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By , IT support technician

Quick Answer

Remove the toner cartridge, gently rock it side to side a few times to redistribute the powder evenly, and reinsert it into the printer.

How to Fix Print Quality Issues — Streaks, Faded Text, and Lines ​

Applies to: Office laser and inkjet printers, multifunction copiers
Article Type: Troubleshooting
Last Updated: 2026-07-10

Summary ​

This guide helps you fix common print quality problems — streaks, faded text, horizontal lines, or smudged output — using steps you can perform without admin rights or special tools.

Symptoms ​

  • Printed pages have horizontal or vertical streaks or lines
  • Text appears faded, light, or barely readable
  • Pages have smudges, toner spots, or dark marks
  • Colors are wrong, washed out, or missing entirely
  • Only part of the page prints — the rest is blank

Prerequisites ​

  • Access to the printer's control panel (the buttons or touchscreen on the printer itself)
  • Replacement toner cartridge or ink cartridge (if the current one is empty)

Instructions ​

1. Check Toner or Ink Levels ​

Low toner or ink is the most common cause of faded or streaky prints.

  1. On the printer's touchscreen or control panel, look for Supply Levels, Toner Status, or Ink Levels (usually under a Maintenance or Settings menu).
  2. If any cartridge shows Low or Empty, replace it. Most offices keep spare cartridges near the printer or in a supply closet.
  3. After replacing the cartridge, print a test page to see if the issue is resolved.

TIP

If you don't know how to replace the cartridge, look for a diagram printed on the inside of the printer's front cover or toner access door. Most cartridges click or slide into place without tools.

2. Run the Printer's Built-In Cleaning Cycle ​

Most printers have an automatic cleaning function that clears clogged print heads (inkjet) or cleans the drum and fuser (laser).

  1. On the printer's control panel, navigate to Settings or Maintenance.
  2. Look for Clean Print Heads, Cleaning Cycle, or Drum Cleaning.
  3. Select the cleaning option and let it run — it takes 1–3 minutes.
  4. Print a test page after cleaning to check for improvement.
  5. If the first cleaning cycle didn't fix it, run it one more time. Avoid running it more than twice in a row — excessive cleaning wastes ink or toner.

3. Print a Diagnostic or Quality Test Page ​

Most printers can print their own diagnostic page to help pinpoint the problem.

  1. On the printer's control panel, go to Settings or Maintenance.
  2. Look for Print Quality Report, Diagnostic Page, or Test Page.
  3. Print it and examine the output:
    • Horizontal lines at regular intervals → The drum or imaging unit is worn. Ask IT to order a replacement drum — tell them the printer's name and model number from the front panel.
    • Vertical streaks → The toner cartridge may be defective or low.
    • Missing colors → The specific color cartridge is empty or the print head is clogged.
    • Smudges that rub off → The fuser is not heating properly. This one is a service call — tell IT the toner is not bonding to the paper and that a cleaning cycle did not change it.

4. Check the Paper ​

Bad paper causes surprisingly many print quality issues.

  1. Open the paper tray and check that the paper is:
    • Dry — damp paper causes smudges and jams. If the paper feels soft or wavy, replace it with a fresh ream.
    • Correct weight — standard office paper is 20 lb / 80 gsm. Specialty paper (cardstock, labels) may need a different tray or printer setting.
    • Loaded correctly — the stack should sit flat with the guides touching the edges snugly (not too tight, not too loose).
  2. Fan the paper stack before loading it to prevent sheets from sticking together.

5. Clean the Scanner Glass (for Copier Quality Issues) ​

If copies or scans look streaky but prints from your computer look fine, the scanner glass is dirty.

  1. Lift the copier lid.
  2. Wipe the flat glass surface with a soft, lint-free cloth (microfiber works well). Use glass cleaner if needed — spray it on the cloth, not directly on the glass.
  3. Also clean the narrow strip of glass along the left edge — this is used by the automatic document feeder (ADF) and is the most common cause of streaky copies.
  4. Close the lid and try your copy or scan again.

6. Verify the Fix ​

  1. Print a document with both text and images.
  2. Confirm that text is sharp, lines are clean, and there are no streaks or faded areas.
  3. If the problem persists after all steps, the printer needs a hardware part replaced (drum, fuser, or print head). Submit a request to your IT team covering three things: the printer's exact name as it appears on its front panel, what the defect looks like (streaks, faded text, smudging), and the fact that you already ran a cleaning cycle and checked the toner level.

Troubleshooting ​

WARNING

If the printer displays a "Replace Drum" or "Fuser End of Life" warning, these parts require replacement by IT or a service technician. The steps above won't resolve hardware wear issues.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Faded text on every pageToner or ink is lowReplace the toner or ink cartridge
Horizontal lines at regular intervalsDrum unit is wornAsk IT to order and fit a replacement drum. Provide the printer name and model from its front panel
Vertical streaks down the pageDefective or leaking toner cartridgeRemove and reseat the toner cartridge; replace if streaks continue
Smudges that rub off with a fingerFuser not heating properlyBook a service call with IT: say the toner is not bonding to the paper and that a cleaning cycle did not change it
Streaky copies but clean printsDirty scanner glassClean the flatbed glass and the ADF glass strip
Paper wrinkles or curls after printingDamp paper or wrong paper weightReplace with fresh, dry paper from an unopened ream