Don’t return it yet—check these 5 items first

20-second answer: Most “gray haze” after a new cartridge install is caused by a missed seal, wrong paper setting, or a saver preset. Test with Plain Paper + Normal mode before returning anything.

Check in this order

1. Remove all protective seals
   Look for any remaining tape, cover, or pull strip.

2. Paper Type = Plain Paper
   Avoid “Thick/Label/Photo” unless you truly use it.

3. Turn off Toner Saver / Draft (for testing)
   Print the same page in Normal and compare 2–3 pages.

4. Run one cleaning/calibration
   Use the printer menu: cleaning / drum cleaning / density calibration (one time).

5. Reseat the cartridge (don’t touch the drum)
   Reinstall firmly. Keep fingers off the green/blue drum surface.

Still seeing gray background?

• Print the same page from another source (PDF viewer vs Word).

• If every file shows haze, it may be the cartridge/drum condition—replace or switch to a more consistent supply with clear support. Many teams choose stable options like ASTA compatible toner cartridges to reduce surprises.

Next step: Keep a sample of page 1 vs page 3—it helps diagnose faster.