Printer prints blank pages
Paper feeds through but comes out blank. Work out whether it's ink or toner, a clogged print head or a software setting, and fix it.
Quick fix
Print the printer's own test or status page from its menu. If that comes out blank too, the cartridge is the problem: make sure every bit of protective tape is removed and run a print head cleaning on an inkjet. If the test page prints fine, look at the computer side.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsYou might see
- Paper goes through and comes out completely blank
- Blank pages started right after you fitted a new cartridge
- Colour prints but black does not, or the reverse
- Extra blank pages come out between printed ones
Usually caused by
- Protective tape or seal left on a new cartridge
- Empty or dried ink, or a clogged print head
- Toner cartridge or drum not seated properly
- Blank pages inside the document itself
- Wrong or damaged driver
Safety first. Switch off and unplug a laser printer before removing its toner or drum and keep clear of the fuser, which can be very hot; inkjets usually must stay on to move cartridges into reach, so keep fingers away from the carriage while it moves.
Step-by-step fix
Work through the steps in order and check each one off. Most people are printing again before the last step.
On the printer
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Print an internal test page
Use the printer's menu (often under Reports, Maintenance or Settings) to print a test, status or print quality page. A blank test page means the problem is in the printer; a good one means you should look at your computer.
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Remove all tape and seals
Take out any new cartridge and check for coloured or clear tape over the nozzles or vents, or a pull tab on a toner cartridge. Remove it, push the cartridge back in until it clicks, and close the cover.
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Check ink or toner levels
Check the levels on the printer's screen or in the maker's app. Levels are estimates, so a cartridge can be empty while still showing some ink. Try a new or known-good cartridge if you have one.
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Clean the print head (inkjet)
Run the head cleaning or nozzle check from the printer's maintenance menu, then print a nozzle check pattern. Repeat two or three times at most, waiting a few minutes between cycles.
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Reseat the toner and drum (laser)
Switch off and unplug the printer, open it, and remove the toner and drum units. Gently rock the toner cartridge side to side to spread the toner, reinstall everything firmly, close the covers and switch on.
Windows 11 / 10
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Print a Windows test page
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Print test page. If it prints but your document doesn't, the issue is the document or app.
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Check the document for blank pages
Look at print preview for empty pages caused by extra line breaks, a wrong page range or content outside the printable area. Delete empty paragraphs at the end, or print only the pages you need.
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Reinstall the driver
Remove the printer in Printers & scanners, then add it again. If the driver Windows picks gives blank pages, install the current one from the manufacturer's official support site.
macOS
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Print from a simple app
Open TextEdit, type a line and print it. If that works, check the original document's print preview for empty pages.
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Check the driver in use
If you chose Generic PostScript Printer for a printer that doesn't support PostScript, pages can come out blank. Remove the printer in System Settings > Printers & Scanners and add it again with AirPrint or the exact model in the Use menu.
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Check the print settings
In the print window, make sure the page range contains content and any black-only or colour setting matches the cartridges you have installed.
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 my new cartridge print blank pages?
Usually the protective tape is still on, the cartridge isn't clicked fully into place, or the printer hasn't primed it yet. Remove the tape, reseat it and run one cleaning cycle.
Does head cleaning use a lot of ink?
Each cycle uses some ink, so don't run it repeatedly. Two or three cycles with a nozzle check in between are enough to tell whether it's working.