How to Perform a Head Cleaning on an Epson Printer: Here Are the Steps
When an Epson printer's output suddenly appears faint or shows broken lines, it is generally due to a dirty or clogged print head. Fortunately, this issue can be resolved by performing a "head cleaning" process to restore proper ink flow.
The purpose of head cleaning is to clear the nozzles on the print head, allowing ink to flow more smoothly. Read on to learn how to perform a head cleaning on an Epson printer—either via your computer or directly from the printer itself!
How to Perform Head Cleaning on an Epson Printer via Computer
- Ensure the printer is turned on and the ink indicator light is off.
- Click "Print" or "Print Setup" from the "File" menu in Windows.
- Click "Printer," "Setup," "Options," or "Properties" in the dialog box that appears.
- Click the "Utility" tab, then click the "Head Cleaning" button.
- Once the power light stops flashing, click "Print Nozzle Check Pattern" to verify that the print head has been cleaned.
- Go to the "Devices and Printers" menu.
- Right-click the icon for the Epson printer you are using.
- Select "Printing Preferences."
- Open the "Maintenance" tab to access the head cleaning feature.
How to Perform a Head Cleaning on an Epson Printer Without a Computer
- Ensure the power light is on, and the ink-out (low ink) light is off.
- Press and hold the ink button for three seconds.
- The printer will begin the head cleaning process, indicated by the power and ink lights flashing.
- Wait until the power light stops flashing, which signifies that the process is complete.
- Print a nozzle check pattern to verify that the print head is clean.


