To print a test page, open your printer’s properties and click Print Test Page. On Windows it is a button on the General tab. On a Mac there is no such button in System Settings, so you either print a TextEdit document or switch on the built-in CUPS page. Either way it takes under a minute.
Print a printer test page on Windows 11 and Windows 10
The route below works on both versions. The one trap is clicking Properties instead of Printer properties, because only the second one has the test button.
- Open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners (Windows 10: Devices, then Printers & scanners).
- Click your printer in the list.
- Choose Printer properties.
- On the General tab, click Print Test Page.
Video: MDTechVideos
Prefer the older screen? Open Devices and Printers in Control Panel, right-click the printer, pick Printer properties, and use the same General tab button. Dell’s support page lists the same path for Windows 11 and 10 (Dell: how to print a test page in Windows).
Print a test page on a Mac
macOS does not put a test-page button in Printers & Scanners. The reliable workaround is the CUPS web page that ships with the system, which does have one.
Open Terminal, run cupsctl WebInterface=yes, then go to http://localhost:631/printers/ in your browser. Click your printer’s name and choose Print Test Page. Lightspeed documents the same two steps (Enabling the CUPS printer interface for Mac).
If you would rather skip Terminal, open any short TextEdit file and print it. That checks the same Mac-to-printer path, just without the color bars.
Where the test page button lives
| System | Where you start | What you click |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 / 10, Settings | Printers & scanners, then your printer | Printer properties, General tab, Print Test Page |
| Windows 11 / 10, Control Panel | Devices and Printers, right-click the printer | Printer properties, General tab, Print Test Page |
| macOS | localhost:631/printers/ after enabling CUPS | Your printer’s name, then Print Test Page |
Sources: Dell support (Windows), Lightspeed support (macOS CUPS), checked October 2026.
What to do when the test page prints blank or faded
A page that prints is good news: your computer, the driver and the printer all talk to each other. A bad page points at the printer itself, not at Windows or macOS.
Check ink or toner levels first, then run the cleaning or nozzle-check routine in your printer’s own utility. Menu names differ by brand, so look in the driver or the printer’s display. Faded streaks on an inkjet often clear after a cleaning cycle. If a cleaned page is still blank, the cartridge may be empty or clogged.
If nothing comes out at all, cancel stuck jobs in the print queue and try again.
Frequently asked questions
Is a test page the same as a print quality check?
Not quite. The Windows test page confirms that the driver and connection work. Many printers also have a separate print quality or nozzle check in their own software, which is the better tool for streaks and banding.
Does printing a test page use a lot of ink?
It uses a small amount of ink or toner, like any page with color blocks. Print it only when you are troubleshooting or setting up a new printer, and turn on grayscale if you only need to confirm the connection.
While the page prints, you can sort out other loose ends: here is our list of the best free weather apps for iPhone, plus how to cancel Apple TV+ before the next billing date and cancel Xfinity service without extra fees.
Why is there no Print Test Page button on my Mac?
macOS keeps the test page in the CUPS web page instead of System Settings, which is why the Terminal step above exists.
