Blank pages are the last thing you expect to find when you run your printer. Replacing an ink cartridge won’t always solve the problem either.
So, why is my printer printing blank pages when it has ink? There are several potential causes, ranging from improper cartridge installation to print setting errors. Whether you have a home office or use printers in your business, you’ll want to solve the problem ASAP.
We’ll walk you through possible causes for blank pages. The good news is that troubleshooting and fixing the problem is relatively straightforward.
These solutions should work when your printer keeps printing blank pages. Feel free to talk to our team at Selltoner.net for more advice on your specific situation. We can help you diagnose the problem, and even show you a way to get some money back for your unwanted ink if you need to buy a new printer.
Why is My Printer Printing Blank Pages When it Has Ink?
You load up your print menu and press Control+P. The print button works, and you start to hear your printer make its typical whirring noises. But moments later, you’re met by a strange sight – your printer keeps printing blank pages.
Why is my printer printing blank pages when it has ink? The truth is that blank pages can result from several possible scenarios. Let’s walk through each potential situation and show you the easiest way to fix them.
Clogged or Dried-Out Printhead Nozzles
The printhead is your printer’s brain. It’s the component that determines ink placement, bringing your document or photo to life. Clogs in the printhead nozzles will jam up the flow of ink throughout your system.
This can directly lead to your printer printing blank pages. The ink can’t get to its destination, leaving your page empty.
Note that you don’t want to wait until your printer keeps printing blank pages to clean your printhead. You should investigate if your printer has ink but prints faded, as it’s only a matter of time before the problem worsens.
You can fix this issue by running your printer’s built-in cleaning cycle. You may need to manually clean the area with a cloth and some distilled water.
Incorrect Cartridge Installation
Why is my printer printing blank pages when it has ink? One possible cause is that your cartridge is improperly seated. A slight misalignment can prevent ink from flowing out of your cartridge. Additionally, you might have accidentally left the protective strip on the cartridge, blocking the process.
Thankfully, the fix here is simple. Pop open your printer and remove the cartridge. Inspect it for any issues, and then verify that you have the right model for your printer. Once you remove any plastic tabs or seals and reinstall them, you can run a new test page.
Empty or Low Ink Despite Display
Low ink is a straightforward cause when a printer keeps printing blank pages. But what should you do if your printer claims to have ink available?
Printers can lie to you. The display may claim to have full ink, but this could be due to a defective cartridge or misaligned sensor. Additionally, ink may sometimes settle in an awkward position, causing this display problem.
You want to perform a thorough test of both your cartridge and the sensor system. Gently rock the ink cartridge from side to side to let it settle. You can also try another fresh cartridge to rule out issues with that specific container.
Driver or Software Issues
Sometimes your printer keeps printing blank pages without any mechanical problems. The issue could be on the software side. Your computer or mobile device uses drivers to direct the printhead. If the software is bugged or outdated, the printhead will never receive the message.
It’s like telling your order to a waiter at a restaurant, but they never write it down, so you end up with the wrong food (or no food at all!)
Thankfully, you don’t have to be a tech wizard to fix this problem. Open your printer’s instruction manual or search online for your specific model. The brand’s website should have drivers available for you to download.
You may need to uninstall and reinstall your software if the initial update doesn’t work.
Print Settings Set to “Blank”
Some printers produce blank pages because that’s their current setting. Your printer could be in “print to file” or “draft” mode. You might also accidentally be on color or black-and-white without the necessary ink in your printer.
One small checkbox on your computer can create blank pages. You’ll want to dive into your print settings. Make sure you are on the correct printer and you aren’t printing to a file or preview.
You should also check the page ranges on your documents. Some large PDFs may include blank pages, and you may be printing those pages unintentionally.
Firmware Bugs or Glitches
Firmware and software may sound the same, but they are two different categories of printing issues. Firmware is the internal software of your printer itself, rather than the software on your computer.
Any firmware glitches can lead to blank pages, frozen jobs, extra printing jobs, and other strange errors.
