A printer prints blank pages most often because a cartridge is empty or clogged, protective tape was left on a new cartridge, or air has entered the printhead. Wrong paper size settings, a corrupted driver, or a laser printer's toner not seating properly can also cause it. Running a nozzle check or head cleaning fixes most inkjet cases.

Why this happens

An ink or toner cartridge is empty or very low.
On a new cartridge, the protective plastic tape or clip over the nozzles or vent was not removed.
The inkjet printhead nozzles are clogged with dried ink, common after the printer sits unused.
Air bubbles are trapped in the ink lines or cartridge, breaking the flow.
The document itself has blank pages, or the paper size and layout settings do not match the paper loaded.
A corrupted or wrong driver is sending bad data to the printer.
On a laser printer, the toner cartridge is not seated correctly or the sealing strip was left in place.

Is this normal?

Occasional blank pages are normal, especially the first page after the printer has been idle for a while or right after installing a new cartridge. Constant blank pages point to a clog or an empty cartridge.

Does it cause any problems?

The main downsides are wasted paper and wasted ink or toner during cleaning cycles. Blank pages do not damage the printer, but a clog left unaddressed can get harder to clear over time.

How to fix or check it

Check ink or toner levels from the printer menu or the software on your computer, and replace anything empty.
If the cartridge is new, remove it and confirm all protective tape, clips, and vent seals are peeled off, then reinstall it firmly until it clicks.
Run a nozzle check or print quality test page from the printer menu to see which colors are missing.
Run the printhead cleaning routine from the printer menu or the manufacturer software. Repeat it once or twice if needed, then print another test page.
On many inkjets you can gently blot the printhead or cartridge nozzles with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water to loosen dried ink.
Check your document and print settings. Make sure the correct pages are selected and the paper size matches the paper in the tray.
On Windows, remove and reinstall the printer driver. On Mac, delete the printer in System Settings, Printers and Scanners, then add it again.
For a laser printer, remove the toner cartridge, rock it gently side to side to redistribute toner, confirm the seal is removed, and reinstall it.

Frequently asked questions