How to align the print head
Align an inkjet print head from the printer, Windows or a Mac to fix jagged lines and blurry or doubled text, using automatic or manual alignment.
Print head alignment lines up the nozzles so that the dots from each pass of the head, and from each color, land exactly where they should. When they drift, vertical lines look jagged or doubled, text looks blurry and colors can show thin fringes. Many printers align themselves after a new print head or cartridge is fitted, but you can run it whenever prints look off. Alignment is an inkjet task; color laser printers use a separate calibration or color registration routine.
Steps
On the printer
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Run a nozzle check first
Print a nozzle check before aligning. If lines are missing or broken, clean the head first, because alignment can't fix clogged nozzles and a patchy pattern can confuse automatic alignment.
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Load plain paper
Put plain Letter or A4 paper in the main tray unless your printer asks for a different type. Use fresh, flat sheets, as curled or damp paper can feed slightly crooked and skew the result.
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Start the alignment
On the printer's screen, look under Maintenance, Tools or Setup for an option such as Print head alignment, Align printhead or Head alignment. On models without a screen, start it from your computer instead, as described below.
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Let automatic alignment finish
Most printers align automatically. Some read the printed pattern with a built-in sensor; many all-in-ones ask you to place the page face down on the scanner glass, positioned as shown on the screen, and press a button so the scanner can read it. Leave the lid closed and don't print anything else until the printer says it has finished.
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Pick the best patterns for manual alignment
Some printers, and some driver options, print numbered groups of patterns and ask you to pick the best in each group, usually the one with the fewest visible stripes or the most even lines. Look at the page in good light, enter each number on the screen or computer, and take your time, as a wrong choice makes alignment worse.
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Check the result
Print a page with small text and straight vertical lines, such as a table. If lines are still jagged, run the alignment once more. If it keeps failing, check that the paper feeds straight and that nothing inside the printer, such as packing tape left on a new printer, is in the way.
Windows 11 / 10
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Open printing preferences
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer and click Printing preferences (Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, Manage, then Printing preferences).
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Find the alignment tool
Open the Maintenance, Utility, Services or Tools tab and choose Print Head Alignment or a similarly named option. Some drivers offer both an automatic option and a manual or custom one; start with automatic.
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Use the maker's app if the tab is missing
The basic driver Windows installs often has no maintenance tools. The manufacturer's app or full driver package, from its official website or the Microsoft Store, usually adds them. Otherwise, use the printer's control panel.
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Try turning off high-speed printing
Some drivers have a high-speed or bidirectional printing option, which lays down ink as the head travels in both directions. If lines still look slightly doubled after alignment, turning it off can sharpen them, at the cost of slower printing.
macOS
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Open the printer utility
Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners (on macOS 12 and earlier, System Preferences), select your printer and click Options & Supplies. If there's a Utility tab, click Open Printer Utility.
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Run the alignment
In the utility, choose Print Head Alignment or a similarly named option and follow the prompts. macOS doesn't have an alignment tool of its own, so if there's no Utility tab, which is common with AirPrint, use the printer's control panel.
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Check for a high-speed setting
In the print dialog, look through the printer-specific options for a high-speed or bidirectional printing setting. Where your driver has one, turning it off can reduce slight doubling of lines and text.
Tips
- Align after moving the printer or replacing a print head, even if prints look fine at first glance.
- If an all-in-one keeps failing to read its alignment page, clean the scanner glass and make sure the page sits square in the corner the screen shows.
- Alignment uses a sheet or two of paper and a little ink, so there's no harm in running it again if you're unsure.
Common questions
How do I know if my print head needs aligning?
Look for vertical lines that look jagged or stepped, text that looks blurry or slightly doubled, and thin colored fringes along black text. Missing lines or gaps are a cleaning problem, not an alignment problem.
Do I need to align a laser printer?
No. Mono laser printers don't need alignment. Color lasers keep their colors lined up with a calibration or color registration routine, which usually runs automatically and can often be started from the printer's menu.
Why does alignment fail or say the pattern could not be read?
Common causes are clogged nozzles, the wrong paper, a dirty scanner glass or a page placed the wrong way round. Run a nozzle check and clean if needed, use fresh plain paper, and follow the placement instructions on the screen exactly.