Lines or streaks on scans and copies
Vertical lines, streaks or spots on scans and copies but not on prints? Clean the scanner glass and the document feeder's scanning strip to fix it.
Quick fix
If lines appear only when you use the document feeder, clean the narrow glass strip beside the main glass. If they appear on flatbed scans, clean the main glass and the white pad under the lid. Use a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water or glass cleaner sprayed onto the cloth, never onto the glass.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsYou might see
- Thin vertical lines running the full length of copies or scans
- Lines only when using the document feeder, not the glass
- Spots or smudges in the same place on every scan
- Prints from the computer look clean
Usually caused by
- Dust, correction fluid or a smudge on the feeder's scanning strip
- Marks or fingerprints on the main glass
- Dirt on the white backing pad under the lid
- Glue, toner or ink transferred from originals
- A scratch on the glass or a fault in the scanner sensor
Safety first. Turn the printer off and unplug it before cleaning the glass, and never spray liquid directly onto the scanner.
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 scanner or all-in-one printer
0 of 6 steps tried
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Find which part causes it
Copy the same page once through the document feeder and once on the glass. Lines only from the feeder mean its scanning strip is dirty; lines from both point to the main glass, the lid pad or the scanner itself.
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Clean the feeder's scanning strip
Lift the lid and find the narrow strip of glass, only a few centimeters wide, along one edge of the main glass. Pages are read there as they pass through the feeder, so one speck draws a line down every page. Wipe it lengthwise with a lint-free cloth, then dry it, and wipe the white strip above it on the lid.
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Clean the main glass and lid pad
Spray a little glass cleaner or water onto a lint-free cloth, not onto the glass, so liquid can't seep under the edges. Wipe the main glass and the white pad on the underside of the lid, avoiding abrasive pads and harsh solvents.
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Check your originals
Correction fluid, glue, or ink and toner from a just-printed page can rub onto the glass. Let originals dry and remove sticky notes before scanning.
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Clean inside the feeder
Some feeders have a second scanning area inside for two-sided scans; your manual shows how to open the feeder cover to clean it. Wipe the feeder's rubber rollers with a damp cloth while you're there.
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Copy again and inspect
Make a test copy. If a line stays in exactly the same place, look closely at the glass with a flashlight for a scratch or stubborn spot.
Windows 11 / 10
0 of 3 steps tried
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Rule out the printing side
In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, click Printer properties and choose Print Test Page. A clean test page means the scanner is the cause; lines on it too mean the printing side needs attention.
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Scan to a file and zoom in
Scan the page with the Windows Scan app and zoom in on the result. Lines in the file confirm a scanner problem.
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Use the glass meanwhile
Until the feeder strip is clean, place important pages on the glass one at a time; the flatbed reads pages with a moving sensor and usually avoids feeder lines.
macOS
0 of 3 steps tried
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Rule out the printing side
Open the printer's queue from System Settings > Printers & Scanners, then choose Printer > Print Test Page. A clean test page means the scanner is the cause.
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Scan to a file and zoom in
Scan the page in Image Capture and zoom in on the result in Preview. Lines in the file confirm a scanner problem.
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Use the glass meanwhile
Until the feeder strip is clean, scan important pages on the glass one at a time to avoid feeder lines.
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 do lines appear only when using the document feeder?
The feeder reads pages through a small fixed strip of glass, so even a tiny speck on it draws a line down every page. Cleaning that strip usually fixes it.
What should I clean the scanner glass with?
A lint-free or microfiber cloth with a little water or non-abrasive glass cleaner. Spray the cloth, not the glass, and avoid paper towels, which can scratch and leave lint.