How to troubleshoot and fix a printer that is producing streaks, smudges, or incorrect colours on printouts

Hardware & Peripherals KB-320

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to troubleshoot and fix a printer that is producing streaks, smudges, or incorrect colours on printouts. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Quick Tip: Need immediate assistance? 💻 Open a Ticket

Common Causes

Poor print quality can disrupt your business workflow, whether it is a smeared report or a colour-shifted presentation. Most print quality issues are caused by consumable depletion, dirty internal components, or software configuration errors. This guide will help you identify the cause and resolve the issue using built-in maintenance tools.

Quick Fix Steps

Before diving into deep cleaning or hardware disassembly, try these rapid checks to rule out the most common culprits:

Check Ink/Toner Levels: Ensure no cartridges are critically low or empty.
Inspect the Paper: Confirm you are using the correct paper weight and type specified for your printer. Damp or wrinkled paper often causes smudging.
Restart the Device: Power cycle both your computer and the printer to clear any temporary spooler errors.
Test with a Different Document: Print a simple plain-text page to determine if the issue is with a specific file or the hardware itself.

Detailed Instructions for Print Quality Issues

Fixing Streaks and Faded Lines

Streaks are typically caused by clogged nozzles in inkjet printers or a dirty corona wire/drum in laser printers.

Run a Print Head Cleaning:
- On Windows: Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer and click Printing preferences or Printer Properties. Navigate to the Maintenance or Service tab and select Print Head Cleaning.
- On macOS: Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Select your printer, click Options & Supplies, and navigate to the Utility tab to find the cleaning tool.
Print a Nozzle Check Pattern: This will produce a grid of colours. If there are gaps in the lines, repeat the cleaning process.
For Laser Printers: Gently remove the toner cartridge and shake it horizontally to redistribute the powder. Check the drum unit for scratches or leaked toner; if the drum is physically scratched, it must be replaced.

Resolving Smudges and Ink Bleeding

Smudging usually occurs when ink or toner does not bond correctly to the paper.

Check Paper Settings: Ensure the printer settings match the paper in the tray. For example, if you are using glossy photo paper but the setting is Plain Paper, the printer may apply too much ink, leading to smudges.
Clean the Rollers: Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water to wipe the rubber pickup rollers. Dust and paper debris can cause "slippage," resulting in skewed prints or smears.
Check the Fuser (Laser Only): If toner rubs off the page when touched, the fuser unit may not be reaching the correct temperature. Ensure the printer is plugged directly into a wall socket rather than a low-quality power board.

Correcting Incorrect Colours or Tinting

If your prints have a strange colour cast (e.g., everything looks too yellow or pink), it is usually a calibration or ink issue.

Perform a Colour Alignment: Locate the Alignment tool in the printer's Maintenance menu. This ensures the print heads are perfectly aligned to prevent "colour fringing."
Verify Colour Profiles: In your application (e.g., Adobe Acrobat or Word), check that the colour mode is set to CMYK for professional printing or RGB for standard office documents.
Replace Dried-out Cartridges: If a specific colour is missing entirely, the cartridge may have dried out, even if the software reports ink is remaining.

Pro Tip: To prevent print heads from clogging, we recommend printing at least one colour page per week, especially for inkjet printers in home office environments.

Troubleshooting Summary Table

Symptom	Likely Cause	Primary Solution
Horizontal white lines	Clogged nozzles	Run Print Head Cleaning
Vertical black streaks	Dirty drum or scanner glass	Clean drum/glass with lint-free cloth
Colours look "off"	Misalignment / Low Ink	Run Alignment tool / Replace cartridge
Toner smudging	Wrong paper setting	Adjust Paper Type in Printing Preferences

Caution: Never use harsh chemicals, nail polish remover, or abrasive scrubbers to clean printer internals. This can permanently damage the delicate coatings on the drum or print head.

Related Hardware Guides

If you have followed these steps and your print quality has not improved, the hardware may require professional servicing or replacement parts. Please Open a Ticket for further assistance.

Still Having Issues?

Need more help? If the issue persists after trying these steps, please open a support ticket and our team will assist you.

💻 Open a Ticket