Faded text, grey patches, black streaks or blank pages are some of the most common printer complaints, and they do not always mean you need a new printer. Often the cause is a consumable that is running low or worn out. This guide helps you work out whether the problem is the toner or ink, the drum, or the fuser.

Start with the pattern on the page

What the print looks like usually points to the cause:

Overall faded or light print: often low toner or ink, or a cartridge that has not been seated properly.
Vertical streaks or lines: on a laser printer this can be a worn drum or a dirty component. On an inkjet it is commonly clogged nozzles.
Repeating marks down the page: a repeating spot or mark at regular intervals often points to a damaged or contaminated drum or roller.
Toner that smudges or rubs off: usually a fuser problem, because the fuser is what bonds toner to the paper with heat.
Blank pages: an empty or incorrectly installed cartridge, or a protective seal or tape that was not removed.

Laser printers: toner, drum or fuser?

Laser printers use three parts that wear out at different rates. Our guide to toner vs drum vs fuser explains each in detail.

Toner cartridge: holds the toner powder. Remove it, gently rock it side to side to redistribute the toner and refit it. If the print improves only briefly, it is probably nearly empty.
Drum unit: transfers the image to the paper. Drums wear over time, and on many models the drum is a separate part from the toner cartridge.
Fuser unit: melts the toner onto the page. If toner wipes off, the fuser is the likely cause.

Inkjet printers: ink and nozzles

Check the ink levels and replace any empty cartridge.
Run the printer’s nozzle check and cleaning cycle from its settings menu.
If a cartridge has sat unused for a long time, ink can dry in the nozzles and cleaning may need repeating.

Quick checks before you buy anything

Make sure all packaging, tape and protective covers are removed from new cartridges.
Refit the cartridge and confirm it clicks into place.
Check you are using paper that suits your printer and that the paper is dry and flat.
Print a printer-generated test or status page to see if the fault appears there too.

If the printer does not recognise a cartridge at all, see why your printer might not recognise a new cartridge.

Choosing the right replacement

Always match the part to your exact printer model. Our guide to finding the right toner by printer model shows how to do it, and you can compare standard and high yield cartridges if you print often. For help identifying the right toner, drum or fuser, contact The Print Cartridge Shop on +61 401 478 481 with your printer model.