You've just replaced an empty cartridge with a new one. You run a test page. There are white lines running through it — the exact same kind of streaking you get from a nearly empty cartridge. Something is clearly wrong, but it's not obvious what.
A brand-new cartridge shouldn't streak. When it does, there's always a specific, diagnosable cause. This guide runs through every possibility in order of likelihood.
Why New Cartridges Streak
Streaking on a new cartridge almost always traces back to one of four causes: the protective tape wasn't fully removed, the nozzle plate dried out during storage, you received a defective unit from a bad production batch, or the cartridge is a compatible (non-OEM) unit with a chipset mismatch.
The Tape Seal Problem
Every inkjet cartridge ships with a protective tape covering the nozzle plate — the small copper or gold strip at the bottom of the cartridge that makes contact with the print head. This tape prevents the ink from drying out during shipping and storage.
You must remove this tape before installing the cartridge. This sounds obvious, but the tape is frequently thin, translucent, and easy to miss. On some cartridges — particularly Canon and HP — there are two pieces of tape: one over the nozzle plate and one over an electrical contact strip. Both must be removed.
If you've already installed the cartridge, remove it, check for any remaining tape, remove it if present, and reinstall. Run a head cleaning cycle before printing.
Clogged Nozzles on New Cartridges
Even sealed cartridges can develop dried ink at the nozzle plate if they've been stored for an extended period — particularly in warm conditions. The ink nearest the nozzles desiccates, forming a thin film that blocks the first few millilitres of flow.
The fix is a manual clean. Remove the cartridge. Dampen a piece of kitchen roll or a lint-free cloth with warm (not hot) water — do not use solvents. Gently press the nozzle plate against the damp cloth for 10–15 seconds. You should see ink transfer onto the cloth. Repeat until the transferred ink is a consistent, even colour with no gaps. Allow the cartridge to dry for two minutes before reinstalling.
Tip: Never wipe the nozzle plate — always press and lift. Wiping can push debris into the nozzles rather than removing it.
Identifying a Bad Batch
Occasionally, a production run of cartridges leaves the factory with genuinely defective nozzle arrays. This is more common with compatible (third-party) cartridges but happens with OEM units too. The tell is that the cleaning cycle produces no improvement — the streaks appear in the exact same positions on every print.
If cleaning doesn't fix it after two or three cycles, assume you have a defective unit and exchange or return it. HP, Canon, and Epson all honour defective cartridge replacements through their support channels.
The Fix Sequence
- 1Check and remove all tapeRemove the cartridge and inspect every surface carefully. Remove any tape, including partial strips.
- 2Run a built-in cleaning cycleUse your printer's maintenance menu to run one cleaning cycle. Print a nozzle check pattern afterward.
- 3Manual nozzle plate cleanIf streaks persist, remove the cartridge and clean the nozzle plate manually with a damp cloth as described above.
- 4Run another cleaning cycleReinstall and run one more cleaning cycle. Print a test page.
- 5Return if still streakingIf the nozzle check pattern still shows gaps after these steps, the cartridge is defective. Return it.
Don't over-clean. Running more than three cleaning cycles in a row wastes significant ink and can push debris deeper into the print head rather than clearing it. If two cycles don't fix it, move to manual cleaning or replacement.