"ERROR MESSAGE!"
There are a few things that lead to frustration quicker than
printer issues. And they have a habit of showing up when you need the printer
to work quickly, and your printer doesn’t want to cooperate (and you have no
idea why!).
Random error message? Silent treatment?
Dealing with a printer that won’t acknowledge your
desperation is annoying!
I know, we deal with them every day on behalf of our
customers.
To help with your daily work at the office, I
have prepared below a list of steps to understand common printer issues and
quickly search and find fixes specific to your printer. Manufacturers offer
online resources to help you handle the most troubling printer issues (links at
the bottom) and we’ve got some basic tips covered right here:
- Basic
problems
- Wired
and wireless network printing issues
- USB
printing problems
- Software
upgrades and printer driver problems
- Paper
jams
- Ink
and toner issues
Let's get going!
Basics first
That's the first thing to do! Even when something such as
the power going out occurs. Remember, it's possible to keep on working on your
laptop, and forget the obvious and wonder why the printer isn't showing up on
your laptop.
Is the printer turned on?
Is it connected to the computer?
Does it have paper and toner?
Does it have power? (Check the power strip if you're using
one. Maybe it's off or got fried in a power surge).
Network Printer Won't Print
A wired networked printer was once the norm. Now, wireless
printers from HP, Epson, Brother, Canon,
and many other manufacturers are common. While they provide an easy way to
share a printer with multiple devices, such as a computer, laptop, tablet, and
smartphone, they also introduce another level of troubleshooting difficulty
when they stop printing.
If you're setting up a wireless printer and having problems
getting the printer to print, try to network the printer. If the printer worked
in the past, you may want to try these tips:
- Restart
everything: Wired or wireless network printers rely on your home
network, which consists of a few different components: the printer, a
computer, a router, a wireless access point, and a modem to connect to the
Internet. Your network may have additional items or combine some of the
items together. No matter how your network is configured, it all
interacts, which means that if one device gets hung up, it can affect all
the others. Try restarting all the devices to get the network humming
again. Do not RESET a device to factory defaults, a common option, but
simply restart. Once your network comes back up, try the printer again.
- Check
network printer connectivity: Try printing a configuration/test sheet
directly from the printer. With network printers, this will usually
include information about how the printer is connected to the network,
including its IP address, a URL for accessing the administrative page, the
type of network connection, plus additional information. If needed, check
the printer manual for details about how to perform the local test print.
Once the test sheet is printed, confirm that the printer is connected to
your network by checking the IP address; it should be similar to the rest
of the addresses on your network. If you see an IP address starting with
169, it's an indication that the printer couldn't connect to your network
and is using a self-assigned IP address.
- You
can fix self-assigned IP addresses using the guide: DHCP - Dynamic
Host Configuration.
- Reconfigure
the printer's network settings: If you still can't get the printer
connected to your network, you can try starting fresh. Turn the printer
off, disconnect it from your network, and then reinstall the printer
following the original instructions in its manual. Be sure to keep a
record of any printer or network passwords that may need to be created.
- Reinstall
or reconfigure any special network drivers for your printer: Once you
have the printer able to communicate over the network, you may need to install
or configure specialty network drivers for the printer, such as AirPrint
for iOS devices or Cloud Print for Android devices.
USB printing problems
Printers connected by USB are a bit easier to troubleshoot.
Remember to start with the obvious. Is the USB cable connected? Is power turned
on to the computer and printer? If so, the printer should be visible to your
computer.
On a Mac, you can check the Printers & Scanners
preference pane (under the Apple menu and in System Preferences) to see if the
printer is present. If it's not, you need to install the printer on your Mac.
In Windows, you can check the Printers control panel.
Depending on the version of Windows you're running, the control panel may have
slightly different names, but if it has Printers in its name somewhere, you're
in the right spot. If you need to install the printer, select the Add Printer
button, and follow the onscreen instructions.
Still not seeing your printer? Try disconnecting and
reconnecting the USB cable. If that doesn’t fix the issue, try removing all
other peripherals from your computer, and only connecting the printer. If this
fixes the issue, a bad peripheral is likely to prevent other devices from
connecting correctly. You can plug devices in one at a time until you find the
culprit.
