Scan & copy
Copies or scans have lines, streaks or marks
Copies and scans show lines, dark streaks or spots that aren’t on the original. Find out whether the scanner glass or the print side is to blame, then clean it.
You’ll need: A soft lint-free cloth · Water or a non-abrasive glass cleaner · A copy that shows the problem
Try this first
Lift the lid and clean the narrow strip of glass beside the main glass, usually on the left, with a soft cloth lightly dampened with water. That strip reads every page that passes through the top feeder, and one speck of dust or dried correction fluid on it draws a line down every page fed through.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsWhat you’ll notice
- A thin vertical line runs down every page copied through the feeder
- Spots or smudges sit in the same place on every copy from the glass
- A grey shadow or band runs along one edge of copies
- Pages printed from the computer are clean, but copies aren’t
- Lines show up in scans saved to the computer as well as on copies
Usually caused by
- Most commonDust or residue on the narrow feeder scanning strip
- Most commonSmudges, ink or correction fluid on the main glass
- SometimesA dirty white backing under the lid or above the strip
- SometimesThe print side is making the marks, not the scanner
- Less commonScratched scanner glass
- Less commonA failing scan sensor or light
Step by step
Work down the list in order. Tick off each step as you go: your progress is saved on this device.
On the printer itself
0 of 8 tried
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Work out which part is to blame
Make three test sheets: a copy from the flatbed glass, a copy of the same page through the feeder, and a test page printed from the computer. Lines only on feeder copies point to the feeder strip; lines on glass copies point to the main glass or lid; lines on everything point to the print side.
You should see: You know which of the following steps applies to you.
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Clean the feeder scanning strip
With the printer off, lift the lid and find the narrow glass strip, usually at the left edge and separated from the main glass by a plastic ridge. Wipe along its length with a damp lint-free cloth, then dry it. Look closely for tiny white specks of correction fluid or glue; they need a little more rubbing.
You should see: A copy through the feeder comes out without the line.
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Clean the main glass
Wipe the whole flatbed glass with the cloth lightly dampened with water or a non-abrasive glass cleaner, then buff it dry with a dry part of the cloth. Pay attention to the corners and edges, where dust collects.
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Clean the white backing and guide
Wipe the white pad on the underside of the lid and the white strip or guide that sits above the feeder glass when the lid is closed. Smudges there show up as grey marks or shadows on copies.
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Clean the second strip on two-sided feeders
Feeders that scan both sides of a page in one pass have a second glass strip inside the feeder itself. Open the feeder cover, find that strip and clean it the same way. Your model’s manual shows exactly where it sits.
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Look for scratches
Shine a light across the glass at a low angle. Marks that don’t shift or fade with cleaning are likely scratches. A scratched feeder strip produces a permanent line, and the glass can’t be polished out at home.
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Check the print side if every page has lines
If pages printed from the computer show the same marks as copies, the scanner is fine. Run the printer’s cleaning or quality routine and see the related streaks and lines page; on laser printers, marks that repeat at regular spacing down the page point to the drum or toner cartridge.
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Reset darkness and background settings
A darker copy setting or a text mode can make faint dust stand out. Return the copy darkness or density setting to the middle and copy again at the default quality.
You should see: Faint marks fade or disappear at the normal setting.
Did this fix it?
Good to hear. If the problem comes back, the steps will still be here, and your ticked steps are saved on this device.
Try these next:
- Scan the same page to the computer at high resolution and zoom in. A sharp, straight line points to dirt on the glass; a soft colored band points to the scan sensor.
- Try a different original. Faint marks on a copy of a copy can be on the original itself.
- If color copies show a streak in one color only and black-and-white copies are clean, print a nozzle check; the print head may be the cause.
Still stuck? Run the diagnose questions, or check your printer’s manual and the manufacturer’s official support site.
Common questions
Why do copies have lines when printed pages are fine?
Every copy passes through the scanner first. If printed pages are clean but copies aren’t, the marks come from the scanner glass, the feeder strip or the lid backing.
Can I use household glass cleaner on the scanner?
Try water first. If you need more, use a non-abrasive glass cleaner your manual allows, spray it onto the cloth rather than the glass, and avoid anything gritty that could scratch.
Can scratched scanner glass be fixed?
Not at home. A deep scratch on the feeder strip leaves a permanent line, and the glass or scan unit has to be replaced through the manufacturer’s official support or an authorized repair service.