Printer test page
Print a color, black-and-white, or nozzle-and-alignment test page to check your printer’s ink, printhead, and print quality. Nothing to install — it prints straight from your browser and works with any printer brand.
Choose a test page
Every page fits US Letter and A4 paper.
Checks each ink color, mixed colors, gradients and fine detail. Best all-round test for inkjet and color laser printers.
Preview · colors on screen differ slightly from print
How to print a test page
- Choose Color for inkjet or color laser printers, Black & white for mono laser printers, or Nozzle & alignment when you see streaks or blurry text.
- Load plain white paper and select Print test page.
- In the print dialog, choose your printer and keep the scale at 100% or Fit to page.
- Compare the printout with the checks below. Print the same page again after any fix to confirm the improvement.
How to read your test page
Look at the printout in good light. Each block has a job: solid areas reveal streaks and banding, gradients reveal missing ink, and fine lines reveal alignment problems.
| What you see | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| One color is missing or very faint | Empty or low cartridge, clogged nozzles, or protective tape left on a new cartridge | Check ink levels, reseat the cartridge, then run one printhead cleaning cycle |
| Thin white lines across solid blocks (banding) | Partly clogged nozzles or a printhead that needs cleaning | Run a cleaning cycle and print the nozzle page again; repeat once if it improves |
| Colors look wrong, such as blue printing purple | One ink channel is missing, so mixed colors lose a component | Check the CMYK blocks to find the missing ink, then clean or replace that cartridge |
| Doubled, jagged or blurry lines and text | Printhead misalignment, often after a cartridge change | Run printhead alignment from the printer’s control panel or software |
| Streaks, smudges or repeating marks (laser) | Worn or dirty drum, low toner, or a fuser issue | Gently shake or replace the toner, clean or replace the drum unit per the manual |
| Everything prints faded | Draft or toner-saving mode, wrong paper type, or low ink | Choose Normal or Best quality and match the paper type in print settings |
| Blank page | Tape still on a cartridge, empty cartridge, or the wrong printer selected | Confirm the selected printer, remove any tape, and check supplies |
Avoid running many cleaning cycles in a row — each one uses ink. If two cycles don’t help, follow our guide to faded, streaked or uneven prints or check your printer’s manual.
Print your printer’s built-in test page
Your printer can also print its own diagnostic page, which tests every nozzle and reports settings such as the network address.
- Windows 11 or 10: open Settings → Bluetooth & devices (Devices on Windows 10) → Printers & scanners, select your printer, open Printer properties, and choose Print Test Page.
- Mac: open System Settings → Printers & Scanners, select your printer, open the print queue, then choose Printer → Print Test Page from the menu bar.
- From the printer: look for Print Quality Report, Nozzle Check, or Configuration Page in the control panel under Setup, Tools, Reports, or Maintenance. Names vary by brand and model.
Printer test page questions
What is a printer test page?
A printer test page is a sheet of color blocks, gray shades, fine lines, and text that shows how well your printer reproduces each ink and detail. Comparing it with what you expect reveals low ink, clogged nozzles, banding, and alignment problems.
How do I print a color test page?
Select the Color test page above, choose Print test page, and pick your printer in the print dialog. Every ink color prints as a solid block so you can spot missing or faint colors quickly.
Why is a color missing on my test page?
A missing color usually means that cartridge is empty, still has protective tape on it, or has clogged nozzles. Check ink levels, reseat the cartridge, and run one printhead cleaning cycle before printing the test again.
Can printing a test page unclog my printer?
Printing a color page about once a week helps stop inkjet nozzles from drying out, but it will not clear an existing clog. Use your printer’s built-in cleaning cycle for that, then print the nozzle and alignment page to check the result.
Does this work with laser printers?
Yes. Use the black-and-white page for mono laser printers and the color page for color lasers. Solid areas reveal streaks, faded bands, and repeating marks that point to toner, drum, or fuser problems.
Does the test page use a lot of ink?
The color page uses more ink than a normal document because of its solid blocks. Print it only when checking a problem, and use the nozzle and alignment page when you want a lighter check.
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