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Printer Printing Blurry, Faded or Streaky? Try These Fixes

Fix blurry, faded or streaked printouts from a Windows PC or Mac: check paper and ink, print a test page, change quality settings, clean printheads and update drivers.

Updated 6 min read

Quick Answer

First print a test page directly from the printer’s control panel. If it also looks poor, the problem is with the printer, not your computer: make sure the ink or toner cartridges aren’t empty or expired and, on an inkjet printer, run Clean printhead or Align printhead. If the test page looks fine, check the print settings on your computer: on Windows, set Print quality to Normal or Best and turn off Economy, Draft or Toner saver mode.

Common causes

  • Low, empty or expired ink or toner
  • Print settings such as Draft, Economy or Toner saver mode
  • A paper type or print resolution that doesn’t match the printer
  • Dirty or misaligned printheads on inkjet printers
  • Outdated or incompatible printer drivers
  • Scaling or app problems that blur text and images

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with the checks at the printer and the test page, which tells you whether to look at the printer or your computer, then follow the Windows or Mac steps for your computer.

  1. Step 1: Check the paper, ink and toner

    Before you change any settings on your computer, make sure the printer itself is ready.

    Go to the printer and check the items below, then restart the printer before you print again.

    To check ink or supply levels from a Mac, open a document, choose File, then Print, then scroll down in the Print dialog and click Printer Info. You can also open Print Center from the Utilities folder, select the printer, choose Printer, then Printer Info, and click the Supply Levels tab.

    • The correct paper type and size are loaded in the tray.
    • The paper is clean, dry and meets the printer manufacturer’s recommendations.
    • The ink or toner cartridges aren’t empty or expired.

  2. Step 2: Print a test page from the printer

    A test page printed from the printer itself shows whether the problem is with your computer or the printer.

    Print a test page directly from the printer’s control panel.

    If the test page also looks poor, the problem is with the printer hardware, which needs cleaning or service. If you have an inkjet printer, start with the printhead step below.

    If the test page looks fine, continue with the settings on your computer in the next steps.

  3. Step 3: Check the print quality settings in Windows

    Incorrect print settings can reduce output quality.

    In Windows 11, select Start, then Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Printers & scanners. Select your printer, then select Printing preferences.

    Check the settings below, select Apply, then try printing again.

    • Print quality or resolution is set to Normal or Best.
    • Economy, Draft or Toner saver mode is turned off.
    • The selected paper type matches the paper you’re using.

  4. Step 4: Check Media & Quality on a Mac

    On a Mac, the paper type and print quality are set in the Print dialog.

    With a document open, choose File, then Print, then scroll down and click Media & Quality to choose a paper type or quality, using Media Type or Quality.

    The options you see depend on your printer and the app you’re printing from.

  5. Step 5: Run the Printer troubleshooter in Windows 11

    On Windows 11, the automated Printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app runs diagnostics for you.

    Open the Get Help app and run the automated Printer troubleshooter. It automatically runs diagnostics and attempts to fix the problem.

  6. Step 6: Clean or align the printheads (inkjet printers)

    On inkjet printers, dirty or misaligned printheads often cause streaking or faded output.

    Open the printer’s software, or use the control panel on the printer itself.

    Run Clean printhead, Align printhead or the Maintenance tools, then print again.

    Good to know

    Repeat the cleaning only if you need to, because it may use additional ink.

  7. Step 7: Update the printer driver

    Outdated or incompatible drivers may cause printer issues, so make sure the latest printer driver is installed.

    On Windows, select Start, then Device Manager. Expand the Printers section, right-click your printer and select Update driver.

    If no update is available, select Uninstall device, then restart your computer. Windows will attempt to reinstall the printer drivers automatically.

    On a Mac, choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then click Printers & Scanners in the sidebar. Click the printer in the Printers list and check the Driver version. If necessary, install the latest printing software that came with the printer or from the manufacturer’s website.

    Good to know

    If you use an AirPrint-compatible printer with a Mac, check with the printer’s manufacturer whether any updates are available for your printer model.

  8. Step 8: Check scaling and image resolution for blurry prints

    Blurry text or images can sometimes be caused by scaling or app issues.

    Make sure the apps you print from are up to date. In the app you’re printing from, check the image resolution and print scaling.

    Avoid enlarging low-resolution images before you print them.

    On a Mac, scaling options such as Scale to fit paper size are under Paper Handling in the Print dialog.

  9. Step 9: Print from a different app or file

    Printing the same document from another app helps rule out a problem with one app.

    On Windows, print the same document from another app, such as Notepad or Word, and try printing a different file or image. If the issue occurs in only one app, repair or reinstall that app.

    On a Mac, try printing from another app, such as TextEdit. If the problem occurs only in one app, check that app’s documentation for troubleshooting information.

Prints still blurry or faded?

If a test page printed from the printer’s own control panel still looks poor, the printer hardware needs cleaning or service. You can also install the latest printing software from the manufacturer’s website, and contact the printer manufacturer to find out whether you have the latest driver version.

Before you clean the printheads again: Repeat the printhead cleaning only if it’s needed, because each cleaning may use additional ink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the test page look fine when my documents print badly?

A good test page from the printer’s control panel points away from the printer hardware. Look at your computer instead: the print quality settings, the printer driver and the app you’re printing from.

Does cleaning the printhead use ink?

It may use additional ink, so Microsoft suggests repeating the cleaning process only if it’s needed.

Which printers need printhead cleaning?

Microsoft describes cleaning and aligning the printheads as a step for inkjet printers, where dirty or misaligned printheads often cause streaking or faded output.

Why are my photos blurry when text prints clearly?

Blurry text or images can sometimes be caused by scaling or app issues. Check the image resolution and print scaling in the app you’re printing from, and avoid enlarging low-resolution images before printing.

Can the wrong paper make prints look faded?

Yes. Poor print quality can occur when the paper type doesn’t match your printer’s capabilities, so load clean, dry paper that meets the printer manufacturer’s recommendations and set the matching paper type.

Sources & review

This guide was checked against official support instructions from Microsoft and Apple on October 6, 2026. Device options can change with software updates.

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