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- HP Community
- Printers
- Printer Ink Cartridges & Print Quality
- Horizontal lines M281fdw

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Check some of the most frequent questions about Instant Ink: HP INSTANT INK, HP+ PLANS: INK AND TONER.
Check out our Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues info about: Print quality and Cartridge Issues.
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1 REPLY 1
09-09-2024 08:01 AM
Hi @Roderos,
Welcome to HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.
Horizontal lines on printouts from your HP LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw can be caused by several issues. Here’s a step-by-step guide to diagnose and resolve the problem:
1. Check the Toner Cartridges
- Inspect Toner Cartridges: Open the toner cartridge compartment and ensure that the cartridges are properly seated.
- Remove and Reinstall: Carefully remove and reinstall the cartridges to ensure they are seated correctly.
- Check for Damage: Look for any physical damage or defects in the toner cartridges.
2. Examine the Drum Unit
- Inspect Drum: The drum unit is responsible for transferring toner onto the paper. Check it for any damage or wear.
- Clean Drum: Gently clean the drum with a soft, dry cloth if it appears dirty. Avoid using liquids or abrasive materials.
3. Perform a Printer Calibration
- Calibration: Run a calibration or alignment procedure from the printer’s control panel. This can help correct issues related to image quality.
- Go to Settings on the printer’s control panel.
- Find Tools or Maintenance options and select Print Quality or Calibration.
4. Check Print Settings
- Print Quality Settings: Ensure that the print quality settings are appropriately set. For best results, select a high-quality setting in the print dialog box.
5. Run a Test Print
- Test Page: Print a test page or a diagnostic page from the printer’s control panel. This can help identify if the issue is with specific types of documents or graphics.
6. Check for Toner Smearing
- Toner Smearing: If the lines are smudged or smeared, it could indicate a problem with the toner cartridge or the fuser unit.
- Check the fuser unit for any toner build-up or damage.
7. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
- Update Drivers: Visit the HP support website to download and install the latest drivers for your printer model.
- Reinstall Drivers: Uninstall and reinstall the printer drivers to ensure there are no software-related issues causing the problem.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.
Rachel571
HP Support
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