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Check out our Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues info about: Print quality and Cartridge Issues.

‎07-15-2025 04:49 PM

HP Recommended

Printer skips lines even though I have cleaned the print heads several times. Does not print out a usable test page. It is not the document. Same document can be printed on other printers. 

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1 REPLY 1

‎07-17-2025 07:33 AM

HP Recommended

@Diane1471, Hello and welcome to the HP Support Community!

 

Thanks for posting your question. I'm here to help you get things back on track.

I understand how frustrating it can be when your printer skips lines even after multiple printhead cleanings. Let's work through this together to get your printer back to producing clean, usable prints.

Perform a Deep Printhead Cleaning

Sometimes a standard cleaning isn’t enough. Here’s how to do a deeper clean:

  • On the printer control panel, go to Setup > Tools > Clean Printhead.
  • If available, select Second-level cleaning or Deep cleaning.
  • Wait for the process to complete and print a test page.

Note: Excessive cleaning can use up ink quickly. Only repeat if necessary.

Align the Printhead

Misalignment can cause lines or gaps:

  • On the printer, go to Setup > Tools > Align Printhead.
  • Follow the prompts and print the alignment page.

Check Ink Levels and Cartridge Health

  • Make sure none of the cartridges are low or empty.
  • Remove and reinstall the cartridges to ensure proper contact.
  • If using refilled or third-party cartridges, try genuine HP cartridges to rule out compatibility issues.

Update Printer Firmware

Outdated firmware can cause print quality issues:

Manually Clean the Printhead (Advanced)

If the issue persists, a manual cleaning might help:

I hope the information shared has been useful and resolves your concern.

 

Wishing you a smooth and hassle-free experience ahead!

 

If this solution helped, please click “Accepted Solution” so others can benefit too. Don’t forget to hit the “Yes” button if you found this helpful!

Warm regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support

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