On HP Officejet 5746 all-in-one, a vertical line from top to bottom shows up on left side

[seahorse11]

When using top loading document tray on HP OfficeJet 5746 e-All-in-Printer, a single vertical line appears on printed paper from top to bottom on left side about one inch indented on all documents. This line does not appear on printed copied documents using the single document glass print function. 

[Elohi_NR]

Hi @seahorse11,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

I'm sorry to hear that you're having issues with your HP OfficeJet 5746 printer. A vertical line on printed documents can be frustrating, especially when it only appears when using the top-loading document tray. Let's work through this.

• Have you checked if the issue happens with all types of documents or only specific ones (e.g., text vs. images)?
• Have you recently replaced or cleaned the ink cartridges or the printhead?
• Does the line appear consistently on every page, or does it vary with each print job?

Let's try these steps. 

Check for Foreign Objects or Debris in the Document Feeder:

• Sometimes dust, dirt, or even paper fragments in the document feeder can cause lines to appear. Open the top loading tray and inspect the feed path for any obstructions or debris. Gently clean the rollers with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Clean the Printer’s Printhead:

• Although the line doesn’t appear with copies, printhead issues can sometimes cause inconsistent prints. Try cleaning the printhead through the printer’s settings:
  • Go to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Clean Printhead (the exact path may vary).
  • Follow the prompts to perform a cleaning.

Perform a Printer Diagnostic or Print Quality Test:

• Many HP printers allow you to print a diagnostic or print quality report. This will help identify any issues with the printer’s internal components.
  • Go to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Print Quality Report.
  • Examine the report for any abnormalities that might indicate a problem with the printhead or ink cartridges.

Check for Cartridge Issues:

• Remove and reinsert the ink cartridges to ensure they’re properly seated. A poorly seated cartridge can cause print issues like vertical lines.
• If the cartridges are low on ink, try replacing them with new ones, as low or clogged ink could be causing the issue.

Update Printer Firmware:

• An outdated firmware could cause printing inconsistencies. Visit the HP website to ensure that your printer has the latest firmware version. You can also check for updates via the printer’s settings menu.

By following these steps, you should be able to narrow down the cause of the line and hopefully resolve it.

You may also refer to this document for other print quality issues. 

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.