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Common causes of faded print
Many print-quality issues are caused by supplies, settings, or paper.
Low ink/toner
Low supplies can reduce contrast and cause light or missing areas.
Paper/settings mismatch
Wrong paper type or “draft” mode can make prints look washed out.
Maintenance needed
Some printers need cleaning/alignment cycles to restore quality.
Troubleshooting steps (general)
Start here
- Check ink/toner levels and confirm cartridges are seated properly.
- Try printing from a different document to rule out file issues.
- Confirm paper type settings match the paper you’re using.
- Disable “draft” mode and try normal quality.
If it still looks faded
- Run a test page (if available) to see if a color is missing.
- Use built-in maintenance options like “clean” or “align” (if available).
- Try a different paper type and print quality mode.
- Restart the printer and retry a test print.
If your printer shows an error code while printing, see:
Printer error codes (general guide).
If the printer is connected but jobs won’t print, use:
Printer not printing.
If it shows “offline”, use:
Printer showing offline.
Note: This is an educational website. It does not provide technical support, repair services, or live assistance.