Spots or repeating marks on prints
Dots or smudges that repeat down every page? Measure the gap to find the roller at fault on a laser, or clear ink build-up from an inkjet's paper path.
Quick fix
Print three or four pages and see whether the marks repeat at the same spacing. On a laser printer, measure the gap between repeats and compare it with the repetitive defect chart in your manual, if it has one, to find the roller at fault. On an inkjet, run the roller or paper guide cleaning routine to clear stray ink from the paper path.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsYou might see
- Dots or smudges that repeat at the same distance down the page
- White spots where toner is missing, repeating down the page
- Random ink spots or drips on otherwise clean pages
- Marks on the back of the sheet or along one edge
- Spots that appear only on copies, not on computer prints
Usually caused by
- A scratch, dent or toner build-up on a laser drum
- Toner stuck to the fuser or another roller
- Ink build-up on inkjet rollers or the platen under the print head
- A leaking or overfilled ink cartridge
- Dirt or marks on the scanner glass, for copies
Safety first. Turn the printer off and unplug it before reaching inside, let a laser printer cool first because the fuser gets very hot, avoid touching the drum surface or an inkjet's nozzles, and protect your clothes, since toner and ink stain.
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 inkjet or laser printer
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Check copies separately
Print a page from your computer and make a copy. If spots appear only on copies, clean the scanner glass, the underside of the lid and any document feeder glass strip with a soft cloth lightly dampened with water.
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Print a test pattern
Print three or four pages with a large light gray block so marks are easy to see. Note whether they repeat at an even spacing down the page; random and regular spots have different causes.
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Measure the gap (laser)
Measure from one mark to the same point on the next, in the direction the paper travels. The gap equals the circumference of the roller causing it, so a short gap points to a small roller and a long gap to a larger one such as the drum or fuser. Many manuals include a repetitive defect chart or ruler listing the distance for each part.
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Inspect the drum (laser)
Lift out the drum or toner cartridge and look at the drum surface, usually green or blue, without touching it. A scratch, dent or stuck speck of toner in line with the marks confirms it. Only clean the drum if your manual explains how; a scratched drum needs replacing.
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Clear toner from the fuser (laser)
If the gap matches the fuser, toner may be stuck to its roller. Print a cleaning page if your printer's maintenance menu offers one, or print several blank sheets. If marks remain, the fuser may be worn.
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Clean the paper path (inkjet)
Ink spots on the front or back of pages usually come from ink on the rollers or the platen, the ribbed plastic under the print head. Run the roller, paper guide or bottom plate cleaning routine if your printer has one. Otherwise, unplug it and wipe ink off the rollers and platen with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water, avoiding the print head and the thin clear strip along the back.
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Look for a leaking cartridge (inkjet)
Drips that land in different places can come from a cracked, refilled or overfilled cartridge. Check the cartridge undersides and the carriage for wet ink, blot it away, and replace a cartridge that keeps leaking.
Windows 11 / 10
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Print a Windows test page
Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer and click Printer properties > Print Test Page (Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Manage). Marks on the test page rule out the document.
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Find cleaning tools
Check for a maintenance or services tab in Printing preferences. Many network printers also offer a cleaning page or cleaning mode on their built-in web page, which opens when you type the printer's IP address into a browser.
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Check the paper type
In Printing preferences, make sure the paper type matches the paper loaded. On a laser, poorly fused toner from the wrong setting can build up on rollers and spot later pages.
macOS
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Print a Mac test page
Open the printer's queue from System Settings > Printers & Scanners or its Dock icon, then choose Printer > Print Test Page from the menu bar.
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Open the printer web page
In Printers & Scanners, click your printer, then Options & Supplies, and look for Show Printer Webpage. If it's there, the web page often includes cleaning and maintenance tools.
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Match the media type
In the print dialog, open Media & Quality and set the media type to match the paper, so a laser fuses toner properly and an inkjet lays down the right amount of ink.
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 the marks repeat at the same distance?
Each roller touches the page once per turn, so a flaw on it prints again every time it comes round. The spacing between marks equals the roller's circumference.
Is it the toner cartridge or the drum?
Where the drum is built into the toner cartridge, a new cartridge replaces both. Where the drum is separate, compare the gap with your manual's chart, or try the new toner first; if the marks stay at the same spacing, the drum is the likely cause.