How to Fix Issues With Printer Missing Lines
Last Updated:Last updated: September 24, 2026.
Quick answer: A printer that leaves missing lines, gaps or white bands across the page almost always has clogged or partly dried printhead nozzles. Print a nozzle check, run one or two cleaning cycles, and print again. If the gaps are still there, the cause is usually a low or failing cartridge, a misaligned printhead, the wrong paper setting, or, on laser printers, a worn drum.
Why Is My Printer Missing Lines When It Prints?
An inkjet printhead fires ink through hundreds of microscopic nozzles. Each nozzle draws one thin horizontal line as the head moves across the page. When a few nozzles clog, the lines they should have drawn are left blank. The result is thin white stripes that repeat at the same spacing all the way down the page. The most common causes are:
- Clogged nozzles from dried ink, usually after the printer sits unused for a week or more.
- A low or empty cartridge. Ink starves certain nozzles before the printer reports "empty."
- Air in the ink path. This is common right after a cartridge change or on tank printers that ran dry.
- A misaligned printhead. Lines look doubled, jagged or offset rather than simply missing.
- The wrong paper type selected. Glossy settings on plain paper, or the reverse, change how much ink is laid down.
- A failing printhead or cartridge. Gaps return quickly even after cleaning.
How Do I Fix a Printer That Is Skipping Lines?
- Print a nozzle check (test) pattern. It is in the printer's Maintenance or Tools menu. A complete grid means the nozzles are fine; broken or missing segments confirm a clog. You can also print our free printer test page.
- Run a printhead cleaning cycle from the same menu, then print another nozzle check. Most clogs clear in one or two cycles.
- Let it rest. If two cycles do not fix it, leave the printer powered on and idle for a few hours, or overnight. The ink softens dried residue, and a third cycle often finishes the job. Running many back-to-back cycles just wastes ink.
- Check ink levels and replace any cartridge that is low. A nearly empty cartridge can cause missing lines in one color only.
- Reseat the cartridges. Remove them, wipe the copper contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, and click them back in.
- Run printhead alignment if lines look jagged or doubled rather than blank.
- Match the paper setting in the print dialog to the paper actually loaded, and use a Standard or High quality setting rather than Draft.
- Deep clean the head if the built-in cycles fail. Our printhead cleaning guide covers manual cleaning safely, and this guide explains when a cleaning kit beats the built-in cycle.
Is It Missing Lines, Streaks or Faded Print?
These look similar but have different fixes:
| What you see | Most likely cause | Best first fix |
|---|---|---|
| Thin white lines at regular intervals | Clogged nozzles | Nozzle check + cleaning cycle |
| Dark streaks or smears | Dirty rollers, ink buildup, or a laser drum/fuser problem | Clean rollers; see printer streak fixes |
| Whole page pale or washed out | Low ink, toner-save mode or Draft quality | See faded or streaky prints |
| Top or bottom half of the page blank | Driver, paper-size or data problem | See printer only printing half a page |
Why Does My Epson Printer Still Have Missing Lines After Cleaning?
Epson printers use a permanent piezo printhead that lives inside the printer rather than on the cartridge. A stubborn clog can take several rest-and-clean rounds to clear. After three cleaning cycles, leave the printer idle for at least six hours before trying again. EcoTank models also offer a "Power Cleaning" (ink flush) option. Use it sparingly, because it uses a lot of ink and fills the waste-ink pad faster.
Why Is My HP or Canon Printer Missing Lines?
Most HP and Canon home printers built around two cartridges (black plus tri-color) carry the printhead on the cartridge itself. Once cleaning cycles have failed, replacing the cartridge also replaces the printhead, and the gaps usually disappear. If a brand-new cartridge prints the same gaps, the carriage contacts or the paper setting is the more likely cause.
Why Is My Laser Printer Printing Blank Lines?
Laser printers have no nozzles, so white lines or gaps usually point to a scratched or worn drum, a dirty laser scanner window, or toner that is running low and unevenly distributed. Remove the toner cartridge, rock it gently side to side, and reinstall it. If a white line runs down the same spot of every page, the drum is the usual culprit. Laser printer streaks and lines goes deeper.
How Can I Stop Missing Lines From Coming Back?
- Print at least one color page a week to keep the nozzles wet.
- Turn the printer off with its own power button (not a power strip) so the printhead caps and seals.
- Replace cartridges before they run completely dry.
- Store spare cartridges sealed, upright and at room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cleaning cycles should I run?
Run two cycles with a nozzle check after each. If lines are still missing, let the printer rest for a few hours before a third. More than three or four back-to-back cycles wastes ink without helping.
Can a new ink cartridge fix missing lines?
Yes, when the printhead is built into the cartridge (most HP and Canon two-cartridge models) or when the old cartridge is nearly empty. On printers with a permanent printhead, such as Epson and many Brother models, a new cartridge only helps if the old one was starving the head of ink.
Why does my printer print lines in only one color?
One color channel is clogged or low. Check that cartridge's ink level, run a cleaning cycle, and replace the cartridge if the nozzle check still shows gaps in that color.
Is it worth fixing an old printer that keeps skipping lines?
If cleaning and a fresh cartridge do not fix it and the printer has a permanent printhead, a replacement head often costs close to a new printer. At that point, replacing the printer is usually the better value.
Need fresh cartridges? Find the right ones for your model with our find ink by printer directory, or browse more fixes in the printer troubleshooting center.
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