Cleaning the Print Heads
The print head cleaning and deep cleaning functions allow you to clear up clogged print head nozzles. Perform print head cleaning if printing results are not satisfactory or if a specific color fails to print, even though there is enough ink.
If you perform a deep cleaning and the condition still does not improve, perform an ink flush.
Cleaning
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Open the Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool.
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Click Cleaning.
When the Print Head Cleaning dialog box opens, select the ink group that requires cleaning.
Click Initial Check Items to display the items you need to check before performing a cleaning.
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With the printer powered on, click Start.
Cleaning starts.
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Click OK when the confirmation message is displayed.
The Nozzle Check dialog box will open.
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To check whether the print quality has improved, click Print Check Pattern. To cancel the check process, click Cancel.
If cleaning the head once does not resolve the print head problem, clean it once more.
Cleaning consumes a small amount of ink. Cleaning the print head frequently will rapidly deplete your printer's ink supply. Perform a cleaning only when necessary.
Deep Cleaning
Deep Cleaning is more thorough than Cleaning. Perform a Deep Cleaning when two Cleaning attempts don't resolve the print head problem.
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Open the Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool.
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Click Deep Cleaning.
When the Deep Cleaning dialog box opens, select the ink group for which a deep cleaning is needed.
Click Initial Check Items to display the items you need to check before performing a deep cleaning.
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With the printer powered on, click Start.
Click OK when the confirmation message appears.
Print head deep cleaning starts.
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Click OK when the confirmation message is displayed.
The Nozzle Check dialog box will open.
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To check whether the print quality has improved, click Print Check Pattern. To cancel the check process, click Cancel.
Deep Cleaning consumes a larger amount of ink than Cleaning. Cleaning the print head frequently will rapidly deplete your printer's ink supply. Perform a deep cleaning only when necessary.
If print results don't improve even after performing a deep cleaning, turn off the power, wait 24 hours without pulling out the power plug, and then perform a deep cleaning again. If print results still do not improve, perform an ink flush. Ink Flush uses a large volume of ink.
Ink Flush
Perform an Ink Flush if the print results don't improve even after a deep cleaning is performed.
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Open the Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool.
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Click Ink Flush.
When the Ink Flush dialog box opens, select the ink group for which the ink flush is required.
Click Initial Check Items to display the items you need to check before performing an ink flush.
Be sure to check the remaining ink level before running an ink flush.
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Make sure that the printer is on and then click Start.
Click OK when the confirmation message appears.
The ink flush starts.
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Click OK when the confirmation message is displayed.
The Nozzle Check dialog box will be displayed.
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To check whether the print quality has improved, click Print Check Pattern. To cancel the check process, click Cancel.
An ink flush consumes an extremely large amount of ink. Performing an ink flush frequently will rapidly deplete your printer's ink supply. Perform an ink flush only when necessary.
If Ink Flush is run when the remaining ink level is insufficient, it may cause a failure.
If there is no sign of improvement after performing an ink flush, the ink may have run out or the print head may be worn.
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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