Fix Streaky Prints: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Step-by-step solutions for horizontal lines, vertical streaks, and color banding

By TestMyPrinter Team | Updated January 2025 | 15 min read

1. Identify Your Streak Type

Different streak types have different causes and solutions. Identify your issue first:

Horizontal Lines

Lines running left-to-right across the page

  • • Usually caused by clogged nozzles
  • • May appear as thin white lines in solid colors
  • • Often affects only certain colors

Solution: Clean print heads

Vertical Streaks

Lines running top-to-bottom on the page

  • • Often caused by dirty rollers or paper path
  • • May repeat at regular intervals
  • • Can be ink smears or missing ink

Solution: Clean paper path

Color Banding

Alternating light/dark bands in gradients

  • • Visible in photos and gradients
  • • Creates a "banded" or stepped appearance
  • • Usually related to print settings or alignment

Solution: Adjust quality settings, align heads

Ink Smears

Wet ink streaks or smudges

  • • Ink appears wet or smeared
  • • May happen on one side of paper
  • • Often related to paper type or settings

Solution: Check paper settings, clean rollers

2. Quick Fixes (Try These First)

These quick solutions fix most streaky print issues:

🧹

Clean Print Heads

Clogged nozzles are the #1 cause. Run 2-3 cleaning cycles from your printer's maintenance menu.

Most common solution

🖨️

Check Ink Levels

Low ink causes inconsistent coverage. Replace any low ink cartridge.

Common solution

🎯

Run Alignment

Misaligned print heads cause banding. Run automatic alignment from settings.

Effective solution

Test Your Print Quality

Print a test page to see if the streaks are gone:

Print Nozzle Check Print Color Test

3. Common Causes of Streaky Prints

Understanding why streaks occur helps you apply the right fix:

Clogged Print Head Nozzles

Inkjet printers have hundreds of tiny nozzles. When some clog with dried ink, those nozzles can't deposit ink, creating white lines through solid areas. This is especially common if the printer hasn't been used for several days.

Low or Empty Ink Cartridges

When ink runs low, the printer can't apply consistent coverage. This causes uneven coloring and streaks, especially in solid areas. One color running out before others creates color-specific streaking.

Dirty Rollers and Paper Path

Ink, dust, and paper debris accumulate on the rollers that feed paper through the printer. This contamination transfers to your pages as repeating vertical streaks or smears at regular intervals.

Misaligned Print Heads

The print head makes multiple passes to build up an image. If passes don't align perfectly, you'll see banding or lines where colors don't register correctly. Common after cartridge changes or moving the printer.

Wrong Paper Type Settings

Different papers absorb ink differently. Using photo paper settings on plain paper (or vice versa) causes too much or too little ink to be applied, resulting in smears or lines.

Defective or Old Cartridges

Ink cartridges have a shelf life. Old cartridges or those stored improperly may have dried, clogged, or settled ink that causes inconsistent output even when they appear full.

4. Print Head Cleaning Guide

Cleaning print heads is the most effective fix for streaky prints. Follow this process:

Step-by-Step Cleaning Process

  1. 1

    Print a Nozzle Check Pattern

    This shows which nozzles are clogged. Access from printer's maintenance menu.

  2. 2

    Run Standard Cleaning (Level 1)

    Select "Clean Print Heads" from maintenance menu. This takes 2-3 minutes.

  3. 3

    Print Another Nozzle Check

    Compare to the first. Look for improvement in the pattern.

  4. 4

    Repeat if Necessary

    Run up to 3 standard cleanings. Wait 15-30 minutes between each.

  5. 5

    Run Deep Cleaning (if needed)

    If standard cleaning doesn't work, run deep/power cleaning once. Uses more ink.

Important Notes

  • • Don't over-clean: Excessive cleaning wastes ink and can damage print heads
  • • Wait between cycles: Allow 15-30 minutes for ink to settle
  • • Deep clean sparingly: Use only when standard cleaning fails (uses significant ink)
  • • Consider soaking: For stubborn clogs, leave printer off overnight to let cleaning solution work

5. Ink-Related Solutions

Ink problems frequently cause streaky prints. Here's how to diagnose and fix them:

Check Ink Levels

  1. 1. Open your printer software or check the display
  2. 2. Look at each color cartridge level
  3. 3. Replace any cartridge that is low
  4. 4. Note: Printers may warn "low" but still have ink

Tip: Replace all cartridges if multiple are low to avoid repeated issues.

Reseat Cartridges

  1. 1. Turn off the printer
  2. 2. Open the cartridge access door
  3. 3. Remove each cartridge and inspect contacts
  4. 4. Clean contacts with dry lint-free cloth
  5. 5. Reinsert firmly until they click

Third-Party Ink Warning

Using non-OEM (third-party) ink can cause streaking due to:

  • • Inconsistent ink formulation
  • • Poor nozzle compatibility
  • • Faster drying that clogs heads
  • • Lower pigment density

If using third-party ink and experiencing streaks, try switching to OEM cartridges.

