Fixing a Canon Printer Outputting Blank Pages

If your Canon printer sounds like it’s printing but ejects a blank page, the issue is almost always a severely clogged printhead nozzle or an empty ink tank that the sensor failed to register.

Step 1: Perform a Deep Cleaning Cycle

Canon printers have two cleaning modes: Standard and Deep. Deep Cleaning uses a significant amount of ink to forcefully flush the nozzles.

1. Load a sheet of plain white A4 or Letter paper.
2. On your computer, open the Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
3. Right-click your Canon printer and select Printing Preferences.
4. Navigate to the Maintenance tab.
5. Click Deep Cleaning.
6. Select the color group that isn’t printing (or “All Colors”) and click Execute.
7. Wait for the process to finish, then print a Nozzle Check Pattern.

Step 2: Manually Unclog the Printhead

If two Deep Cleaning cycles fail to resolve the issue, manual flushing is required.

1. Turn on the printer and open the cover.
2. Unplug the printer from the wall while the carriage is in the center.
3. Remove the ink tanks.
4. Release the locking lever and lift out the printhead assembly.
5. Run warm distilled water directly through the mesh intake ports until clear water comes out of the nozzles underneath.
6. Gently dab the electrical contacts dry. Leave the printhead to air dry completely (at least 12 hours) before reinstallation.

Step 3: Check for Protective Tape

If you just installed a new cartridge, you may have forgotten to remove the protective film.

1. Remove the new cartridge.
2. Ensure the yellow tape has been completely peeled off the top vent.
3. If the vent is blocked, ink cannot flow out of the bottom nozzle.