How to Test Ink Cartridges (5 Steps)

Turn on the printer by pressing the power button.
Load paper into the printer.
Perform a nozzle check on your cartridges. Select 'Start' and click 'Control Panel.' Choose 'Printers.' Choose your printer in the dialogue box and right-click. Then select 'Preferences' and enter the printer maintenance section.
Select 'Maintenance,' if you are not already in the maintenance tab on the screen and Click on the 'Utility' tab. Find the Nozzle Check utility and select 'Perform Nozzle Check.' Allow the printer to run through the check. Remove the test page that prints automatically.
Look at the lines on the page. If sections of the lines are missing, this indicates a problem with the cartridge. Note the color of the line with missing sections. The color of the line corresponds to the color cartridge with the printing problem.