Print quality is poor

Print quality is poor

Print quality issues usually indicate a physical problem with the printer or the cartridges being used. Sometimes the nozzles on inkjet printer heads can become blocked causing horizontal streaks on prints and poor or inaccurate color reproduction. These steps can help assist with resolving print quality issues.



Check ink / Toner

Click on the Apple Menu and click on System Preferences.



Click Printers and Scanners.



Select the name of your printer in the printers list, click Options & Supplies.



Click the Supply Levels tab.



Clean Print Head


  1. Load plain white paper into your printer's paper tray.
  2. Press the Setup button.
    Image of a common wrench icon.
  3. Press the Down Arrow button to highlight Tools, and then press OK.
    Image of a downward facing arrow icon.
  4. Press the Down Arrow button to highlight Clean Print head, and then press OK. The printer cleans the print head, and a test page prints once the printer is done cleaning the print head.
    Image of a downward facing arrow icon.
  5. Examine the test sheet for print quality. Consider repeating the cleaning if there is improvement. If the print head is badly clogged, you may need to clean the print head several times in order to restore normal print quality.
  6. Recycle or discard the test sheet.
  7. When the cleaning process completes, press any button on the control panel to return to the Tools menu.

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