6. Print Head Alignment

Misalignment causes banding and registration errors. Here's how to align your print heads:

Automatic Alignment (Recommended)

  1. 1 Access printer Settings or Maintenance menu
  2. 2 Select Print Head Alignment or Align Cartridges
  3. 3 Choose Automatic alignment if available
  4. 4 The printer will print and scan a pattern automatically
  5. 5 Print a test page to verify improvement

When to Run Alignment

  • • After installing new ink cartridges
  • • After moving the printer
  • • When you see horizontal banding in photos
  • • When colors appear to have "edges" or don't blend smoothly
  • • After clearing a paper jam

7. Cleaning the Paper Path

Dirty rollers cause repeating vertical streaks. Here's how to clean them:

Automatic Paper Path Cleaning

Many printers have a built-in cleaning feature:

  1. 1. Load plain paper in the tray
  2. 2. Go to Maintenance menu
  3. 3. Select "Clean Paper Path" or "Clean Rollers"
  4. 4. The printer will feed and eject sheets
  5. 5. Repeat 2-3 times if needed

Manual Roller Cleaning

For stubborn marks:

  1. 1. Turn off and unplug the printer
  2. 2. Open all access doors
  3. 3. Locate the rubber rollers
  4. 4. Wipe with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water
  5. 5. Rotate rollers manually to clean all sides
  6. 6. Let dry completely before use

Never Use:

  • • Alcohol or harsh cleaners (damages rubber)
  • • Paper towels (leave fibers behind)
  • • Excessive water (can damage electronics)

8. Brand-Specific Solutions

HP HP Printers

  1. 1. Open HP Smart app or printer software
  2. 2. Go to Printer Maintenance
  3. 3. Run Clean Printhead (run twice if needed)
  4. 4. Then run Align Printhead
  5. 5. Use Print Quality Diagnostic to verify
Full HP troubleshooting guide →

Canon Canon Printers

  1. 1. Press Setup on printer
  2. 2. Select Maintenance > Cleaning
  3. 3. If streaks persist, run Deep Cleaning
  4. 4. Print Nozzle Check Pattern to verify
  5. 5. Run Print Head Alignment if needed
Full Canon troubleshooting guide →

Epson Epson Printers

  1. 1. Press Home > Maintenance
  2. 2. Print Nozzle Check first
  3. 3. Run Head Cleaning for affected colors
  4. 4. For stubborn clogs, use Power Cleaning
  5. 5. Run Print Head Alignment
Full Epson troubleshooting guide →

Brother Brother Printers

  1. 1. Press Menu > Ink
  2. 2. Select Cleaning > choose color or All
  3. 3. Run Improve Print Quality wizard
  4. 4. Go to Menu > Print Quality > Alignment
Full Brother troubleshooting guide →

9. Laser Printer Streaks

Laser printers have different causes for streaky prints:

Common Laser Streak Causes

  • Low toner: Replace toner cartridge
  • Dirty drum: Clean or replace drum unit
  • Worn fuser: May need fuser replacement
  • Corona wire: Clean with corona wire cleaner
  • Paper debris: Clean paper path

Laser Streak Solutions

  1. 1. Check and replace low toner
  2. 2. Remove drum and inspect for scratches
  3. 3. Clean drum surface gently if dirty
  4. 4. Run built-in cleaning pages
  5. 5. Check fuser for damage if streaks are at regular intervals

Tip: Vertical streaks at regular intervals on laser printers often indicate a damaged drum. Measure the interval - if it matches the drum circumference (~3.75 inches for most units), the drum needs replacement.

10. Preventing Future Streaks

Keep your prints streak-free with these maintenance habits:

Weekly Maintenance

  • ✓ Print at least one page weekly to keep nozzles clear
  • ✓ Print a nozzle check pattern monthly
  • ✓ Run paper path cleaning monthly
  • ✓ Check ink levels before large print jobs

Best Practices

  • ✓ Use quality paper rated for your printer
  • ✓ Store paper in low-humidity environment
  • ✓ Keep printer covered when not in use
  • ✓ Run alignment after changing cartridges
  • ✓ Use OEM or high-quality compatible ink

11. Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get streaks only when printing photos?

Photo printing uses more ink and exposes any nozzle issues. Also check that your paper settings match the photo paper type you're using. Try running alignment specifically for photo printing.

Cleaning doesn't fix my streaks. What now?

If multiple cleaning cycles don't help: 1) Try leaving the printer off for 24 hours to let any cleaning solution work, 2) Check if cartridges are genuine and not expired, 3) The print head may need manual cleaning or replacement.

Why do streaks appear only on certain colors?

Each color has separate nozzles. If only one color streaks, that specific cartridge may be low, clogged, or defective. Try replacing just that cartridge or running targeted cleaning for that color.

Are repeating streaks at regular intervals a different problem?

Yes! Regular, repeating marks indicate a roller or drum issue. Measure the interval between streaks. If it matches a roller circumference, that roller needs cleaning or replacement. For laser printers, this often means the drum needs attention.

Should I clean print heads after every use?

No - excessive cleaning wastes ink and can damage print heads. Only run cleaning when you see quality issues. Regular printing (once weekly) naturally keeps nozzles clear.

Test Your Print Quality

Print a test page to verify the streaks are gone:

Nozzle Check Test Full Color Test

Related Troubleshooting Guides

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Deep cleaning instructions