If the prints are faint or streaked, the print head nozzles may be clogged.  You can perform a print head cleaning or deep cleaning, and print a nozzle check to see the results.

Print the nozzle check

1. Open the Properties window, hold down the Windows  key and type R. In the Run box, type control printers and select OK.

   

2. Right-click on the icon for your printer, then select the appropriate menu option based on the version of Windows installed on your computer.

• Windows 2000: Properties

• Windows XP / Vista: Preferences

• ​Windws 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10: Printing Preferences

3. ​Select the Maintenance tab.

   

4. In the Maintenance window, select Nozzle Check.

5. When the Nozzle Check window displays, load a sheet of letter size paper in the auto sheet feeder. Then, select Print Check Pattern.

   


6. When the confirming message displays, select OK. Don't perform any other operations until the printing completes.



7. Examine the nozzle check pattern output.

   

When the output is normal:

• Black ink: The grid pattern is regular without missing lines.

• Color ink: White streaks are not visible in the pattern.

The pattern may vary depending on the printer.

When the output isn't normal:

If you encounter the following situations, perform the print head cleaning.

• No color prints. (Nothing appears on the output.)

• There is any color which doesn't print at all. (In the sample below, black ink isn't printed at all.)

• There are missing lines partially in the pattern for the black ink.

  

• There are white streaks in the color ink pattern.

  
   

Clean the print head

1. In the Maintenance window, select Cleaning. The print head nozzles cleaning begins.
   
   
    

2. When the confirmation message displays, check the contents and select OK. Don't perform any other operations until the process completes
    Print head cleaning consumes a certain amount of ink. Clean the print head only when necessary.

3. When the cleaning is completed, the Power lamp stays green.

4. Follow the instructions in section 1 above to print the nozzle check pattern. If print quality hasn't improve, perform a deep cleaning as detailed below.

Deep clean the print head

1. In the Maintenance window, select Deep Cleaning.
   
   

2. When the Deep Cleaning window displays, check the contents and specify whether you want to deep clean all colors or black only, then select Execute.
    Deep cleaning consumes much more ink than a regular cleaning. Do a deep cleaning only if the nozzle condition doesn't improve after a regular cleaning.

   



3. When the confirmation window displays, select OK.

4. When the confirmation message displays, check the contents and select OK. Do not perform any other operations until cleaning is completed.
    The Power lamp flashes during the cleaning and remains green when cleaning is complete.​

5. Follow the instructions in section 1 above to print the nozzle check pattern. If print quality hasn't improve, the ink cartridge(s) may be defective.

If your product issue was not resolved after following the steps above, or if you require additional help, please create or log in to your Canon Account to see your technical support options.

Or if you still need help, visit our Canon Community by clicking the button below to get answers:

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