Printer Not Printing Black? Fixes for Canon, Epson, Brother

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Your printer is not printing black: the page comes out blank, or the text looks faint and streaky while color prints fine. Most often the print head nozzles, the tiny openings that spray the ink, are clogged. A test pattern confirms it and a cleaning clears it; allow about 20 minutes, not counting the rest time between rounds.

Common symptoms and causes

• Black is missing, faint or streaky, while color looks fine.
• Lines or white gaps cut through black text.
• Clogged nozzles.
• Black cartridge or tank is empty.
• Worn or damaged cartridge or print head.

Before you start

• Load plain paper: the test patterns print on it.
• Turn the printer on and check that no error is displayed.
• On a Windows PC, keep the manufacturer’s software within reach: Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool for Canon, the Brother driver for Brother.
• Note the exact model of your printer.

This guide covers the Canon, Epson and Brother menus. On an HP printer, look for the print quality tool in your model’s manual on the HP support site.

Warning: opening the device may void the warranty; check the warranty end date first. Do not take the printer apart and do not touch the print head.

Good to know: none of the solutions below erases data or settings. Every cleaning uses ink, and Canon’s deep cleaning uses far more than a normal one. Run it only after two normal cleanings have failed, or the cartridge or tank empties quickly.

Solution 1: print a nozzle check pattern

Gaps or faint lines in the pattern point to clogged nozzles. Print it before spending ink on a cleaning.

Epson (models with a screen)

1. Load plain paper in the tray.
2. Go back to the home screen of the control panel.
3. Open Settings > Maintenance > Print Head Nozzle Check.
4. Choose the tray that holds the paper, then press OK.
5. Examine the printed pattern.

Complete pattern, no gaps: select OK, the nozzles are not the cause. Gaps or faint lines: select NG and move on to the cleaning in Solution 2.

Brother (Windows)

1. Open the printer’s Printing Preferences.
2. Open the Maintenance tab.
3. Click Check Print Quality….
4. Click Start.

The test page should come out with solid lines. Broken lines or white gaps in the black point to clogged nozzles.

Canon

On Canon, the nozzle check window opens at the end of a cleaning (Solution 2). Its Print Check Pattern button prints the pattern. For the brand’s other faults, see our guide to Canon printer problems and how to fix them.

Solution 2: clean the print head

A cleaning pushes ink through the nozzles to clear them. Run it only if the pattern shows a defect.

Canon (Windows)

1. Open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool.
2. Click Cleaning.
3. Choose the ink group to clean.
4. Click Execute.
5. Wait for the cleaning to finish, then click OK.
6. In the nozzle check window that opens, click Print Check Pattern.

The pattern should come out complete. If gaps remain, run the cleaning again. The Cancel button closes the window without printing.

Tip: keep every printed pattern and write the cleaning number on it. Two patterns side by side show better than one whether the nozzles are clearing, and the latest one will help if you contact support.

Epson

Warning: never turn the printer off or open the cover during a cleaning cycle. According to Epson, printing may fail afterward.

1. After selecting NG on the pattern, follow the cleaning instructions shown on the screen.
2. When the cycle ends, run the nozzle check again.
3. Repeat the cleaning if the pattern is still incomplete.

Brother (Windows)

1. In the Windows printer list, right-click the Brother printer.
2. Open Printing Preferences > Maintenance > Print Head Cleaning.
3. Choose Black Only, then click Next.
4. Choose the Normal strength, then click Next.
5. Click Start.
6. Print the print quality check page again.

The test page should come out with no lines or white gaps in the black.

Good to know: Brother printers clean their head by themselves when needed. Manual cleaning is only useful if the test page shows lines or white gaps.

Solution 3: intensive cleaning and rest time

Normal cleanings changed nothing? Each manufacturer has a stronger step or a pause before you try again.

Canon: deep cleaning

Run it only after two normal cleanings have failed. It uses much more ink.

1. Open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool.
2. Click Deep Cleaning.
3. Choose the ink group to clean, then click Execute.
4. When the cycle ends, click Print Check Pattern.
5. If nothing changes, turn the printer off and let it rest for 24 hours.
6. Run a second deep cleaning, then print a new pattern.

The pattern should come out complete. Still incomplete after this second pass: go on to the next section.

Epson: a pause of at least 6 hours

1. After 4 cleanings with no improvement, leave the printer idle for at least 6 hours, without printing.
2. Run a cleaning again.
3. Print a new nozzle check pattern.

This time the pattern should come out complete.

Brother: stronger setting

1. Reopen Printing Preferences > Maintenance > Print Head Cleaning.
2. Choose Black Only, then click Next.
3. Choose the Strong strength, then click Next and Start.
4. Print the print quality check page again.

The test page should come out with solid, even black. The same window also offers the Stronger setting.

If nothing works

Stop cleaning once the pattern no longer improves. Every cycle drains the cartridge or tank a little more.

• Canon: after the second deep cleaning, the ink may be used up or the print head worn. Contact Canon support.
• Epson: the cartridge may be old or damaged. Replace it, then contact your retailer or Epson support if the defect persists. Our page on the most common Epson printer problems covers the brand’s other faults.
• Brother: contact Brother support.

Have the printer’s model and serial number, the purchase date for the warranty and the last printed pattern ready. If Windows no longer sees the printer at all, read our guide to the “Driver is unavailable” error on a Windows printer.

If the print head is worn out and replacing it costs more than the printer is worth, here are three recent tank or cartridge models to compare.

Take better care of your printer: our toolbox

Original cartridges and good plain paper make test prints easier and help avoid clogged nozzles.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my printer not printing black when color works?

Most often the black nozzles are clogged, or the black cartridge is empty or worn. A nozzle check pattern with gaps or faint lines confirms clogged nozzles. On Brother, the Black Only option cleans the black alone.

How do I clean the print head?

Start the cleaning from the printer’s software or control panel. On Canon, open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool, then Cleaning; on Brother, Printing Preferences > Maintenance > Print Head Cleaning; on Epson, the cleaning follows the nozzle check. Then print a check pattern to judge the result.

How many cleanings should I run before stopping?

On Canon, two normal cleanings, then a deep cleaning, 24 hours of rest and a second deep cleaning. On Epson, 4 cleanings, then at least 6 hours of rest before a last try. Beyond that you drain the cartridge for no gain.

What if cleaning is not enough?

Let the printer rest before you try again: at least 6 hours after 4 cleanings on Epson, 24 hours after a deep cleaning on Canon. If the pattern is still incomplete, replace the cartridge on Epson. On Canon, the ink may be used up or the head worn: contact Canon support; on Brother, contact support.