Clean the Print Head

If your printouts become too light, or you see dark or light bands across them, you may need to clean the print head nozzles. Cleaning uses ink, so clean the nozzles only if print quality declines.

You can check for clogged nozzles before you clean them so you don’t clean them unnecessarily.

It’s best to run the automatic nozzle check and cleaning utility first to let the printer check and clean the nozzles, if necessary. If you still notice quality problems, you can check and clean the nozzles manually.

Note:
You cannot clean the print head if an ink cartridge is low or expended. You must replace the cartridge first.

Follow the instructions in these sections to check your print head nozzles and clean them:

Check and Clean the Print Head Nozzles Automatically

Check the Print Head Nozzles Manually

Clean the Print Head Nozzles Manually