How to Print a Test Page on Xerox Printers (3 Tiers)

Xerox spans three distinct product tiers, and the test page process is completely different on each. A desktop VersaLink has a simple touchscreen menu. An office AltaLink has an extensive diagnostic suite accessible through its Embedded Web Server. And a production Versant has calibration routines that take 20 minutes and involve scanning printed targets with an inline spectrophotometer. Before printing a test page on a Xerox, you need to know which tier your model falls into.

Xerox Product Tiers: Which Guide Applies to You

• Desktop / Small office, VersaLink and Phaser: Compact printers designed for workgroups of 5–15 users. The VersaLink C400/C405/B400/B405/C7000 series and the older Phaser 6510/6515 are in this category. These have touchscreen or button panels, Embedded Web Servers, and print speeds of 25–55 ppm.
• Office / Department, AltaLink and WorkCentre: Larger MFPs for departments of 15–50+ users. The AltaLink C8030/C8045/C8055/B8045 and older WorkCentre 7845/7855/5845 series. These have large color touchscreens, extensive diagnostic menus, fleet management via CentreWare Web, and print speeds of 30–55 ppm.
• Production (Versant, iGen, PrimeLink): High-volume machines for print shops and in-plant operations. These have dedicated operator consoles, inline calibration systems, and produce thousands of pages per hour. If you are running one of these, you likely have a Xerox service contract and a dedicated technician . The basic test page guidance below still applies, but your technician handles calibration.

VersaLink and Phaser: Desktop Model Test Pages

VersaLink is Xerox's current desktop line, replacing the Phaser series. Both use similar menu structures.

VersaLink (touchscreen models)

1. On the touchscreen home page, tap Device.
2. Tap Information Pages (or Support → Support Pages on some firmware versions).
3. Select the report you want:
   • Configuration Report: full device configuration, firmware, page count, and network settings.
   • Supplies Info Page: remaining life for each toner cartridge, drum, fuser, and waste container.
4. Tap Print.

Phaser (older models)

Press Home → Settings → Information (or Information Pages). Select Configuration Report or Demo Page and press Print. On button-only Phaser models without a display, hold the OK button for 5 seconds to trigger a configuration page.

After printing, compare the color output against a color test page from this site. Xerox's built-in test page emphasizes supply data over print quality samples, so a dedicated color test gives you a more thorough check of color accuracy and gradient reproduction.

The Embedded Web Server (CentreWare)

Every Xerox printer connected to a network has a built-in web interface called the Embedded Web Server (historically called CentreWare Internet Services on older models). It is the most powerful way to manage a Xerox printer without installing software.

1. Find the printer's IP address. On the touchscreen, go to Device → About (VersaLink) or Machine Status → Network (WorkCentre/AltaLink). Alternatively, print a Configuration Report; the IP address is on the first page.
2. Open any web browser on a computer connected to the same network. Type the IP address in the address bar.
3. The Embedded Web Server dashboard loads. From here you can:
   • Print any diagnostic report (Configuration, Supplies, Usage Counters) from the Properties or Support tab.
   • View detailed supply levels for every consumable with estimated pages remaining.
   • Configure paper tray settings, duplex defaults, and color management options.
   • Download firmware updates directly to the printer.

For office environments with multiple Xerox printers, CentreWare Web (a separate server-hosted application, not to be confused with the per-device Embedded Web Server) provides fleet-level monitoring and management across all devices.

Xerox's Automatic Color Calibration

Many Xerox color printers include an automatic colorimetric calibration system that most users never discover. Unlike basic printer calibration on other brands (which adjusts density curves), Xerox's system can use the built-in scanner as a spectrophotometer to measure actual printed colors and adjust the color engine accordingly.

To run color calibration:

1. On the control panel, go to Device → Support → Calibration → Color Calibration (VersaLink) or Tools → Troubleshooting → Color Calibration (AltaLink/WorkCentre).
2. The printer prints a calibration target, a page with rows of color patches.
3. On models with a document scanner, the printer prompts you to place the target on the glass. It scans the patches and adjusts color output automatically.
4. On models without a scanner, the calibration adjusts based on internal density sensors rather than spectrophotometric measurement. This is less precise but still improves color consistency.

Run color calibration after replacing any toner cartridge, after the printer has been moved, or whenever printed colors do not match expectations. The process takes 2–3 minutes and uses one sheet of paper. For users doing color-critical work, supplement Xerox's built-in calibration with a CMYK test page to verify that process colors are separating and registering correctly. For fine color matching, see our guide on printer color calibration, which covers ICC profiles and hardware colorimeters for professional accuracy. If you are matching screen colors to print output, the RGB to CMYK converter shows the exact ink percentages the driver will request for any on-screen color.

Reading Xerox Diagnostic Output

Xerox diagnostic pages contain more detail than most brands. Here is how to interpret the key sections:

• Supplies life percentages: Xerox reports remaining life for each supply as a percentage. When a supply drops below 10%, order a replacement. When it reaches 0%, the printer may stop printing (behavior is configurable on enterprise models; some can be set to continue printing past 0% at the risk of reduced quality).
• Waste toner container: This is the supply that catches most Xerox users off guard. When the waste container is full, the printer stops completely until it is replaced. The supplies page shows its remaining capacity, so check it and order a replacement when it hits 20%.
• Color registration: On color models, the configuration report may include a registration target showing overlapping color lines. If the lines are not perfectly aligned (you see color fringing), run the Color Calibration routine described above.
• Error history: The device statistics report logs recent errors with timestamps. Look for recurring jam codes (which may indicate worn feed rollers) or repeated supply errors (which may indicate a faulty cartridge chip).
• Total page count and usage by tray: Useful for estimating when the fuser and transfer belt will need replacement , which are high-cost items with rated lifespans of 100,000–200,000 pages on Xerox printers.

Xerox printers are built for environments where downtime is expensive and color accuracy matters. The diagnostic output reflects this: it gives you everything needed to predict supply replacement timing, diagnose quality issues, and maintain consistent output. The five minutes spent reviewing a supplies page and running a color calibration after every toner change prevents the mid-production quality failures that cost far more in wasted paper and reprints.

For issues beyond supply replacement and calibration, our printer troubleshooting hub covers common printer problems across all brands with step-by-step fixes.