Just like the printers and drivers, you can solve most firmware bugs by updating your device. Research your brand for specific instructions. You may need to reach out to the company’s customer support for personalized service.
You can solve some firmware glitches by performing a hard reset on your printer. Turn it off and unplug it for a few minutes, and see if that fixes the problem.
Blocked or Misaligned Paper Feed Mechanism
Sometimes the blank page your printer produces is due to a misaligned feed mechanism. The paper tries to go through the feed, but it gets jammed. The printer then thinks it’s printing, only to leave behind that stuck paper in the tray.
You look at the final result and think you’re out of ink, when in reality, the paper never made it through.
Check the paper tray for any issues. Ensure that everything is neat and smooth, with the guides snug to the edges of the paper. You can also clean the lint rollers and feed them with a cloth and some rubbing alcohol.
Air Bubbles in the Ink System (for Continuous Ink Systems)
Air bubbles within your ink are another possible cause of blank pages. This issue is usually reserved for continuous ink supply systems, though it’s possible to encounter air bubbles with individual cartridges.
These air bubbles work their way into your printhead and nozzles. This blocks the flow, leading to blank results. You can run a priming cycle to push out air. Some CISS even let you manually draw out ink with a syringe.
You should keep your CISS topped off as much as possible to avoid air bubbles developing in the future.
Using the Wrong Paper Type or Print Mode
Printers are sensitive machines. Using the wrong type of paper or mode can cause issues with fading or blank pages. For example, glossy photo paper requires specific print settings. Your printer might not be placing the ink correctly onto the photo paper, which causes the weak results.
Conversely, setting your printer to draft mode can cause light results that don’t show up on standard printing paper. You always want to match your paper type to the print mode on your computer. Plain paper for standard jobs, photo paper for pictures, and drafting paper for draft mode.
Aftermarket Ink Cartridge Problems
Why is my printer printing blank pages when it has ink? Sometimes the ink is the problem. It’s not enough to have any ink cartridge in your machine – you need the right one.
There are many different types of printer ink out there. Some printers are susceptible to third-party ink, while others are lenient. For example, when you compare Canon vs HP printers, the former is okay with some third-party inks, while the latter only accepts HP brand ink.
The printer software will refuse to produce a result with non-OEM ink. All the cost savings you tried to get by going third-party could leave you with several unusable ink cartridges.
Additionally, some savvy consumers attempt to learn how to transfer ink from one cartridge to another. However, this can cause readability issues with your printer firmware. Try reverting to manufacturer ink as a potential solution.
When to Get in Touch With Technical Support for Your Printer Printing Blank Pages
After you go through all of the solutions in this guide, you will likely be able to solve your blank pages issue. But what if these fixes weren’t enough? It could imply a larger technical problem with your printer itself.
Go through your troubleshooting checklist. Try these fixes first:
- Run cleaning cycles and manually clean the printhead and feed mechanism with a cloth
- Update all drivers, software, and firmware
- Reset and unplug your printer and computer
- Try different ink cartridges
At this point, you’ll want to reach out to the printer brand. Your machine may still be under warranty, which will save you money on a fix or replacement. At the very least, the company should be able to give you a clear answer as to what is going wrong.
Parting Thoughts on Printer Printing Blank Pages
Printers are sensitive devices. One minor issue in the printhead, feed mechanism, or ink well can cause serious problems like blank or faded pages. Whether you’re printing at home or running a small business, those delays can put a damper on your day.
While you can solve these problems on your own, some printer issues require a full replacement. Which begs the question – what do you do with all your unused printer ink from your old machine?
Did you know you can sell printer ink for cash? Selltoner.net is the #1 ink and toner reverse logistics company. We buy unused ink cartridges from every major brand, including Epson, Dell, Brother, Konica Minolta, HP, Canon, and more.
You can get quick cash offers on our website or by talking to our team. We even pay for shipping, so you get the most value for your money.
Don’t let the unused ink and toner cartridges in your home and office collect dust. Turn them into cold, hard cash by selling them to us today!
