The printer prints blank sheets

Most users have encountered this problem. For many, this causes bewilderment and sometimes panic when it comes to urgently printing a document. This problem has several reasons and ways to solve them. It is proposed to consider them in detail. So, what to do if the printer produces a blank white sheet.

Why does the printer print blank sheets:

Problems with the cartridge. If you have an inkjet model, then it is likely that the print head is clogged. This prevents the ink from being sprayed onto the paper, which is why the printer produces clean paper. Running self-cleaning will help solve the problem.

It is also possible that the print head may break.

Out of paint. The most common reason: the toner has run out of ink. Usually, the user himself begins to guess about this, because the printing on the pages becomes paler. Moreover, modern devices notify the user that the paint supply is running low.

There is another situation when the ink has simply dried out. This applies in particular to inkjet models. After a certain period of time during which no one has used the printer, the ink in it dries out.

In both the first and second cases, replacing the cartridge or refilling it will help.

Problems with the printer.

• One of the most common reasons is printer fatigue.This applies to cases when you printed several large documents in a row.
• The high-voltage unit that transfers the image using discharges is faulty.
• Photodrum failure due to contacts coming loose.
• The laser unit does not function and therefore does not transmit an image.
• The magnetic roller has stopped rotating, preventing ink from getting onto the paper.

You cannot cope with such problems on your own. Therefore, the only way out is to go to the workshop.

Why does the printer run through blank sheets?

If there is still ink in the cartridge, it is installed correctly, everything is in order with the device and file format, then the problems may be the following:

• Software (driver) failure. A virus could have entered the system, a software failure could have occurred, or it could have happened due to the installation of new hardware. What to do about it? You need to go to Device Manager on your computer and find the Printers tab. If there really is a problem with the drivers, you will see a notification about this opposite the device name. In any case, you can go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers.
• The printer simply broke down. Various parts are damaged: from the photodrum to contacts coming off. Whatever it is, you cannot do without the help of service specialists.
• There was a problem with the printer settings. Unfortunately, this sometimes happens, even with the latest printer models. Due to errors, print saturation may be reduced to a minimum. To solve this problem, you need to go into the printer settings and restore those to the default (standard).
• There is not enough memory on the computer. Check the free space on your PC's internal storage.If it is not enough, then it simply will not be able to process your requests due to lack of resources. There must be at least 2 GB of free memory on your hard drive. This is quite enough for high-quality printing.
• Computer software failure. This could happen due to the same viruses, or software errors. To make sure of this, you need to find in the instructions how to print a test page. If printing is successful, then the problem is clearly not with the printer. You need to clean your PC.
• Error in the print queue. It may become clogged, preventing new documents from printing. To check this, go to the printer settings and find the “View print queue” section. Clean it if necessary.

User errors that could have caused the problem

• You changed the cartridge yourself, and forgot to remove the protective film in it, which prevents ink from getting on the paper. Or because of this, the cartridge is not recognized. Fixing the problem is not difficult: remove the cartridge and remove the film.
• It's possible that the document you sent to print was not formatted correctly and has a lot of blank pages. To be on the safe side, double check it.
• Printer and cartridge incompatibility. Read the instructions and make sure the models are compatible.
• Using poor quality or unsuitable paper. The instructions for the device should indicate what type of paper it is compatible with. The sheets may not be the correct density or thickness.
• Incorrect connection. Cables tend to break or you might get caught in them while cleaning.

Software problem

When the test page prints a positive result and there is no problem with the printer, the software is causing the problem.

Some users complain that after updating the operating system, the printer stops printing documents from a specific application. To be sure, try printing something from Notepad.

When the problem is identified, the following actions are suggested:

• Print the document from an alternative application (if available).
• Believe me, maybe the wrong printer is selected by default.
• There is a possibility that the file format you selected is not compatible with the program. Try using a different one.
• Reinstall the program.

Correcting software level errors

To find system errors, use the built-in search. To do this, you need to find your printer in devices (in Device Manager), right-click on it and run “Troubleshoot.” At the end of the search, the system will independently identify and eliminate those problems that can be diagnosed.

After this, you need to use the utility from the manufacturer. If it is not installed along with the drivers, then find it yourself.

Important! Check in advance that there is paper in the printer, because many programs print several test pages.

Once the utility has completed its diagnostics, correct all errors found. If the printer continues to spit out empty sheets, then we are looking for another reason.

Troubleshooting hardware errors

Remove the cartridge and check that there are no signs of oxidation on any parts of it. All contacts must be clean.

What other device actions, besides printing blank sheets, indicate the presence of internal errors:

• Systematic shutdown after printing several sheets.
• The LEDs light up differently than usual.
• The entire text is “skewed”, the letters lie on top of one another.
• The text is printed, but with spaces.

Minor damage can be repaired yourself. To do this, it is enough to have spare parts, tools and guides that can be found on the Internet.

What to do if the printer does not see the cartridge

If you think there is a compatibility issue between the cartridge and the printer, do the following: Print a test page offline. But not all models have this function. You can read more about this in the user manual that comes with the device.

How to solve this problem:

• The first thing you need to do is try rebooting your device. This is done not only with the on/off button, but also by disconnecting the wire from the network. It is recommended to do the same with the computer that sends the file to print. There may be some kind of software error.
• It is possible that the print head is simply overheated. Such situations are common when the printer systematically wears out. In this case, you need to let it rest by turning it off for a couple of hours.
• Try removing the cartridge and then reinserting it. If it is dirty, wipe it with a damp cloth. Let it dry completely and then you can put it back in place. When installing, you should hear a characteristic click.
• In addition, you can clean the inside of the printer itself while the cartridge dries. There could be paint, dust, etc. left there. This can be done with a special liquid sold in office equipment stores. The main thing is to avoid contact with contacts.
• Reset the device. Instructions on how to do this for each specific model can be found in the user manual or on the Internet.

If you have tried all possible options, but the printer continues to skip blank sheets, then you should contact the specialists. Or write/call the manufacturer's support service.