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How To / Maintenance

Cleaning the Print Head

Using the Head Cleaning utility
Using the control panel buttons

If you find that the printed image is unexpectedly faint or dots in the printed image are missing, you may be able to solve these problems by cleaning the print head, which ensures that the nozzles are delivering ink properly.

You can clean the print head from your computer using the Head Cleaning utility in the printer software, or from the printer itself by using the printer's control panel buttons.

Note:

Print head cleaning uses both color and black ink. To avoid wasting ink, clean the print head only if print quality declines; for example, if the printout is blurry or the color is incorrect or missing.

Use the Nozzle Check utility first to confirm that the print head needs to be cleaned. This saves ink.

When the error light is flashing or on, you cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.

Do not start the Head Cleaning or Nozzle Check utility while printing is in progress; otherwise, your printout may be marred.

Using the Head Cleaning utility

Refer to the appropriate section below to use the Head Cleaning utility.

For Windows users

Follow the steps below to clean the print head using the Head Cleaning utility.

Make sure that the printer is on and the error light is off.

Note:

If the error light is flashing, you cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.

Right-click the printer icon on the taskbar, then select Head Cleaning. Or access the printer software, then click the Utility tab and click the Head Cleaning button.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

The power light flashes while the printer performs the cleaning cycle.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while the power light is flashing. Doing so may damage the printer.

When the power light stops flashing, click Print Nozzle Check Pattern in the Head Cleaning dialog box to confirm that the head is clean and to reset the cleaning cycle.

Below are nozzle check patterns:

Good sample

Print head needs to be cleaned

If the nozzle check page does not print satisfactorily, you may need to repeat the head cleaning and print the nozzle check pattern again.

If print quality hasn't improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then do the nozzle check again, and repeat the head cleaning if necessary.

If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced. To replace an ink cartridge before it is empty, see Print quality does not improve after head cleaning.

If print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.

Note:

To maintain print quality, we recommend printing a few pages at least once every month.

For Macintosh users

Follow the steps below to clean the print head using the Head Cleaning utility.

Make sure that the printer is on and the error light is off.

Access the printer software and click the Utility icon button, then click the Head Cleaning button.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

The power light flashes while the printer performs the cleaning cycle.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while power light is flashing. Doing so may damage the printer.

When the power light stops flashing, click the Confirmation button in the Head Cleaning dialog box to print a nozzle check pattern and to reset the cleaning cycle. Use the check pattern to confirm that the head is clean.

If print quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then do the nozzle check again, and repeat the head cleaning if necessary.

If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced. To replace an ink cartridge, see Print quality does not improve after head cleaning.

If print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.

Note:

To maintain print quality, we recommend printing a few pages at least once every month.

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Using the control panel buttons

Follow the steps below to clean the print head using the control panel buttons.

Make sure that the power light is on and that the error light is off. Hold down the maintenance button for between three and six seconds.

Note:

If the error light is flashing or on, you cannot clean the print head and this operation will start the ink cartridge replacement procedure. If you do not want to replace an ink cartridge at this moment, press the maintenance button again to return the print head to its home position.

If you release the maintenance button earlier than three seconds, paper will feed. If you press it longer than six seconds, the print head will move to the ink cartridge replacement position. Press the maintenance button again to eject paper or to return the print head to the home position, then repeat step 1.

The printer starts cleaning the print head and the power light begins flashing.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while the power light is flashing. Doing so may damage the printer.

When the power light stops flashing, print a nozzle check pattern to confirm that the head is clean and to reset the cleaning cycle.

If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced.To replace an ink cartridge before it is empty, see Print quality does not improve after head cleaning.

If print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.

Note:

To maintain print quality, we recommend printing a few pages at least once every month.

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