern and stays complete on a second check after a page or two of normal printing. If the pattern improves each time, one more standard cleaning is usually enough.
Windows 11 / 10
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Find the stronger clean in the driver
Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer and click Printing preferences. On many Epson and Canon drivers the Maintenance tab lists nozzle check, cleaning and the stronger clean together; if your driver has no such tab, use the maker's app or the printer's panel.
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Clean only the colors affected
Some drivers let you clean black and color separately. If only black is missing, clean black only, which saves ink and waste pad capacity.
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Leave it alone while it runs
Don't cancel the cycle, open covers or turn the printer off partway through. Wait until it goes quiet and shows it's ready.
Did this fix it?
Good. To confirm everything is healthy, print a test page. It takes a minute and shows any quality problems early.
Try these next
Still stuck? Our printer assistant can walk you through it by live chat, free. . Or the The troubleshooter asks a few questions and narrows it down. If your printer is under warranty, the manufacturer can repair or replace it at no cost. Find their official support site on our brand pages.
Common questions
Why does running a tank low let air in?
Below the lower line, the tank can no longer keep the tube full, so air gets drawn toward the head along with the last of the ink. The head can't print from nozzles that have air behind them.
Is it safe to move an ink tank printer?
Yes, if you prepare it: set the transport lock where there is one, keep it level, and bag it in case of drips. Our guide to moving an ink tank printer covers the steps.