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How to run a nozzle check

Print a nozzle check pattern from the printer, Windows or a Mac, read what the lines and blocks mean, and decide whether to clean, align or leave it alone.

5 min
Easy
Updated

A nozzle check prints a small test pattern that shows whether every nozzle in an inkjet print head is firing. Run it first whenever prints look streaky, faded or wrongly colored, because it tells you whether cleaning will help before you spend ink on it. Some printers call it a print quality report or diagnostic page. Laser printers have no nozzles, so they don't offer this check.

Steps

On the printer

0 of 5 steps tried

  1. Load plain paper

    Put a few sheets of plain Letter or A4 paper in the main tray and clear any error message on the screen, as most printers won't print a report while an error is showing. There's no need to use photo paper for a test.

  2. Find the check in the menu

    On printers with a screen, look under Maintenance, Tools, Setup or Print quality, or tap an icon showing an ink drop or a wrench. The option may be called Nozzle check, Print quality report or Print quality diagnostic page, depending on the maker.

  3. Use the button method on models without a screen

    Many printers without a display print a nozzle check when you hold a particular button or combination for a few seconds, sometimes while switching the printer on. The buttons vary by model and some combinations reset settings instead, so check the manual or the manufacturer's official support website rather than guessing.

  4. Read the pattern

    Most patterns are a grid or set of short lines for each color, or a row of solid color blocks. Look at the page in good light and compare it with the example on the screen or in the manual. Complete, even lines in every color mean the nozzles are clear, and cleaning won't improve your prints.

  5. Decide what to do next

    Gaps or broken lines in one or more colors mean some nozzles are clogged: run one cleaning cycle, then print the check again. A color missing completely points to an empty cartridge or tank, protective tape left on a new cartridge or, on ink tank models, air in the ink tubes. Jagged or doubled vertical lines with no gaps usually mean the head needs aligning, not cleaning.

Tips

  • Run a nozzle check before every cleaning cycle, not only after. If the pattern is already complete, cleaning just uses ink.
  • Keep a good nozzle check page as a reference, so you can compare later ones against it.
  • Some makers' phone apps can start a nozzle check over Wi-Fi, which helps if your computer only has the basic driver.
  • If cleaning doesn't clear the gaps, stop after three cycles in a row and let the printer rest for several hours before trying again.

Common questions

Does a nozzle check use much ink?

Very little. It prints a small pattern in each color, far less ink than a single cleaning cycle uses.

The nozzle check is perfect but my prints are still streaky. What now?

The head is firing properly, so look elsewhere. Check that the paper type setting matches the paper you loaded, try a fresh pack of paper, run a print head alignment and make sure the quality setting isn't on draft.

How often should I run a nozzle check?

Run one whenever print quality drops, after the printer has sat unused for a while, and after refilling or replacing ink if colors look wrong. If you print rarely, a monthly check helps catch drying nozzles early.

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