A printer that feeds paper and returns it blank is usually out of ink, has a clogged printhead, or has a cartridge problem, and HP's print quality article gives the tools. Check the ink levels on the control panel or in the HP app; empty cartridges print nothing. If the levels look fine, clean the printhead from the control panel: open Setup, then Printer Maintenance or Tools, choose Clean Printhead and Continue; the printer prints a test page and offers Clean Again for a second and third level. HP notes a badly clogged head can need another cycle after a 30 minute wait.
Check that any orange pull-tab or protective tape has been removed from new cartridges, and clear debris or adhesive from the vent on top of a cartridge with a pin, as HP describes,
The checks in more detail
then reseat it until it snaps into its color-coded slot; do not leave cartridges out more than 30 minutes. Replace non-HP or refilled cartridges with genuine ones if you suspect them, since HP cannot guarantee their reliability. For blank copies rather than prints, the scanner glass or lid may be dirty or the original placed face-up. On a laser, a blank page can mean a missing toner seal or an empty cartridge. Check paper type and settings, and print a test page to see whether the fault is the printer or the file.
A printer left unused for weeks can dry out its printhead, so print a color test page every week or two, and turn it off with the Power button so that it caps the head properly. Regular use is the best protection against blocked nozzles.
Differential
Likely causes of “HP printers prints blank pages”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Empty cartridges
What separates it Pages come out blank because the cartridges are empty
How to confirm Replace the empty cartridges with new ones that suit the printer
- 2
A clogged printhead
What separates it Pages come out blank or streaky because the printhead is clogged
How to confirm Clean the printhead, up to three levels, and print a test page
- 3
Tape left on a cartridge
What separates it There is no output because tape is still on a cartridge
How to confirm Remove the pull tab from the cartridge, and fit it again
- 4
A blocked cartridge vent
What separates it The output is poor because a cartridge vent is blocked
How to confirm Clear the blocked vent with a pin, taking care not to damage it
- 5
A rejected cartridge
What separates it Pages are blank and an error shows because a cartridge has been rejected
How to confirm Use a supported cartridge, and check that it is a genuine one
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The ink or toner levels that the printer shows
- Whether the test page is blank
- Whether the cartridges are HP ones or another make
- Any error message that the printer displays
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the levels
ReversibleCheck the levels, using the panel or the HP app, to see whether any cartridge is empty.
Print a test page
ReversiblePrint a test page, and see what prints, to tell an empty cartridge from a clog.
Clean the printhead
ReversibleClean the printhead, using up to three levels, and print another test page, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Remove tape and clean vents
ReversibleRemove tape and clean the vents, on each of the cartridges, with care, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Replace non-HP cartridges
ReversibleReplace non HP cartridges if they are suspect, since they can cause blank pages, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the paper
ReversibleCheck the paper, meaning its type and the settings that you have chosen, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Wait and repeat
ReversibleWait thirty minutes, and repeat the clean, if the first one did not clear it.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Inkjet
- Inkjet models clean the printhead from the maintenance menu.
- Laser
- Laser models use toner cartridges and drums, and blank pages can mean a missing toner seal.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models OfficeJet Pro 9125e, OfficeJet Pro 9015e, OfficeJet Pro 8025e, ENVY Inspire 7955e, DeskJet 4155e, Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw, LaserJet Pro 4101fdw, LaserJet M234sdwe, Smart Tank 7602, Smart Tank 5101.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If blank pages continue after three cleaning levels, wait 30 minutes and repeat
- !If a specific color stays missing, replace that cartridge
- !If the printhead is damaged, the printer may need replacing
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Clean printhead, smears, vents and paper.
Cartridge error topics.
HP print quality overview.
How cartridge authentication and firmware updates work.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my printer print blank pages?+
Empty ink, a clogged head or a cartridge fault.
How do I clean the printhead?+
Setup, Printer Maintenance or Tools, Clean Printhead.
How many cleaning levels?+
You can clean up to three levels, starting with the lowest, before you stop.
How long between cycles?+
Wait 30 minutes if badly clogged.
What is the orange tab?+
Protective tape to remove from new cartridges.
How long can a cartridge stay out?+
A cartridge can stay out for no more than thirty minutes, before it dries out.
Do non-HP cartridges matter?+
HP cannot guarantee the quality of non HP cartridges, which can cause blank pages.
Why are copies blank?+
Check the scanner glass and original placement.
Can I test without a computer?+
Print a test page from the menu.