There’s nothing worse than expecting a crisp, clean printed document but instead getting one that’s super blurry. Are we describing you right now? If so, we’re here to provide some solutions to get you back on track.

If you are struggling with blurry, fuzzy, or smudged prints, try the solutions below.

Check Your Paper

Is your Paper loaded correctly into your printer? Make sure that your paper is placed short edge first, placed evenly, and that the paper touches the back of the cassette tray. The printable side must also be loaded in properly. Also, the paper should not be damp, wrinkled, or just generally old. If you are using special paper, load the papers individually one sheet at a time.

Edit Your Settings

Make sure that the paper type setting in your printer matches the type of paper that’s actually loaded. For instance, if you are printing on thick paper (or even envelopes), Epson printers have a “Thick Paper and Envelopes” setting that you want to turn on. If you are using anything other than regular printer paper, check to see if your printer has special settings from the control panel.

Check Your Toner or Ink Levels

When you don’t have a lot of toner or ink left, your printer will use try to conserve them. When this happens, less toner or ink is used with each print – making your prints ultimately blurry, faded, or faint. On most modern printers, you can check toner or ink level through the blinking light on your printer, or through a panel on your printer display. If toner or ink levels are low, it’s time to make a switch.

Switch Out Old Cartridges

If this is your first time printing in a while, and the print comes out blurry, check your cartridge. If the same cartridge is still inside, that cartridge may be dried out or the print heads may have become gummed up with ink residue. We recommend that you take the time to switch cartridges that have been inside your printer for more than a year.

Clean Print Heads

As mentioned, print heads can get dirty and gummed up with ink residue. Luckily, cleaning printer heads is a relatively simple task. Almost all modern printers can go into a self-cleaning cycle that cleans print heads and other internal components of your printer.

Update Your Printer Driver

If your printer is printing unreadable or strange characters, it’s likely because of an outdated printer driver. To update your printer driver, you can either use the “Check for Updates” option on Windows or Mac or head directly to your printer manufacturer’s website.

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