Printer problems have a habit of appearing at the worst possible moment — just when you need to print something important. The good news is that most common ink-related issues have straightforward causes and can be fixed at home without specialist knowledge or tools.
This guide covers the problems people run into most often, what's usually behind them, and the most reliable fixes to try first.
My Printer Won't Print Even Though It Has Ink
This is one of the most frustrating situations — the ink levels look fine, but nothing comes out. There are a few likely causes.
The most common is that the ink isn't flowing properly, often because the printer hasn't been used for a while and the ink has partially dried in the nozzles (the tiny holes through which ink is dispensed). Running a nozzle check or print head cleaning cycle from your printer's settings menu is the right first step. This forces ink through the nozzles to clear any blockage.
It's also worth checking that the cartridge is properly installed. Cartridges need to click firmly into place — a loosely seated cartridge can cause the printer to misread the ink level or fail to dispense ink at all. Remove the cartridge and reinstall it carefully, making sure it seats correctly.
If neither of those helps, try turning the printer fully off, waiting 30 seconds, and turning it back on. This resets the ink detection system and can resolve recognition errors that prevent printing.
My Prints Are Streaky or Have Lines Through Them
Streaky prints almost always point to clogged nozzles or a partially blocked printhead. Ink dries out when a printer sits unused, and dried ink in the nozzles produces the characteristic horizontal banding or missing lines you'll see across the page.
Start with your printer's built-in cleaning cycle. Most HP, Canon, Epson and Brother printers include this option in the settings or maintenance menu. Run one cycle, print a test page, and see if quality has improved. If not, run a second cycle — but avoid running more than two or three in a row, as each one uses a noticeable amount of ink.
If the streaking persists, gentle manual cleaning of the cartridge nozzle area can help. Our guide to cleaning ink cartridges safely covers exactly how to do this without risking damage.
My Printer Says Ink Is Low — But I Just Replaced the Cartridge
This usually comes down to one of two things: the cartridge chip hasn't been read correctly, or the cartridge isn't seated properly.
The chip on a genuine ink cartridge communicates with the printer to report ink levels. If the cartridge is installed at a slight angle or hasn't clicked fully into place, the printer may not read the chip correctly and will default to showing a low-ink warning.
Remove the cartridge, check that the copper contacts are clean and undamaged, and reinstall it carefully. A firm click usually resolves the issue.
If the warning persists but the cartridge is a genuine one and print quality is normal, you can generally continue printing safely. The warning may clear after a few pages once the printer has had a chance to read the cartridge properly. Using genuine cartridges — rather than compatible or refilled ones — significantly reduces the likelihood of chip-reading errors of this kind.
My Printer Is Printing Blank Pages
Blank pages are usually caused by one of three things: an empty or nearly empty cartridge, a severely clogged printhead, or a settings issue on your computer.
Check the ink levels first. Even if the printer hasn't shown a low-ink warning, the cartridge may be empty — particularly if it's been in use for a while. If ink levels look fine, run a cleaning cycle and print a nozzle check pattern to test whether ink is actually being dispensed.
If the printer produces a normal-looking nozzle check but blank pages when printing a document, the problem is likely in your software settings rather than the cartridge. Check that the correct printer is selected, that the document isn't set to print in white ink or on a white background, and that the paper size and type settings match what's loaded in the tray.
My Ink Keeps Drying Out Between Uses
Ink dries out when a printer sits idle for extended periods — this is one of the most common causes of print quality problems for people who don't print every day.
The simplest preventative measure is to print something at least once a week, even just a test page. This keeps ink flowing through the nozzles and prevents it from drying out.
It's also worth leaving the printer switched on rather than turning it off at the wall. Modern inkjet printers run a short self-maintenance cycle when they power down properly — this involves capping the printheads to prevent ink from drying out. Switching off at the plug bypasses this process entirely and leaves the printheads exposed.
Store the printer at room temperature and away from direct sunlight or heat sources, both of which accelerate ink drying.
One Colour Isn't Printing at All
If a specific colour is missing from your prints — often cyan, magenta or yellow in a multicolour cartridge — the most likely cause is a clogged nozzle for that colour channel, or an empty cartridge.
Run a nozzle check from your printer's maintenance menu. This prints a pattern that shows which colour channels are working and which aren't. If one or more colours show gaps or are absent entirely, a cleaning cycle is the right next step.
If cleaning doesn't restore the missing colour after two attempts, and the cartridge isn't empty, it may be that the nozzles for that colour are permanently blocked. At that point, replacing the cartridge is likely to be more effective than further cleaning.
What Should I Do With a Faulty or Finished Cartridge?
Don't throw it in the bin. Ink cartridges contain small amounts of residual ink and plastic components that shouldn't go to landfill.
If you buy genuine HP or Canon ink cartridges from Crazy Kangaroo, you'll receive a free prepaid recycling bag with your order — simply pop the used cartridge in and post it back. You can also download a free Freepost returns label from our website at any time, for any HP or Canon cartridge.
When to Stop Troubleshooting and Replace the Cartridge
Most ink problems can be resolved with a cleaning cycle or two and a cartridge reinstall. But there are times when further troubleshooting isn't worth it:
- The cartridge is more than 18 to 24 months old — ink has a shelf life and degrades over time
- You've run three or more cleaning cycles with no improvement
- The cartridge is visibly damaged or leaking
- Print quality problems started immediately after fitting the cartridge
In any of these cases, a fresh genuine cartridge is the most reliable fix. Always choose genuine ink for your printer — it's designed to work correctly first time and is far less likely to cause the problems described in this guide.
