The need for office supplies has increased dramatically with the advent of the pandemic, with several students and workers working remotely and the increase in the demand for them. A reliable computer, scanner, printer, and fax machine are the essentials for a home office. These products must be functionally perfect. There is no room for errors or technical problems.

Printers are the most commonly used equipment. It can be overwhelming to figure out how to fix a malfunctioning printer or print blank pages.

This article will help you identify why your printer produces blank pages and what steps you can take to fix it. This article will list the five most standard printers and provide a step-by guide for diagnosing and repairing your printer.

Why is my printer producing blank pages?

There could be many reasons your printer is printing blank pages. There are many possible causes for printers printing blank pages. Fortunately, most of these problems can be fixed without technical knowledge.

These are the four most important steps to fix any printer issue.

Fix #1 – Restart your printer

Every tech company you call will ask, “Have you tried turning it on and off again?” It is the first step in resolving a technical problem. It might be more challenging than you think.

It is not enough to turn the switch off and then immediately turn it back on that you power down.

Turn off the printer completely. After 15 seconds, unplug the printer from the wall outlet. Next, plug the printer back into the wall. Turn the printer on. Wait for the printers to start entirely before trying to print. If this fails, you can move on to step 2.

Fix #2: Make sure your printer has ink and toner

Check that your ink cartridges have enough ink and that your toner cartridges are full. Also, make sure the cartridges have stayed intact. Most printers will only function properly if the cartridge is locked in or missing.

It is essential to check that ink and toner have been fully charged. Use only brand-name ink cartridges. Some printers will detect your ink and block you from printing.

Next, remove the yellow protective tape. If your printer does not respond to this step, you can move on to step 3.

Fix #3 – Cleaning the Printhead

There are two ways to clean the printhead: an automatic clean or a manual clean.

You should wear gloves when cleaning the printhead manually. It will prevent ink from coming into direct contact with your skin. Take care when removing the printhead so it doesn’t get damaged.

It will be easier to clean your printer’s printhead with an inexpensive cleaning kit ( such as this one).

You should also know that there are two types of printheads: one that is integrated with your ink cartridge and one that is standalone that requires an external source of ink.

Although this step is slightly different from the previous one, it still follows the same principle. You should check your make and model to determine which print head you may have.

1. Turn off your printer entirely and remove your printer head from the printer’s hood.
2. Use gloves to wipe off excess ink from the printhead with a damp, warm cloth until it is spotless.
3. Let the printhead sit in warm water for 10 minutes.
4. Take the printhead from the warm water and place it on a towel. Use a dry cloth to wipe off any moisture. Let the printhead dry on the towel for about 15-20 minutes.
5. After drying, you can reinstall your printhead and double-check that it is securely installed. Turn the printer off and print a test page. If the printer continues to have problems, continue to the next step.

Fix #4 – Update Printer Driver

Outdated drivers can cause printing problems and be a more serious issue. It is possible to determine if your aim is old by following a few simple steps.

1. Click on Device Manager in your Start Menu.

Side Note: You may have to search for Device Manager in the search bar at the bottom of your start menu.

1. Scroll down until the printer queues appear, then drop down to access the menu.
2. Right-click the printer and type your printer name. It should then have an update button.

This should be an automatic feature with modern technology. Your printer should update your drivers automatically, but sometimes it doesn’t. It helps to know the steps to perform an update.

If you are having trouble finding the feature you need, many popular printers have a 24-hour customer service line that can help you update your drivers.

These eight methods can be used to fix printer problems.

Different printer types can have different resolutions.

There are many printer types, and the way you troubleshoot a printer can vary from one printer to another.

It is vital to know what type of printer you have and the technical differences and issues that could cause your printer to print blank pages.

Canon Printer

Canon follows the same basic steps as other printers to troubleshoot blank paper printing issues. However, they also have an additional technical effort because their printers have a deep cleaning feature. It takes only a few steps to activate deep cleaning.

1. Open your control panel by clicking the “Start” button on your desktop. Open “Hardware and Sound,” then “Devices and Printers.”
2. Right-click on the Canon printer model and select “Properties.”
3. Click on “Device Settings,” then choose “Preferences,” then click on “Print Head Options.” Next, click the “Service & Clean Print Head” option.
4. You can perform a printer test and determine if the problem has been resolved.

Brother Printers

Brother also follows the same steps as those suggested initially, except the printer driver problem is out-of-date. The article also stresses the importance of using a wireless printer for an internet connection.

Wireless printers require strong Wi-Fi connections to function correctly. You will need to ensure that your router is within reach and that the relationship is strong.

HP Printers

HP printers are more technical. You can download an HP app to your computer to troubleshoot any problems and keep track of ink levels.

There is a monthly fee, but you will receive ink cartridges if your printer detects they are low. If you don’t use the HP cartridges, your printers won’t work.

They also stress the importance of aligning your printer after you replace the cartridge. You can find images and step-by-step processes to help you fix it on their website.

Epson Printers

Epson offers a cool feature that allows you to check if your nozzles have become clogged.

You can click the “Print Nozzle Test” option in your printer’s “Maintenance” menu to print a sheet. If you notice any gaps in the pattern or faded areas, click on the “Clean Printer Head” option. It should then take care of them.

Lexmark Printers

The process for Lexmark is very similar to the rest. It is crucial to ensure that your toner brightness settings and your printer’s darkness settings are correct. The websites provide detailed information and instructions about how to fix each issue.

Are you having paper jammed in the printer? How to fix a jammed printer.

How to fix your printer

Printers are essential tools for both the home worker and online student. They also make it easy to print on paper. However, technical problems with printers can make it difficult to do any task.

You can avoid future problems by fixing them the first time you encounter them.