Still, stuck? Try a different USB cable.
Software upgrades and printer driver problems
This is one reason to wait a bit before installing new
operating system upgrades; let someone else be the guinea pig. If your printer
suddenly stops working after a system update, chances are you'll need a new
printer driver. Check with the printer manufacturer and see if they have new
drivers available, then follow their install instructions for the drivers.
If there are no new drivers, send the manufacturer a note
asking when they will be available. If you discover the printer is no longer
going to be supported, you might still get it to work. See if a printer in the
same series as yours has updated drivers. They will likely work for your
printer, though you may lose some functionality. This is a bit of a long shot,
but if it's not working already you don't have anything to lose.
Paper jams
No matter how easy clearing paper jams are supposed to be,
they never are. And that's often a leading cause of future paper jams.
Often when pulling out the wadded-up piece of pulp that was
once a sheet of paper, a small piece will always get torn off and remain in the
paper path, waiting for the next sheet of paper to come by, and cause the next
jam.
When clearing jams, be very careful and make sure every
little bit of the jammed sheet is accounted for.
If you still have occasional jams, you can try a good
cleaning using special paper that is designed to clean the rollers, platens,
and other objects in the paper path. You can find these cleaning sheets at most
office supply stores.
Ink and toner issues
Ink and toner problems can include streaking and fading
(which usually indicate a dirty print head) or toner in a laser printer that is
running low.
For inkjet printers, chances are the print head needs a good
cleaning. The printer utility app that came with your printer includes a
cleaning option. There are usually two; a light clean and a heavy clean. Start
with the light clean, since cleaning uses a good deal of ink. If that doesn’t
fix the issue, try the heavy clean option.
For laser-based printers, the likely cause is low toner,
indicating it's time to change the toner. If you don’t have a toner cartridge
handy, you can extend the life of the current cartridge by removing the toner
from the printer, and slowly tipping the cartridge from side to side. Be sure
the cartridge is closed when you do this. With any luck, this will redistribute
the toner within the cartridge and provide you with enough prints to give you
time to find and purchase a replacement cartridge.
If you have followed all the above steps, but your printer
keeps breaking or bringing issues on a consistent basis, it could be time the
time has come: time to change your printer.
Like all other machines, printers get old and you can either
repair them or replace them. If you decide to replace, there are a lot of
online resources to help you select the best model that fits your needs and
budget. On a business perspective, a new printer can be expensive, but if well
maintained and supported, it will save you money and become a useful tool for
your business.
But, before you head for a shop or check an online store,
always check the old solution: turn off your printer and computer and turn them
back on. You don't know how many IT issues can be solved with this ridiculously
easy process! Good luck!
SUMMARY: 12 quick and easy steps to fixing a printer
problem
1. Reboot the computer. Log on again and try to print a test
page
2. If you’re still having a problem printing, open a Web
browser and try to access one or two different Web pages. If you can’t access
them, you probably have an Internet connection problem rather than a printer
problem.
3. Try printing to the same networked printer from another
computer. If you succeed in printing from another PC, the problem is local to
the first machine and you should skip to step 10.
4. Make sure the printer is plugged in and check that the
lights are on.
5. Check the paper trays and make sure there’s paper.
6. Check for paper jams. If you find one, turn off the
printer and slowly, carefully pull out the paper.
7. Many printers have an online offline button. Make sure
the display indicates that the printer is online.
8. Many printers have a resume button that you have to press
after a problem or interruption.
9. If you’re still having trouble, turn the printer off and
on again.
10. If the problem is only happening on one computer, try
printing from another program.
11. If you have authorization, go to Start -- Settings --
Printers. Make sure that the network printer you’re trying to print to is
listed and set as the default. If you don’t know the name of the network
printer, you can often find a label on the printer itself. If you’re still not
sure, write down the name of the default printer so you can tell tech support.
12. Double-click on the icon corresponding to the printer
you’re trying to print to. Delete any stalled print jobs. Also, make sure the
printer itself isn’t paused.