There is that kind of frustration that hits when you have to print something very important and find that your trusty machine has decided to stage a coup. If you’ve found yourself on PrinterNotWorking.com, chances are, you’re already familiar with the “printer not working” nightmare. Fear not! You’re not alone, and the best part is that most basic printer problems have simple solutions.
This guide will walk you through the most common 7 reasons that your printer won’t work and provide you with action steps on how to fix your printer that you can apply to get back to printing out that document, photo, or that essential boarding pass. So let’s go and troubleshoot.
1. The Blindingly Obvious (And Not So Obvious But Easy To Fix Anyway): Power and Connections
It’s a no-brainer, but making sure that the fundamentals have been checked is always the initial step in a printer not working troubleshooting. Is the printer turned on? Make sure the power cord is securely plugged into the printer and the wall outlet. If it’s already plugged in, plug it into another outlet to determine if there’s an issue with the power.
Then verify the connection of your printer to the computer. If you are using a USB, ensure that it is firmly connected at both ends. In wireless setups, verify that your printer is already linked to your Wi-Fi and your computer is linked within the same network too. At times, rebooting your computer and printer will correct temporary problems with the connection.
2. Paper Jams: The Printer’s Worst Nightmare
Paper jam terror is perhaps the most common reason a printer won’t work. If paper jams, it will bring the entire process to a halt. Your printer may flash a message that says there’s a jam.
To debug, open the covers and printer trays slowly, consulting your printer manual for guidance. Take out loose pieces of paper that you see slowly, not pulling them so you will not tear them, as small pieces may still cause jamming to happen. Close the covers after you have taken out all the obstructions and try printing again. Paper pathway tests and cleaning will stop jamming from happening again.
3. Ink or Toner Problems: Low (or Wrong Cartridges)
Low or out-of-ink toner cartridges are one of the most frequent reasons why your printer is not printing as it should. Check the ink/toner levels on your computer or on the display panel of your printer. If one of your cartridges is out or low, swap it out with a new cartridge of your same printer model.
Sometimes, even with a sufficient ink supply, a faulty or improperly installed cartridge is the cause. Make sure to install cartridges properly and load the correct type on your printer. If a cartridge was just installed and your printer still doesn’t work, try removing and reinstalling it.
4. Driver Problems: The Software That Keeps Everything Running
Your printer communicates with your computer in software known as drivers. Faulty, damaged, or decaying drivers can prevent a printer from printing.
To repair driver issues, access your computer’s device manager (Windows) or system preferences (Mac). Locate your printer in the device list. Automatically or manually update the driver by installing the new driver from the printer manufacturer’s website. Periodic uninstallation and reinstalling of the driver fixes it.
5. Network Connectivity Problems: Going Wireless Woes
Wireless printing is great, but network connectivity problems will quickly render a printer useless. Ensure your printer is on your Wi-Fi network. Check your printer display to determine what network status it is joined to. On your computer, ensure you are on the same network.
If the above still doesn’t work for you, you might try rebooting both your router and printer. You may need to reset your Wi-Fi settings on your printer, as your user guide describes. Firewalls and virus programs have in a couple of cases interfered with the connection; disabling them (completely, naturally, for diagnostic purposes) should then remedy the issue.
6. Print Queue Congestion: An Online Traffic Bottleneck
Sometimes print jobs are held up in the print queue, never printing any new pages and giving your printer the appearance that it isn’t working.
To drain the print queue in Windows, look for “print management” or click on “Printers & scanners” in your settings, choose your printer and access the print queue. Cancel all documents in the queue. In Mac, go to “System Preferences,” click “Printers & Scanners,” choose your printer and open the print queue to cancel the jobs. Then try printing again.
7. Firmware Issues: Keeping Your Printer Current
Printer firmware is computer code that is executing the printer hardware from within. Out-of-date or corrupted firmware will occasionally cause a printer not to be working as required.
Find manufacturer-recommended firmware updates for your type of printer. The procedure usually involves downloading an assembly and taking guidance from the manufacturer. Installing updates on your printer firmware will, in most cases, fix problems and make your printer work better.
Back to Printing
It’s infuriating when your printer will not work, but by reading through these generic problems step-by-step and using the printer’s troubleshooting process listed above, you will be able to diagnose and repair the problem. Don’t forget to also check your printer manual for details specific to your unit. If all this effort has taken it out of you and your printer still refuses to cooperate, then it is time to call upon the maker’s assistance or that of the repair shop guru. But for the majority of the usual ailments, a spot of troubleshooting will suffice to get you printing once again in the not-too-distant future.
