Why is my printer printing horizontal black lines?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 20, 2026
Black lines on copies and prints means there is an issue with the drum. A drum is like a camera, a photoconductor; it's what takes the picture. The drum is also delicate, so if it gets disrupted there will be defects on every print or copy you make.
How do I fix my printer with horizontal lines?
Follow these steps in order to resolve the issue.
- Step one: Wait 30 minutes. ...
- Step two: Check ink levels and replace low or empty ink cartridges. ...
- Step three: Check the print settings. ...
- Step four: Run the automatic utility to clean the ink cartridges. ...
- Step five: Print a diagnostic page.
Why is my inkjet printer printing horizontal black lines?
So if you have horizontal lines on an inkjet printer, it is normally caused by a blocked or clogged print head. Solution: Firstly try the print head cleaning option in the printer menu. If that doesn't work, then get some paper towels, cotton buds (Q-tips) and warm soapy water.
Why is my printer printing out black lines?
When your printer leaves black lines, the lines indicate that there are excess toner powders on the rollers or transfer belt within the printer. As the paper is moved along by the rollers and transfer belt, any excess powder left on them can result in lines being left on the paper.
Why is my printer printing horizontal lines?
By far the most common problem with inkjet printers is poor print quality. Usually, these problems manifest themselves in the form of horizontal white lines running through each line of print. These white lines are caused by clogged nozzles that aren't dispensing ink.
42 related questions foundHow do you unclog a print nozzle?
If they're on the cartridge, and the cartridge is mostly empty, you can just replace it. The new nozzles will obviously be unclogged. Seriously clogged nozzles can be cleared with some isopropyl alcohol and another run through the clean cycle.
Why is my Epson printer printing horizontal lines?
If you notice white or dark lines in your prints (also called banding), try these solutions before you reprint: Run a nozzle check to see if any of the print head nozzles are clogged. Then clean the print head, if necessary. Make sure the paper type setting matches the type of paper you loaded.
How do I fix horizontal lines on my Epson printer?
If you notice white or dark lines in your prints (also called banding), try these solutions before you reprint: Run a nozzle check to see if any of the print head nozzles are clogged. Then clean the print head, if necessary. Make sure the paper type setting matches the type of paper you loaded.
How do I clean a laser printhead?
- Turn off the printer. ...
- Open the door to the inner compartment. ...
- Remove the toner cartridge, waste toner holder and imaging drum as necessary to access the print-head lenses near the top of the machine. ...
- Wipe the print-head lenses with a lint-free cloth. ...
- Reinstall the parts you removed and close the compartment door.
How do I get rid of the black line on my HP printer?
Many print problems are caused by an almost empty or improperly installed printer cartridge. To begin, you should remove and reinstall the cartridge. If your printed pages still have black lines, try replacing the used cartridge with a full cartridge and print another test page.
What causes banding on a printer?
Banding can occur if you use inkjet media that isn't compatible with your printer and ink. Other possible causes of banding include: (1) using the incorrect media settings in the print software; (2) misaligned printheads; and (3) clogged nozzles in the printhead.
How do I get rid of the black lines on my Brother printer?
Wipe the scanner glass strip with a dry lint free soft cloth. Clean the primary corona wire inside the drum unit by sliding the green tab. Please refer to the instructions, "Clean the corona wire of the drum unit.".
Why is my HP printer printing horizontal lines?
Horizontal lines could be because of cartridge please remove and clean cartridge and try printing again.
Why is my Epson printer printing black lines?
If you notice white or dark lines in your prints (also called banding), try these solutions before you reprint: Run a nozzle check to see if any of the print head nozzles are clogged. Then clean the print head, if necessary. Make sure the paper type setting matches the type of paper you loaded.
What does printer banding look like?
Banding is a defect in inkjet printing that will appear as horizontal or vertical lines, streaks or bands in the printed output. Everyone will eventually experience some type of banding with their inkjet printer. To resolve the issue, it is important to quickly identify the type of banding that is occurring.
Why is my Epson printer skipping lines when printing?
If your Epson printer is printing out faint images, skipping lines, or is streaking your image with lines, chances are you have a clogged nozzle–a common problem many users have with Epson printers. It's unavoidable that print heads clog over time as small amounts of ink residue dry up and collect in the nozzles.
How do you unclog an Epson printhead nozzle?
Simply remove the cartridges and spray some Windex in the offending holes where the ink flows into the printhead itself. You can leave this for several hours or even overnight untill all dried ink inside the printhead is dissolved.
How can you tell if a printhead is clogged?
If your PC or the LCD screen on your printer is telling you that your ink cartridges are full but no ink is passing through to the paper, then it's most likely that you are dealing with a clogged printhead. Blurry documents and images that appear faded are also signs that it's time to remove the excess ink.
How do you fix a black line on an Epson printer?
If you notice white or dark lines in your prints (also called banding), try these solutions before you reprint: Run a nozzle check to see if any of the print head nozzles are clogged. Then clean the print head, if necessary. Make sure the paper type setting matches the type of paper you loaded.
Why does my printer only print some lines?
Often, when there are lines or shading on your print job, the print cartridge could be the reason. When the print cartridge is not being effectively cleaned off, it creates streaks or shading on the document.
Why is my printer not printing black when ink is full?
Check if the vents of the cartridges are clogged. You can fix this by gently using a pin to clean up the clog on the vent. 5. Try using a different ink cartridge to determine if your printer is able to recognize cartridges.