Ghost images or faint repeats on laser prints

Measure the gap between the original image and its ghost. The gap matches the circumference of the roller causing it, and many manuals or support sites have a repeating-defect chart that matches spacing to part.

Set the paper type to the paper actually loaded; heavy, card or glossy settings make the fuser hotter. Ordinary office paper, around 75–90 g/m² (20–24 lb), should use the plain setting.

Plug the printer directly into a wall outlet rather than a power strip, extension lead or UPS. Laser printers draw a lot of power as the fuser heats, and an unsteady supply can affect print quality.

Paper that has absorbed moisture makes ghosting more likely. Load paper from a sealed ream and store open packs flat in a dry place.

Print the supplies status page from the printer's menu to see how much drum and toner life remain. Replace a drum at or near the end of its life; if the drum is built into the toner cartridge, a new cartridge replaces both.

If ghosting continues with the right settings, fresh paper and a new drum, the fuser is the likely cause. Fusers are model-specific and can be costly, so check your manual or the maker's support site before buying one.

Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Printing preferences (Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Manage). Set the paper type to match the loaded paper.

Laser drivers often offer choices such as light, plain, heavy or recycled. If ghosting persists, step down one setting at a time and print the same page after each change.

Click Printer properties and choose Print Test Page. If the test page also shows ghosting, the cause is in the printer, not your document.

In the print dialog, open Media & Quality (or the maker's equivalent) and choose the media type that matches your paper. Save it as a preset for everyday printing.

Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click your printer, then Options & Supplies > Supply Levels to see toner and, on many models, drum life.

Many network laser printers have a built-in web page showing supply status and paper settings. Look for Show Printer Webpage under Options & Supplies, or type the printer's IP address into Safari.