FADED PRINT and now poor scanning quality

[cassondra8]

I have done all the steps suggested in the virtual assistant and I have changed my paper, but my printer is still printing faintly.  It appears that the top part of papers is printing better than the bottom portion.  Any ideas on how to correct this?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @cassondra8 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I understand how disappointing it feels when the print fades across the page, especially after you’ve already changed the paper and followed the virtual assistant’s guidance. Thank you for taking those steps—it helps us focus on the deeper causes. 

Let’s go through a few checks together to restore that crisp, even print quality:

 

Step 1: Check Toner Levels

• On the printer’s control panel, navigate to Supplies to view toner status.
• If any cartridge is low, replace it with a fresh one. Uneven toner distribution can cause fading toward the bottom of the page.

 

Step 2: Inspect Cartridges

• Open the front door and gently remove each toner cartridge.
• Lightly rock the cartridge side to side to redistribute toner inside.
• Reinsert the cartridges firmly until they click into place.

 

Step 3: Run Cleaning and Calibration

• On the printer’s control panel, go to Setup > Service > Cleaning Page.
• Print the cleaning page to clear excess toner and improve transfer.
• Then run Setup > Reports > Print Quality Page to check alignment and density.

 

Step 4: Paper Path and Environment

• Ensure the paper is stored flat and dry; humidity can cause uneven toner adhesion.
• Remove the stack and reload fresh sheets, fanning them slightly before placing them in the tray.
• Confirm the paper type setting in the printer driver matches the paper you are using.

 

Step 5: Update Firmware and Drivers

• On your Windows 11 PC, open the HP App.
• Check for updates to printer firmware and drivers.
• Updated software often improves print quality consistency.

By following these steps, you should see a more balanced print from top to bottom of the page. Would you like me to also guide you through how to adjust the “Print Density” settings in Windows, which can sometimes help when the bottom portion of the page looks lighter?

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye