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Why are vertical white lines appearing on my labels?
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In brief. Vertical white lines that stay in the same place from one label to the next point to printhead heating elements that are dirty or out of service. Manufacturers' documentation first cites a dirty printhead, then failed elements; Zebra, Sato and GoDEX add a creased or wrinkled ribbon. Clean the printhead and check the ribbon: if the lines persist in the same place, the printhead is faulty and must be replaced.
Examples:
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Godex
Honeywell
- Honeywell 4 MP Compact
- Honeywell MP Compact and Nova Series
- Honeywell PC23d
- Honeywell PC42d and PC42t Series
- Honeywell PC43d and PC43t Series
- Honeywell PD43
- Honeywell PD45S
- Honeywell PF4i
- Honeywell PM23c
- Honeywell PM43 Series
- Honeywell PM45 and PM45C Series
- Honeywell PX45 and PX65 Series
- Honeywell PX6i
- Honeywell PX940
- Honeywell RP Series
Sato
Zebra
- Zebra G-Series GK420d, GK420t, GX420d, GX420t and GX430t
- Zebra G-Series GK420d, GK420t, GX420d, GX420t and GX430t
- Zebra QLn420
- Zebra S4M
- Zebra ZC100 and ZC300
- Zebra ZD410
- Zebra ZD411
- Zebra ZD420t and ZD420d
- Zebra ZD421
- Zebra ZD500R RFID
- Zebra ZD510-HC
- Zebra ZD611
- Zebra ZD620t and ZD620d Series
- Zebra ZD621
- Zebra ZQ310 and ZQ310 Plus Series
- Zebra ZQ320 and ZQ320 Plus Series
- Zebra ZQ510 and ZQ520 Series
- Zebra ZQ511 and ZQ521 Series
- Zebra ZQ610 Plus
- Zebra ZQ620 and ZQ620 Plus Series
- Zebra ZQ630 Plus and ZQ630 Plus RFID
- Zebra ZT230
- Zebra ZT231
- Zebra ZT400 Series
- Zebra ZT411
- Zebra ZT420
- Zebra ZT421 and ZT421 RFID
- Zebra ZT510
- Zebra ZT600 Series
- Zebra ZXP Series 7
Why do white lines appear on labels? The causes cited by manufacturers
These causes come from the manufacturers' guides, from the most often cited to the rarest; each example names the model concerned, whose entry in the by-model table below gives the exact procedure.
- Dirty printheadLabel or ribbon residue and dust on the printhead leave white areas, according to GoDEX (GE300). Honeywell attributes vertical white lines to a dirty printhead (PD45S), and it is the only cause cited in the Sato WS2 manual. Sato also mentions a label stuck to the printhead (FX3-LX).
- Heating element out of service or worn printheadIf dots are still missing after cleaning, the printhead is faulty, Honeywell specifies (PF4i). Zebra reports a failed element with the message
Head Element Out(ZT411, ZT610), Sato a worn or damaged printhead with error 1012 (Head Error) on the CL4NX. - Creased or wrinkled ribbonIn thermal transfer, a crease in the ribbon leaves a band without print. Zebra cites a creased ribbon, alongside a damaged element, for long unprinted streaks (ZT510); Sato cites it for broken lines on the WS4, GoDEX for unprinted areas (EZ6250i, G500).
- Media or ribbon loaded incorrectlySato cites media loaded incorrectly for black or white streaks (FX3-LX) and media or ribbon loaded incorrectly for unreadable barcodes (CL4NX). On the ZQ310 Plus and ZQ630, Zebra has you check the paper alignment and that the cover is latched when part of the print is missing.
- Poor-quality media or media mismatched with the ribbonHoneywell links weak areas to particles on the media and to a mismatched or poor-quality media-ribbon combination (PF4i). GoDEX cites poor-quality media or creased paper (MX20), Zebra the quality of the media (ZQ610 Plus, ZQ630).
- Software or start positionWhen part of the image is missing, GoDEX also has you check the labelling software and the print start position (MX20, EZ6250i, GE300).
What to check, in order
- Clean the printheadWith the printer switched off and the printhead cooled, remove any label or ribbon residue, then clean the heating line according to your model's guide: cleaning pen from the centre to the edges on Zebra printers, cleaning film or a cotton swab moistened with isopropyl alcohol on Honeywell printers, cleaning kit on Sato printers.
- Check the ribbonA creased ribbon leaves bands without print: re-tension or reload it before concluding that the printhead is faulty, as Zebra (ZT231, ZT411) and Sato (WS4) ask.
- Reload the mediaCheck the paper alignment and close the cover until it latches (Zebra ZQ310 Plus, ZQ630); on Sato printers, reload the media, and the ribbon if there is one (FX3-LX, CT4-LX).
- Print a test labelIt shows whether any printhead dots have stopped printing: the line of criss-crossed “x” characters on the configuration label on Zebra ZQ printers, the frame around the text, which should be a continuous line, on the GK420 and GX420, the PAUSE self-test on the ZT410 and ZT420. The Toshiba B-852 offers a printhead check that displays
NORMAL ENDorHEAD ERROR. - Check whether the failed element affects printingOn the ZT231, ZT411 and ZT610, Zebra only calls for the printhead to be replaced after
Head Element Outif the element falls in a printed area, barcode or text. Sato points out that its printhead check does not guarantee that barcodes can be read: check them with a scanner. - Have the printhead replacedIf the lines remain in the same place after cleaning, Zebra asks you to call a technician (ZT410, ZT510) and Honeywell to replace the printhead (PF4i, PD45S). Sato refers you to its technical support for error 1012 (PW208NX, CT4-LX).
Caution: Let the printhead cool before cleaning it: Zebra warns that it can cause severe burns. Switch off the printer and unplug it, or remove its battery (Sato). Do not touch the printhead element with bare hands: according to Toshiba, static electricity can cause missing dots, and Zebra asks you to discharge it by touching the metal frame before touching the printhead assembly. Never use a pointed or sharp tool (Honeywell).
What the documentation recommends, model by model
For 34 models, the manufacturer's documentation describes this symptom. Each row links to the detailed entry in the guide, with the full procedure and its sources.
| Model | Guide entry | Short answer |
|---|---|---|
| Honeywell PF4i | Why does my Honeywell PF4i leave white lines or faint areas on the labels? | The Intermec guide first cites a dirty printhead: clean it. If dots are still missing, the printhead is faulty and must be replaced. |
| Zebra ZT410 | Why does my Zebra ZT410 print vertical white lines? | Clean the printhead first: residue on the heating elements leaves white lines. If long streaks with no print persist, a printhead element is damaged and Zebra asks you to call a technician. Wrinkled ribbon can also be the cause. |
| Toshiba B-852 | Why does my Toshiba B-852 print with missing dots, and how do I check the printhead? | Toshiba warns that touching the printhead element with bare hands can cause missing dots through static electricity. First clean the printhead, then run the automatic printhead check from system mode: NORMAL END indicates a printhead with no faulty dots, HEAD ERROR indicates faulty dots. |
| Zebra ZT421 | Why does my Zebra ZT421 show “Head Element Out” or “Replace Printhead” and print white lines? | “Head Element Out” indicates that a printhead element has stopped working, “Replace Printhead” that the printhead is nearing the end of its life. In both cases, Zebra calls for the printhead to be replaced, for “Head Element Out” only if the faulty element affects printing. |
| Zebra ZT420 | Why does my Zebra ZT420 print vertical white lines? | Clean the printhead first: residue on the heating elements leaves white lines. If long streaks with no print persist, a printhead element is damaged and Zebra asks you to call a technician. Wrinkled ribbon can also be the cause. |
| Zebra ZT411 | Why does my Zebra ZT411 show “Head Element Out” or “Replace Printhead” and print white lines? | “Head Element Out” indicates that a printhead element has stopped working, “Replace Printhead” that the printhead is nearing the end of its life. In both cases, Zebra calls for the printhead to be replaced, for “Head Element Out” only if the faulty element affects printing. |
| Honeywell PX6i | Why does my Honeywell PX6i print vertical white lines or dark streaks? | According to the Honeywell guide, dark streaks in the feed direction are corrected by cleaning the printhead. Vertical white lines also require cleaning, then replacing the printhead if dots are missing. Part of a dot line missing means the printhead must be replaced. |
| Honeywell MP Compact4 Mark III | Why does the print from my Honeywell MP Compact4 Mark III show streaks or voids? | According to the Honeywell guide, these defects are most often caused by deposits on the printhead. Clean it with a cleaning film loaded like a roll of labels, or with a cotton swab moistened with isopropyl alcohol, with the printer off and the printhead cool. |
| Zebra GK420 | Why does my Zebra GK420 print vertical white lines on the labels? | Zebra cites a dirty printhead or damaged printhead elements. Clean the printhead; if the lines persist, the elements are faulty and the printer needs service. |
| Sato FX3-LX | Why does my Sato FX3-LX print black or white streaks on the labels? | Sato cites a dirty printhead or a label stuck to it, and incorrectly loaded media. Clean the printhead with the cleaning kit, run a test print and reload the media. |
| Sato FX3-LX | What should I do when my Sato FX3-LX shows “Error 1012 (Head Error)”? | The head check has detected a worn or damaged printhead (broken heating element). Sato asks you to replace the printhead; you can force printing to resume from the error screen, then check the printed barcodes with a scanner. |
| Zebra GX420 | Why does my Zebra GX420 print vertical white lines? | According to Zebra, white lines come from dirty or faulty printhead elements. Clean the printhead; if the lines persist, some elements are out of service and the printer needs service. |
| Godex MX20 | Why do some areas of my labels stay blank on my Godex MX20? | The GoDEX manual cites label residue or dust on the printhead, an error in the software, an incorrectly set start position, creased paper or poor-quality media. Clean the printhead first, then check the paper and the settings. |
| Zebra ZQ630 | Why is my Zebra ZQ630 printing faintly or with gaps? | Zebra first asks you to clean the printhead and check the media quality. Clean the grey line of the printhead with a Zebra cleaning pen, from the centre towards the edges, after every five rolls (after every roll with linerless media). |
| Zebra ZQ630 | My Zebra ZQ630 is showing a printhead error: what should I do? | These red alerts indicate a printhead fault; the Zebra documentation does not detail their cause. Clean the printhead, print a configuration label to check its elements, then, if the alert persists, contact support with the serial number, the model and the PCC code. |
| Zebra ZQ610 Plus | Why is my Zebra ZQ610 Plus printing faintly or with gaps? | Zebra first asks you to clean the printhead and check the media quality. Clean the grey line of the printhead with a Zebra cleaning pen, from the centre towards the edges, after every five rolls (after every roll with linerless media). |
| Zebra ZQ610 Plus | My Zebra ZQ610 Plus is showing a printhead error: what should I do? | These red alerts indicate a printhead fault; the Zebra guide does not detail their cause. Clean the printhead, print a configuration label to check its elements, then, if the alert persists, contact support with the serial number, the model and the PCC code. |
| Sato PW208NX | Why does my Sato PW208NX print black streaks or print shifted to one side? | Sato cites a dirty printhead or sensor (or one covered by a label) and incorrectly loaded media. Clean the printhead and sensor, do a test print and reload the media. |
| Sato PW208NX | Why does my Sato PW208NX show “Error 1012 (Head Error)”? | The head check has detected a worn or damaged printhead (broken heating element). Sato asks you to have the printhead replaced through its technical support and to check the barcodes printed after the error with a scanner. |
| Zebra ZD411 | How do I clean the printhead on my Zebra ZD411 when printing becomes faded or incomplete? | A dirty head distorts the image or leaves voids. Open the printer, remove the ribbon if there is one, run a new cleaning pen over the dark strip of the head from the centre outwards, then wait one minute before closing. |
| Zebra ZD411 | Why is the printing on my Zebra ZD411 blurred, smudged, too light or too dark? | Zebra first cites a darkness or speed setting unsuited to the media: print the print quality report (FEED self-test) to find the right combination. Then check that the head and platen roller are clean and, in thermal transfer, that the ribbon and labels are matched. |
| Zebra ZD510-HC | How do I clean the printhead on my Zebra ZD510-HC with the cleaning card? | Zebra provides a cleaning card that cleans the printhead, the platen roller and the feed roller, to be used every 5 cartridges. Insert the card from the back with the cover closed, then hold EJECT for about 15 seconds while switching on the printer: the card moves forwards and back. |
| Zebra ZQ310 Plus | Why is part of the text missing on the tickets from my Zebra ZQ310 Plus? | The Zebra guide has you check three points: the position of the paper, the condition of the printhead and the cover latch. Straighten the roll, clean the printhead and close the cover until it clicks. |
| Zebra ZQ310 Plus | How do I test the printhead on a Zebra ZQ310 Plus? | Print the configuration label: its first line, made up of interlocking “x” characters, is used to check each of the printhead elements. An error icon flashing every two seconds can also indicate a faulty element. |
| Zebra ZQ320 Plus | Why does my Zebra ZQ320 Plus print incomplete receipts or receipts with missing areas? | Zebra gives three checks: paper alignment, printhead cleanliness and whether the cover is closed. Reposition the roll, clean the printhead and close the cover until it clicks. |
| Zebra ZQ320 Plus | How can I tell whether the printhead on my Zebra ZQ320 Plus is faulty? | An error light flashing every two seconds can indicate a faulty printhead element. Print a configuration report: its line of interlocking “x” characters lets you check each printhead element. |
| Zebra ZT231 | My Zebra ZT231 shows “HEAD ELEMENT OUT” or “REPLACE PRINTHEAD”: do I need to change the printhead? | Head Element Out indicates that a printhead element no longer works: Zebra advises replacing the printhead only if this element affects printing. Replace Printhead indicates a printhead at the end of its life, which needs replacing. |
| Zebra ZT510 | Why does my Zebra ZT510 leave long unprinted streaks on several labels? | Zebra cites a damaged print element or wrinkled ribbon. Check the ribbon first; if the streaks stay in the same place with the ribbon properly tensioned, the printhead element is at fault and the guide refers you to a technician. |
| Zebra ZT610 and ZT620 | Why does my Zebra ZT610 or ZT620 show “Head Element Out” or print with white bands? | A printhead element no longer works. If its position affects printing, Zebra says to replace the printhead; an unprinted band can also come from wrinkled ribbon. |
| Honeywell PD45S | Why do white vertical lines appear on the labels from my Honeywell PD45S? | A dirty printhead causes white vertical lines or dark lines: clean it. If dots are missing or part of a dotted line disappears, Honeywell states that the printhead is faulty and must be replaced. |
| Honeywell PD45S | What does the “Faulty Dot” alert mean on my Honeywell PD45S? | The printhead has reached the number of faulty dots set in the Faulty Dot maintenance alert. According to Honeywell, the printhead may need to be replaced. |
| Honeywell RP2 and RP4 | Why is the print on my Honeywell RP2 faded or of poor quality? | Honeywell first cites a dirty printhead: clean it with a cleaning card or a cotton swab moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Then check that the darkness setting (heat, speed) suits the media. |
| Honeywell RP2 and RP4 | How often should I clean the printhead and rollers on a Honeywell RP4? | Honeywell specifies cleaning the printhead, the platen roller, the peel roller and the cover roller every 3 to 5 rolls of media. The media sensor is cleaned with compressed air every month, and the interior as needed. |
| Sato CL4NX | Why can the barcodes printed by my Sato CL4NX not be read? | The CL4NX manual points to a dirty head or incorrectly loaded media and ribbon. Clean the head with the cleaning kit and reload the media and ribbon; if the barcodes are still unreadable, Sato mentions a faulty head. |
