Canon's poor print quality article covers blank, streaked and missing-color output and says to reprint the nozzle check pattern after every step. First print the nozzle check pattern. If it prints correctly, the inks and print head are working, so try another application. If it does not, confirm the paper and ink path is clear: clear any paper jams, and check that all packing material was removed from the ink tanks and that they are installed correctly, which is the commonest reason a new printer prints blank.
The checks in more detail
Then clean the print head, and if the pattern is still poor, do a deep clean, which clears nozzles that ordinary cleaning cannot. If the pattern is still wrong after deep cleaning, Canon says the print head may need to be replaced, or the printer serviced. On Windows open the printer properties for the Cleaning and Deep Cleaning commands; on the printer use the Maintenance menu.
Check ink levels, since an empty tank prints blank pages, and on MegaTank models check the tanks are filled to the level and the caps are shut. For blank scans or copies check the original is face down and the glass is clean. Do not run several deep cleans in a row, since each uses ink and cleaning too often wastes it. Let the printer rest between cleans.
If the printer has sat unused for weeks, print a color page every two weeks to keep the nozzles wet. A printer that is always powered down with the Power button caps its head properly, which reduces blockages. Look at the ink tanks in daylight to see whether ink is really present; on tank models a tank that looks full can still have an air lock, which tapping the printer gently level or running the ink flush routine can clear.
Differential
Likely causes of “Canon printers prints blank pages”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Packing material left in place
What separates it A new printer prints blank because packing material is still in place
How to confirm Remove all of the tape and the packing material from inside the printer
- 2
A clogged print head
What separates it Pages are blank or streaked because the print head is clogged
How to confirm Clean the print head, and then deep clean it, if it is still clogged
- 3
An empty ink tank
What separates it Pages are blank because an ink tank is empty
How to confirm Refill or replace the empty ink tank, and print again
- 4
A tank not seated
What separates it No ink flows because a tank is not seated correctly
How to confirm Reinstall the tank, and check that it clicks firmly into place
- 5
A failed print head
What separates it Nothing prints after deep cleaning because the print head has failed
How to confirm Replace the print head, or contact Canon, since it cannot be repaired at home
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- A nozzle check pattern that shows which colors are missing
- The ink levels that the printer shows
- Whether all of the packing was removed when the printer was new
- Any support code that the printer shows
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedPrint a nozzle check
ReversiblePrint a nozzle check, and note which lines are missing or faded, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check packing and tanks
ReversibleCheck that the packing is removed and the tanks are seated and unwrapped, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clean the print head
ReversibleClean the print head once, and then print the nozzle check again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Deep clean
ReversibleDeep clean the print head, if the first clean did not clear the lines, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check ink levels
ReversibleCheck the ink levels, and refill the tanks if any of them are low, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Print again
ReversiblePrint again, and compare the result with the first nozzle check pattern, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Canon
ReversibleContact Canon if the pages stay blank after cleaning, since the head may have failed.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Print heads
- PIXMA models have a replaceable head on some lines; check your model's manual.
- Ink tanks
- MegaTank models fill from bottles, so check the tank level windows.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models TS9521C, PIXMA TS6420a, G7020, G6020, GX7021, GX4020, Color imageCLASS LBP632Cdw, imageCLASS MF455dw, Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If deep cleaning does not restore the pattern, the print head may need replacement
- !If tanks are seated and full but pages are blank, contact Canon
- !If only copies are blank, check the glass and original
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Nozzle check, cleaning and deep cleaning.
Maintenance cartridge.
Remove, reinstall or replace.
Offline checks.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why are my pages blank?+
Packing left in, a clogged head or empty ink.
What is a nozzle check?+
A pattern showing whether the print head prints all colors.
Should I deep clean repeatedly?+
No, do not deep clean repeatedly, since it wastes ink and can flood the pads.
What if deep cleaning fails?+
The print head may need replacing.
Can a tank cause blanks?+
A tank can cause blanks if it is empty or not seated, so check each one.
Are copies blank for the same reason?+
Copies can be blank for a different reason, so check the glass and the original.
Where is the cleaning command?+
Printer properties or the Maintenance menu.
Does a new printer need packing removal?+
Yes, a new printer needs the tape and packing removed, before it can print.
What is Bottom Plate Cleaning?+
It is a routine that cleans the plate that paper slides over, to stop smudges on the back of pages.