Copier won't copy or copies come out blank
Pressing Copy does nothing, or copies come out blank or faint? Check how the original is placed, clean the glass, review copy settings and test the print side.
Quick fix
Place the original face down on the glass, lined up with the corner marked by an arrow, and take any pages out of the document feeder, which most printers use first. Then print a test page from your computer. If it prints well but copies are blank, the scanner side is at fault; if both are blank, check ink or toner.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsYou might see
- Copies come out completely or nearly blank
- Pressing Copy does nothing, or an error appears
- Copies are very light, very dark or show only part of the page
- Printing from the computer works but copying doesn't
Usually caused by
- Original placed face up on the glass, or the wrong way in the feeder
- Pages left in the document feeder, so the glass is ignored
- Copy settings changed, such as darkness, size or paper tray
- Empty, unrecognized or still-sealed ink or toner cartridge
- Dirty scanner glass or lid, or a scanner fault
Safety first. Before reaching inside, turn the printer off and unplug it unless your manual says the power must stay on to change cartridges, and keep away from a laser printer's fuser, which gets hot.
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 all-in-one printer or copier
0 of 8 steps tried
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Place the original correctly
On the glass, the side you want copied goes face down, lined up with the corner marked by an arrow or guide. Most document feeders take originals face up, but some differ, so check the small picture on the feeder tray. A page placed the wrong way round usually gives a blank copy.
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Empty the document feeder
Many printers copy from the feeder whenever they sense paper in it, ignoring whatever is on the glass. Remove everything from the feeder tray, or choose the glass as the source in the copy menu if your printer offers that choice.
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Print a test page to isolate the fault
Print a test page from your computer, or a status or configuration report from the printer's own menu. If that prints well but copies don't, the scanning side is at fault. If the report is blank or faint too, the print engine is the problem, so check ink or toner first.
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Check ink or toner
Check levels on the printer's screen or in the maker's app. Many inkjets won't print or copy at all while any one cartridge is empty or not recognized, even for black-and-white copies. A new laser toner cartridge often has a protective seal or strip that must be pulled out before it will print.
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Reset the copy settings
Go through the copy settings on the printer's screen: darkness or density, reduce or enlarge, paper size, tray and quality. A darkness setting at its lightest gives near-blank copies, and a wrong size can crop the page. Many printers have an option to restore copy defaults; otherwise set each one back to normal or 100%.
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Clean the glass and lid
With the printer off, wipe the scanner glass and the white backing under the lid with a soft, lint-free cloth lightly sprayed with glass cleaner or water; never spray the glass directly. If your printer has a feeder, also wipe the narrow glass strip beside the main glass, which the feeder reads through.
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Try a scan of the same page
Scan the original to your computer, a USB drive or the maker's app. A blank scan as well as a blank copy points to the scanner, so follow our blank or black scans fix. A good scan with a blank copy points to the print side or the copy settings.
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Restart and update
Turn the printer off with its power button, unplug it for a minute, then turn it back on to clear a stuck scanner. If copying still fails, check for a firmware update from the printer's menu or the maker's official support site.
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? 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 my printer print from the computer but not copy?
Copying uses the scanner first and the print engine second. If computer prints are fine, the original's position, the glass, the feeder or the copy settings are the likely cause.
Can I copy in black and white with an empty color cartridge?
It depends on the printer. Some allow it, often with a warning, while many inkjets refuse to print or copy until every cartridge is working.
Why are my copies smaller than the original?
A reduce setting, a fit-to-page option or the wrong paper size is usually selected. Set the copy size back to 100% and match the paper size to the paper in the tray.