| Sato CL4NX | Do I need to replace the printhead when a Sato CL4NX shows “1012 Head Error”? | Not necessarily: error 1012 indicates worn print elements, or a worn or damaged head. Sato first suggests switching the printer off or checking only the barcodes; replacement is required if the head is damaged. |
| Sato CL6NX Plus | What should I do when my Sato CL6NX Plus shows “Error 1012 Head Error”? | The head check has detected worn print elements, or the head is worn or damaged. Sato suggests switching the printer off or limiting the check to barcodes; a damaged head must be replaced. |
| Sato CT4-LX | Why does my Sato CT4-LX print marks or lines, with unreadable barcodes? | The printhead is dirty or a label is stuck to it, or the media and ribbon are incorrectly loaded. Clean the printhead, print a test label, then reload the media and ribbon; if the barcode is still unreadable, the printhead may be faulty. |
| Sato CT4-LX | What should I do if my Sato CT4-LX shows “1012 Head Error”? | The head check has detected a worn or damaged printhead: Sato provides for its replacement. In the meantime, the error clears when you switch the printer off; then check your barcodes with a scanner. |
| Sato WS2 | What causes the white lines on the labels and wristbands printed by my Sato WS2? | On the WS2, which prints without ribbon, the manual cites only one cause: a dirty printhead. Clean it with ethyl alcohol; if the lights indicate a damaged printhead, contact your reseller. |
| Sato WS4 | Why do white lines appear on the labels from my Sato WS4? | The Sato manual cites a dirty printhead or a wrinkled ribbon. Clean the printhead; on a TT model, re-tension or reload the ribbon. |
| Godex EZ6250i and EZ6350i | Why is part of the label not printed on my Godex EZ6250i? | A piece of label or ribbon may be stuck to the printhead, or the ribbon is wrinkled. Clean the printhead, check the ribbon and the start position; if only one side does not print, adjust the printhead balance. |
| Godex G500 | Why does part of the label stay blank or blurred on my Godex G500? | The printhead is often dirty with label or ribbon remnants, or the ribbon is wrinkled. Clean the printhead, check the ribbon, then print a self-test page to see whether the printhead prints across the whole width. |
| Godex GE300 | Why do some areas of the label not print on my Godex GE300? | Label or ribbon residue stuck to the printhead, a wrinkled ribbon or an incorrectly set start position leave blank areas. Check the printhead and the ribbon, then the start position in your software. |
| Godex ZX400 | Why does one side of the label stay blank on my Godex ZX420i? | The printhead pressure is unevenly distributed for the width of your media, or the printhead is dirty. Clean the printhead, then adjust the position of the spring housings and the pressure. |
| Brother RJ-4250WB | Why do streaks appear on prints from my Brother RJ-4250WB? | According to Brother, the printhead or the roller is dirty: even though the printhead generally stays clean, lint or residue from the roller can stick to it. Clean the printhead and the roller. |
Frequently asked questions
What does “Head Element Out” mean on a Zebra printer?
An element of the printhead no longer works. Zebra specifies replacing the printhead if the location of this element affects printing, for example if it falls on a barcode or text (ZT231, ZT610). The related message Replace Printhead indicates a printhead at the end of its life, to be replaced.
Why are there still white lines after cleaning the printhead?
If the lines remain in the same place, heating elements are out of service: cleaning is no longer enough. First check that the ribbon is not creased, then print your model's test label. Honeywell then asks for the printhead to be replaced (PF4i, PD45S), Zebra for a technician to be called (ZT410, ZT510).
How can I tell if my printhead is faulty?
Print the test label specified in the guide: on Zebra ZQ printers, the line of criss-crossed “x” characters at the top of the configuration label checks each printhead element. The Toshiba B-852 runs a printhead check that displays HEAD ERROR if there are faulty dots, and the Sato CL4NX and CT4-LX report error 1012. On the Honeywell PD45S, the Faulty Dot alert warns when the number of faulty dots reaches the set threshold.
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