There’s no other reason than a dirty printhead if your printer prints blurry. So, when this happens, the first step is always to clean the printhead.
Don’t worry! You don’t have to disassemble your printer😉 You can just go to the Printing Preferences of your printer and do the needful.
Let me show you how I do it on one of my printers. The steps are similar for other printer models too.
Clean the Printhead of Your Printer
- Go to Settings on your Windows computer.
- Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Click your printer name and choose Printing Preferences.
- On the new window that opens, search for something that reads like Head Cleaning. In my Canon printer, I have Cleaning and Deep Cleaning option. It is typically available under the Maintenance menu.
- Just run it. It will take a few minutes to complete the process.
- Check if the printout comes like normal now.
- If not, run another cycle as well.
- If that still does not work, run the Printhead alignment cycle. You will also find this option in the same window where you found the Printhead cleaning option.
In case, your printer has a touch screen, you can also carry out this entire process using the screen. Easy-peasy, right?
Note: In the case of an HP printer, you cannot clean or align the printhead from the Printing preferences. Rather, you need to download the HP Smart app and use the app to do it.
Once you launch the HP Smart app, go to the Printer Settings tab on the home screen, choose Print Quality Tools on another window, and click Clean Printheads. Once you complete that, you can run the Align Printheads tool as well.
Check Papers in the Printer
Are you sure you are using the papers supported by your printer?
If yes, did you choose the Paper Type correctly in the Printing Preferences?
Please check and adjust the settings accordingly.
Set the Print Quality to High
In the same Printing Preferences window, also check the Print Quality.
If it is set to Draft or Low, images can appear blurry. Set it to High and see the result.
Check the Ink Levels on Your Printer
If the printer has ink tanks, you can easily check ink levels from the outside. Otherwise, use the Printing Preferences again. It should not be an issue.
Refill the ink or change the cartridges, if necessary.
Make Sure Your Printer Overall is Not Dirty
In case something gets in the way of the paper rollers (the printer wheels), the printout becomes blurry.
Open the front, rear, or top cover, whatever your printer has, and clean it. You may use an electric duster or a blower.
Bonus Tip: You may get ink on your hands while cleaning the inkjet printers😣 Refer to my another article on how to get printer ink off hands to remove it within minutes.
Fixing Issues for Canon Printer Users
Some Canon printer users have reportedly fixed the issue after cleaning the encoder strip. Here’s the official video from Canon to help you.
Please don’t hesitate to inquire if you need any kind of assistance. I would be more than happy to help you🙂
