Print Quality

Printer Alignment: How to Align a Printhead for Sharper Prints

An inkjet printhead moves back and forth across the page, often printing in both directions and firing several rows of nozzles for different colors. For a straight line to look straight, every pass and every color has to land in exactly the right spot. Alignment is the routine that measures any tiny offset and tells the printer how to compensate.

Printers can drift out of alignment after a printhead or cartridge is replaced, after the printer is moved or bumped, or simply over time. The good news is that alignment is a built-in, low-risk procedure. The catch is that it fixes only one kind of problem, so it helps to know what misalignment looks like before you run it.

Quick answer

Load plain letter or A4 paper, then start the alignment from the printer’s maintenance or setup menu, or from the maintenance section of its software on your computer. Automatic alignment prints and scans a pattern on its own; manual alignment asks you to pick the best-looking pattern. Run a nozzle check first, because alignment cannot fix missing nozzles.

Symptoms and possible causes

This guide applies if:

  • Vertical lines look jagged, stepped or doubled
  • Text looks fuzzy or slightly blurred, as if printed twice
  • Colors do not line up, leaving colored edges around black text
  • Fine horizontal banding appears between print passes
  • Quality dropped after replacing a cartridge or printhead, or moving the printer
Possible causes, how to recognize them and where this guide covers them
Possible causeHow to recognize itCovered in
Cartridge or printhead recently replacedBlurry or doubled output right after installationStep 2
Printer moved, bumped or shippedSudden jagged lines or misregistered colorStep 2
Gradual drift over timeSlowly worsening sharpness on fine text and linesStep 2
Clogged nozzles mistaken for misalignmentGaps or missing lines on the nozzle checkStep 1
Wrong paper used for alignmentAlignment fails or gives worse resultsStep 1
Color laser registration driftColored fringes on a laser printerStep 4

Safety precautions

  • Keep hands away from the printhead carriage while the printer is on; it can move suddenly during alignment.
  • Do not open covers or move the carriage by hand during the routine unless the screen tells you to.

1 Prepare before you align

  1. Confirm it looks like misalignment

    Misalignment shows up as doubled or jagged edges, not as gaps. White bands or missing lines usually mean clogged nozzles, which alignment cannot fix. If you see banding or stripes, start with printer streaks and lines.

  2. Run a nozzle check first

    Alignment relies on clean patterns. Print a nozzle check and make sure all colors print completely. If they do not, clean the printhead first, as described in printhead cleaning, then come back.

  3. Load the right paper

    Most printers want plain letter or A4 paper for alignment, and some specify a particular paper or a sheet supplied in the box. Use clean, flat, bright white paper. Glossy photo paper or recycled paper with flecks can confuse automatic alignment sensors.

  4. Make sure ink is not low

    A nearly empty cartridge may print a faint pattern that leads to a poor result. Check levels and replace low supplies before aligning.

2 Run the alignment

There are usually two places to start alignment. Menu names vary by brand and model, and some printers offer it in only one place.

  1. From the control panel

    On printers with a screen, look in a menu named something like Setup, Maintenance, Tools or Print Quality for an option such as Align Printhead or Head Alignment. Follow the prompts, which may ask you to confirm paper is loaded.

  2. From the printer software on a computer

    Many manufacturers include a maintenance tool in their printer app or driver. On Windows, open it from the printer software or from Printing preferences under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. On macOS, it may be in the manufacturer’s app or under Options & Supplies in System Settings > Printers & Scanners, depending on the driver. Get printer apps only from the manufacturer’s official website or your device’s official app store.

  3. Let the routine finish

    Do not cancel, open covers or turn the printer off while alignment runs. Some printers print one page, others several.

3 Automatic and manual alignment

  1. Automatic alignment

    The printer prints a pattern and either reads it with a sensor on the carriage or asks you to place the page on the scanner glass. It then adjusts itself. On all-in-one models, the screen tells you exactly how to place the page; follow it carefully.

  2. Manual alignment

    The printer prints numbered sets of patterns. For each set, you pick the one with the fewest visible lines or the smoothest look, then enter its number on the control panel or in the software. Look at the page under good light; a magnifier helps.

  3. Check the result

    Print a page of small text and a few thin lines. If edges look clean, you are done. If the result is worse, run the alignment again, taking extra care choosing patterns on a manual alignment.

Some printers align automatically after a new printhead or cartridge is installed, so you may not need to run it manually. Your manual will say whether this happens.

4 When alignment does not help

  1. Recheck the nozzles

    Partly blocked nozzles can make the alignment pattern unreadable or misleading. Run another nozzle check and clean if needed, then align again.

  2. Check the paper and quality settings

    Fuzzy text can also come from printing on photo paper set as plain paper, or using a draft mode. Check the paper type and quality in the print dialog. Bidirectional or high-speed printing options, where offered, can also be switched off to test sharpness.

  3. Color lasers: use calibration, not alignment

    Laser printers have no moving printhead to align. Color lasers can, however, drift in color registration, causing colored fringes. Many have a calibration or registration routine in their maintenance menu, and some run it automatically. The procedure is model-specific, so check your manual. Color casts and missing colors are covered in printer color problems.

  4. Consider hardware issues

    If alignment fails repeatedly or shows an error, the encoder strip, sensor or printhead may need attention. Check the manufacturer’s official support resources rather than taking the printer apart.

Additional troubleshooting methods

Restart the printer before retrying

Turn the printer off with its power button, wait a minute, and turn it back on. This lets the carriage reset to its home position before you align again.

Check for obstructions

Bits of paper or a loose packing piece in the carriage path can stop the head moving smoothly. With the printer off, look for anything obvious, but do not force the carriage or remove parts.

Model and operating-system considerations

If you useWhat to know
Inkjet printersAlignment is a standard maintenance function. Some models align automatically after a printhead change; others need you to start it.
All-in-one inkjetsAutomatic alignment may use the scanner to read the printed pattern, so the glass should be clean.
Color laser printersNo printhead alignment; use the color calibration or registration routine, which varies by model.
Monochrome laser printersAlignment does not apply. Blurry or doubled text points to other issues, such as the drum, fuser or paper.
Windows, macOS and ChromeOSAlignment lives in the printer’s control panel or the manufacturer’s software. ChromeOS generally has no built-in alignment tool, so use the control panel.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I align my printer?

Only when you notice misalignment, or after replacing a printhead or cartridge if your printer does not do it automatically. Routine alignment without a problem is not necessary.

Does alignment use a lot of ink?

It prints one or a few pattern pages, which uses a small amount of ink. That is far less than a cleaning cycle.

Why does my alignment keep failing?

Common reasons are clogged nozzles, low ink, unsuitable paper or a dirty scanner glass on models that scan the pattern. Fix those and try again; if it still fails, consult the manufacturer’s official support.