| Result | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Every line solid and complete | Nozzles are clear | Nothing to do; check alignment if prints still look off |
| A few gaps in one color | Partial clog in that color | One cleaning cycle, then reprint the pattern |
| A whole color missing | Heavy clog, empty tank or cartridge, or air in the line | Check ink level, then clean; replace the cartridge if still blank |
| Faint or pale lines | Low ink or a drying head | Refill or replace ink, then clean once |
| Gaps move around between checks | Air bubbles or a failing head | Let it rest, clean once more, then contact support |
Sources: printer makers' own maintenance guides (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother support pages). Researched guidance, not a repair service; updated 2026.
This page will automatically open your print dialog. The nozzle check pattern helps identify clogged or misfiring print head nozzles by printing precise line patterns for each color.
If nozzles are clogged, use your printer's built-in cleaning function. For persistent clogs, try 2-3 cleaning cycles with a 10-minute wait between each.
Printer Nozzle Check Pattern
Instructions: Each color section should show continuous horizontal lines. Gaps indicate clogged nozzles.
✓ Good: All lines continuous
⚠ Partial: Faint lines or gaps
✗ Clogged: Missing lines
Printed with love ♥ TestMyPrinter.com
☺
Open this page to print our pattern, or use the printer's own check: Epson and Canon have Nozzle Check under Maintenance in the printer utility or on the printer screen, and HP printers print a Print Quality Report from the HP Smart app or the printer menu.
It is a test print that fires every nozzle in the print head in a line pattern, so missing or broken lines show exactly which color has clogged nozzles.
One at a time, with a new nozzle check after each. Stop after two or three cycles without improvement, since cleaning uses ink; rest the printer for several hours and try again.
A healthy nozzle check prints every line in every color solid and unbroken, with no gaps, no faded segments and no lines missing from the grid. Gaps or missing lines mean clogged nozzles in that color, so run one cleaning cycle and print the check again.
Hand-picked recommendations from the TestMyPrinter team
Replace clogged cartridges for clean nozzles
Shop Ink →Unclog nozzles with a professional cleaning kit
Shop Cleaning Kits →Time for an upgrade? A popular pick for this kind of printing
See This Printer →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.