Tank Printer Printing Blank Pages? Fix Canon & Epson Issues Now [2025 Guide]

Why Is My Epson or Canon Tank Printer Printing Blank Pages? 2025 Troubleshooting Guide

Tank printer printing blank pages? You’re not alone. Many Epson EcoTank and Canon MegaTank users experience this frustrating issue—especially after refilling ink or performing maintenance. You send a document to print, the paper comes out… completely blank. No error, no warning, just empty pages.

The good news? This problem is often easy to fix. In this 2025 troubleshooting guide, we’ll walk you through the real causes and the most effective solutions for when your Epson or Canon tank printer prints blank pages.

🔍 Common Reasons Your Tank Printer Prints Blank Pages

Let’s start by understanding why this happens. Here are the most common causes:

• Air bubbles trapped in the ink tubes

• Clogged or dry printhead nozzles

• Incorrect ink installation or refill process

• Software or driver errors

• Printer set to print using the wrong cartridge (e.g. black only)

• Printhead not properly seated or aligned

Most of these issues are temporary and fully fixable — let’s go step by step.

✅ Solution 1: Run a Nozzle Check and Head Cleaning

The most common cause of blank pages in tank printers is dried ink or air in the nozzles. Start by running a nozzle check:

1. Open your Epson or Canon printer utility software on your computer.

2. Navigate to Maintenance > Nozzle Check.

3. If the printout is blank or missing colors, proceed with Head Cleaning.

4. Wait a few minutes and run another Nozzle Check.

Repeat up to 2–3 times if needed. This usually clears clogs or small air pockets.

✅ Solution 2: Perform a Deep or Power Cleaning Cycle

If regular head cleaning doesn’t work, try a deep cleaning (Canon) or power cleaning (Epson):

• Go to Maintenance settings in your printer software.

• Choose Deep Cleaning or Power Cleaning.

• Follow the prompts (this process may take 5–10 minutes and use more ink).

This is often the breakthrough step for completely blank pages, especially after a recent refill.

✅ Solution 3: Reinsert or Reinstall Ink Tanks Properly

If your Canon or Epson tank printer was recently refilled, check for:

• Loose ink caps – ensure all tank lids are closed tightly.

• Misaligned cartridges – make sure the tanks snapped into place correctly.

• Low or fake ink – use genuine ink; third-party ink may fail to register properly.

Sometimes, simply removing and reinserting the ink tanks can fix the issue.

✅ Solution 4: Manually Remove Air Bubbles

Trapped air can block ink flow and result in blank pages:

• Gently tilt the printer side to side while powered off to help shift bubbles.

• Some users recommend opening the ink tank lid briefly, allowing air pressure to equalize.

• For more advanced users: using a syringe tool on the ink lines (only if you’re comfortable).

✅ Solution 5: Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Software miscommunication can also cause blank prints. To fix it:

• Go to epson.com or canon.com, search for your printer model.

• Download and install the latest driver and firmware update.

• Restart both the printer and computer after installation.

Always keep your printer software up to date to avoid compatibility bugs.

✅ Solution 6: Check Print Settings Before Printing

Sometimes the problem is just a wrong setting. Before hitting “Print”:

• Make sure « Print in Grayscale » or « Black Ink Only » is not selected if color is missing.

• Ensure you’re printing from the correct paper source and tray.

• Try printing from another application (e.g. WordPad or browser) to rule out software errors.

✅ Solution 7: Perform a Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If nothing else works:

• Go to your printer’s Settings menu.

• Find Restore Default Settings or Factory Reset.

• Confirm and restart the printer.

This clears software errors and resets internal configurations.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does my Canon or Epson tank printer print blank pages after refilling?

This is usually due to air bubbles trapped in the ink lines or dry ink in the printhead. Running 2–3 head cleaning cycles usually solves it.

Can I use third-party ink in my tank printer?

While it’s possible, non-original ink often causes clogs, recognition issues, or blank pages. It’s safer to use genuine Canon or Epson ink.

How often should I clean my printhead?

Only when you see print quality issues. Excessive cleaning wastes ink and can overheat the printhead.

Is this a hardware failure?

Rarely. Most blank page problems are software- or ink-flow related, and can be resolved at home.