Canon Printer Streaks in Prints — Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

Streaks in Canon printer output are almost always caused by clogged print head nozzles. Run a print head cleaning cycle from the Canon printer software or from the printer's maintenance menu.

Affected Models

Canon PIXMA MG Series
Canon PIXMA MX Series
Canon PIXMA TS Series
Canon PIXMA iP Series
Canon PIXMA G Series

Common Causes

Clogged print head nozzles — most common after periods of inactivity
Low or empty ink cartridge
Incorrect paper type setting causing ink not to adhere properly
Print head alignment off — overlapping colours causing blurry streaks
Damaged print head from running empty cartridges

How to Fix It

Run a print head cleaning cycle.

Open the Canon printer software on your computer → Maintenance → Cleaning. Run a standard cleaning cycle, then print a nozzle check pattern to see which channels are affected.
Print a nozzle check pattern.

From the Canon maintenance utility, print a Nozzle Check Pattern. Missing or broken rows in the pattern identify the clogged colour channels. Run a cleaning cycle for the specific colour showing gaps.
Run a Deep Cleaning cycle if standard cleaning does not help.

If the standard cleaning cycle does not clear the streaks after one attempt, run a Deep Cleaning cycle. Note: deep cleaning uses more ink. Do not run more than two deep cleanings back to back — let the printer rest for an hour between cycles.
Check ink levels.

A low or nearly empty cartridge produces light, streaky output on the affected colour. Open the Canon Status Monitor to check ink levels. Replace any cartridge that is low.

When to Call a Professional

If multiple cleaning cycles do not resolve streaking, the print head has dried out beyond recovery. Canon print heads are replaceable on most PIXMA models and are available as spare parts.