Canon MF657Cdw / MF655Cdw / MF651Cw: Streaks, Lines, or Smudges Appear When Scanning

Last Updated on 14.04.2026 by DriverNew

Applies to models: Canon MF657Cdw, MF655Cdw, MF651Cw.

Important: Steps related to the feeder apply to MF655Cdw and MF657Cdw. For MF651Cw, only the platen glass section of this article applies because this model does not have an automatic document feeder.

If streaks, lines, gray marks, or dirty areas appear on your scan, this does not necessarily mean the multifunction printer is faulty. In most cases, the cause is dirt on the platen glass or in the document feed scanning area inside the automatic document feeder (ADF). For the MF650 series, Canon specifically recommends regular cleaning of these areas, as well as a separate <Remove Scan Stripes> function for cases where contamination in the ADF area causes streaks on scans.

How the problem usually appears

• a vertical or horizontal line appears on the scan;
• gray, black, or colored streaks are visible;
• the result is poor only when scanning through the feeder, while scanning from the platen glass looks better;
• marks appear on a light background even though they are not present on the original.

Why this happens

Canon states that graphite powder and dust can stick to the rollers inside the feeder and to the document feed scanning area, which can cause smudges and streaks on results. Canon also separately warns that when <Remove Scan Stripes> is enabled, stained areas may simply not be scanned, so this function is not a substitute for proper cleaning.

Where to start

1. Take one sheet.
2. Scan it using the method you normally use.
3. If you have an MF655Cdw or MF657Cdw, then scan the same sheet using the other method:
   • first through the feeder;
   • then from the platen glass.

If the line appears only when using the feeder, the problem is most likely in the ADF area. If it is visible even when scanning from the platen glass, clean the platen glass first.

Step 1. For all models, clean the platen glass first

For the entire Canon MF650 series, Canon recommends regular cleaning of the platen glass and the underside of the feeder or platen glass cover. This is the basic first check for all three models, including MF651Cw.

1. Turn the machine off.
2. Lift the feeder or the platen glass cover.
3. Carefully wipe the platen glass with a soft, lint-free cloth.
4. If there are visible marks, use a slightly damp cloth and then wipe the glass dry.
5. Turn the machine back on and run a test scan.

Even a tiny speck or mark on the glass can create a line across the entire document.

Step 2. If the problem appears only through the feeder, clean the feeder

This step applies only to MF655Cdw and MF657Cdw. Canon explicitly states that if dust or graphite powder builds up inside the feeder or in the document feed scanning area, contamination will appear on scan results.

1. Turn the machine off and unplug it from the power outlet.
2. Open the original supply tray.
3. Open the feeder cover.
4. Wipe the rollers inside the feeder with a cloth moistened with water and wrung out well.
5. Then wipe them with a dry cloth.
6. If the areas are very dirty, wipe them again and dry them once more.
7. Close the feeder cover and the original supply tray.
8. Open the feeder itself.
9. Wipe the document feed scanning area with a damp, well-wrung cloth, then wipe it dry.
10. Wait until the cleaned area is completely dry.
11. Close the feeder, plug the machine back in, and turn it on.

Canon specifically emphasizes cleaning the document feed scanning area because this is the most common source of vertical lines on scans made through the ADF.

Step 3. If manual cleaning did not help, run <Clean Feeder>

This step applies only to MF655Cdw and MF657Cdw. Canon describes automatic feeder cleaning as the next step if normal manual cleaning did not resolve the issue. For this procedure, load 10 sheets of plain A4 or US Letter paper into the feeder.

1. Load 10 sheets of plain A4 or US Letter paper into the feeder.
2. On the Home screen, select <Menu>.
3. Go to <Adjustment/Maintenance> → <Maintenance>.
4. Select <Clean Feeder>.
5. Select <Start>.
6. After cleaning is complete, run a test scan.

Canon also lists <Clean Feeder> as a standard function in the <Maintenance> section.

Step 4. Check the <Remove Scan Stripes> setting

For this series, Canon provides a separate <Remove Scan Stripes> function. Canon states that when this option is enabled, the machine attempts to exclude spots detected in the document feed scanning area and reduce streaks caused by the edge of the original. At the same time, Canon warns that when spot removal is enabled, stained areas are not scanned, so you should clean the scanning area first.

1. On the printer control panel, open <Menu>.
2. Go to <Adjustment/Maintenance> → <Adjust Image Quality>.
3. Find <Remove Scan Stripes>.
4. If lines still appear through the feeder after proper cleaning, try setting it to <On>.
5. Run another test scan.

This setting should be used as additional help, not instead of cleaning.

Step 5. If streaks appear only on color or difficult originals, compare scanning modes

If the problem does not look like a clear black line but instead appears as a colored background, banding, or a dirty tint, check whether it may be related to scan processing rather than dirt. For this Canon series, settings such as <Original Type>, <Density>, and <Sharpness> can affect how the scanned image looks.

1. Compare the result:
   • through MF Scan Utility on a Windows PC;
   • through another method available to you, such as Scan to E-Mail.
2. If the “dirty” background or tint appears only with one scanning method, the cause may be the scan profile settings rather than the platen glass or feeder.

Step 6. Check whether the originals themselves become dirty during feeding

This step applies only to MF655Cdw and MF657Cdw. Canon explicitly notes that <Clean Feeder> should also be used when originals become dirty while passing through the feeder.

If sheets come out dirty after passing through the ADF, that is a strong sign that the problem is in the rollers or feed area, not in software settings.

How to quickly tell where the problem is

• If the line appears both from the platen glass and through the feeder — clean the platen glass first.
• If the line appears only through the feeder — on MF655Cdw and MF657Cdw, first clean the document feed scanning area in the ADF and run <Clean Feeder>.
• If the lines disappeared after cleaning, but a blank or overly light stripe appeared — check whether <Remove Scan Stripes> is enabled.
• If one scanning method looks clean but another produces a “dirty” result — also check the scan profile and image processing settings.

When to contact support

• you have already cleaned the platen glass;
• for MF655Cdw or MF657Cdw, you have completed both manual cleaning and automatic <Clean Feeder>;
• you have checked <Remove Scan Stripes>;
• the lines or contamination still remain.

If the problem does not go away after these checks, it is reasonable to contact Canon support or a service center, especially if the lines appear consistently in the same area of the image.

Brief conclusion

For Canon MF657Cdw, MF655Cdw, and MF651Cw, streaks, lines, and smudges on scans are most often caused not by hardware failure, but by contamination on the platen glass or in the document feed scanning area. For MF651Cw, the main step is cleaning the platen glass. For MF655Cdw and MF657Cdw, you should also clean the feeder and, if needed, run <Clean Feeder>. The <Remove Scan Stripes> function should be used only as additional help after proper cleaning.