In this article, you will find out why situations happen when the printer does not print from a computer or laptop, even if it is connected and previously worked without problems. These instructions are applicable if: failed to print in Windows 10 or older 7 and 8, which are still actively used, work with any model from Canon, HP Epson, Brother, Samsung, Ricoh. Personally, I have “cured” many HP laserjet series, and many others that I can no longer remember.
From my own practice, I know that a PC can see the machine, write ready to print, send it to jobs and display a test page, but the printer still does not want to work with other documents. The problem is relevant for local and network connection types. If the second option is used, then in order to fix the device, some additional steps should be taken.
I will tell you what to do in cases where the printer or MFP stops printing documents and: does not respond or does not work, gives an error There was an unexpected configuration problem or something similar, does not respond to commands, stops during the process, just runs the paper, prints the wrong thing, doesn’t make multiple copies. We will separately consider the option when the equipment is not turned on at all.
Contents
- 1 Checking for the presence of a printer in the list of devices
- 1.1 Windows troubleshooter and proprietary utilities from printer manufacturers
- 1.2 The simplest options
- 1.3 General systemic malfunctions
- 1.4 Printer Related:
- 1.5 What if the printer is offline?
- 1.6 Print queue hung
- 1.7 If the problem is with the network printer
- 1.8 Wrong address
- 1.9 Problems with ink cartridges and supplies
- 1.10 The printer itself is out of order
Checking for the presence of a printer in the list of devices
If the equipment is correctly installed, then it should be present in the list of system devices. To check this, you should go to the appropriate section of the control panel. You can quickly do it like this: press Windows + R at the same time, enter “control printers”, look for your model in the list. If the device is missing, then it is simply not installed on the PC properly.
Windows troubleshooter and proprietary utilities from printer manufacturers
If the printer is installed but does not print, then first of all we will try to use the standard built-in system for identifying and fixing problems with technology in Windows OS. To do this, go to “Start” through the control panel and type “Elimination” in the search bar. Click on the found shortcut of the required utility.
Then the program itself will check whether the printer is connected, launch and activity of the necessary services, fix the problems itself or suggest that the user do it himself. When working with the diagnostic tool, follow the instructions.
Each manufacturer of printing devices develops and offers its own software for use for its customers. It helps to find and eliminate possible problems with his technique. You can find this program on the installation disk with drivers, which is supplied with office equipment. The latest versions of such software are always easy to download from the official website of the manufacturer.
The simplest options
Power or connection disconnected
It is not uncommon to disconnect the power or the connection cord from a PC or laptop. They need to be checked for integrity and, if necessary, replaced with new ones. First, try plugging in any other electrical device to make sure it is working properly. Then remove the power cord from the printer itself and reconnect.
If a USB cable is used for the connection, it should only be connected through the rear connector block on the PC. Try replacing temporarily with a different wire. When a device is connected to the network via an ethernet outlet, then you need to check the outlet itself and the patch cord. It will not be superfluous to make sure of the quality of the wifi connection if there is one.
Paper is jammed or not in the tray
First, check for paper in the tray. Next, unplug the device and check for paper jams. Look at the bottom, open the front cover and take out the cartridge, open the rear cover. If you notice any leftover paper, carefully remove it from there.
Out of toner or ink
Some printer models are programmed so that if their ink cartridges run out of ink, printing on that device is blocked until supplies are replenished. This is more typical for inkjet devices and laser devices, which are equipped with special chips. Detailed information on this issue should be searched on the Internet with an indication of the exact model of your printer. Many counters can be reset and for a while, this will unlock the print.
General systemic malfunctions
The driver is not installed or needs to be updated
Printer drivers are special software that enables a device to do its job. Their presence in the system is simply necessary. From time to time they need to be updated and reinstalled to more recent versions. To update, and at the same time check for availability, follow these instructions.
Stopped print service
In addition to drivers, the OS has other components that control the process inside it. In this case, this is the Print Manager service. It may be turned off or incorrectly configured. This entails a number of problems.
Another printer selected
Let’s check how things are with this set with us. Through the control panel, we go to the section with printers, and there we find our model. Select it with the mouse, and then right-click to launch the context menu. In it, we mark the item “Use by default”.
User stopped printing
Many models allow users to manually stop printing for a while. You can do this, as well as cancel, in the “Print Queues” window. To get there, we use the method described above through the control panel. Only now, from the menu, select the shortcut “View queue”.
In the next window, in the main menu, open the “Printer” item and uncheck the box next to the “Pause Printing” label.
Offline mode enabled
In the same list of items below you can find the line “Work offline”. Enabling this mode also disables the printer and will not print. We remove the mark if it is there now. This will unlock the device and continue with the assigned tasks.
Printer Related:
What if the printer is offline?
The reasons why this happens and the options for their elimination.
Print queue hung
If you are printing a lot of large documents, or if the printer is used by more than one user, then there may have been an accumulation of jobs. This is fraught with queue freezing, which could have happened in this case. The easiest way to eliminate such a problem is through the same menu. Now you need to select the “Clear queue” item.
No permission to print
When you are not a user with administrator rights, the print function can simply be disabled by the “admin”. Ask the network administrator to grant such privileges or log in to the Windows operating system under a different username and password, which can work with printing equipment without any problems.
Environment variables have been changed
It is important for the printer software to have the correct paths to the temporary folders on the system. If it was changed by the user or in any other way, then your task is to correct the values to the correct ones.
Infection with viruses
The printer may not print due to a virus infection of the computer or laptop. In general, malicious programs can affect almost all processes inside the system, so their long-term presence on disks is undesirable. For cleaning, we use our standard antivirus, but on the condition that its latest version is used, and the databases have recently been updated.
As another option, you can safely consider free utilities from well-known antivirus software developers. Refers to such “CureIT”. It can be easily and quickly downloaded from the official website of Doctor Web. The program will automatically put the computer into safe mode, which will allow you to more accurately identify malware and effectively fight it.
Problems in the operating system itself
Another option might be to try to roll back the operating system to a state of past days when the printer was available and printed without errors. This is possible if restore points have been created. To find out exactly, in the search bar after clicking on start, we type “System Restore”. We go into this snap-in, in the window of which you will see all the possible rollback dates.
If the problem is with the network printer
Several more checks should be performed if you are using a networked printing device. All of the above points should be checked and corrected if required. In addition, you should revise the settings of the antivirus or firewall for blocking the printer port, the availability of general access to the device.
Port blocking
For the printer to work, it uses a separate port on which it is detected and works. Antivirus software can sometimes block the device and then it does not print or is seen as unavailable. To check this fact, you need to go to the antivirus settings in the section where the network settings are made. Give permission for your model. You can find detailed instructions on the settings in your antivirus on the Internet.
If you are experiencing problems with the settings, you can temporarily disable your antivirus software altogether. Stopping the built-in Windows Firewall in Control Panel is a good idea.
Wrong address
When a network printer is installed, it is assigned a specific name by the system automatically or manually by the user. If you change the name later, the printer will not print on the client’s PC or laptop. In this case, you need to make the connection in a new way or change the name of the device. There is no need to reinstall the drivers as they are already in the system. When connecting via IP, changing it can also cause problems.
Sharing closed or no use rights
Through the control panel, on the computer where the printer is configured, go to the appropriate section and find your model. Open the properties and go to the “Access” tab, where check the “Sharing” box and enter the network name. Then go to the Security tab and make sure that the Everyone group has permission to print. Additionally, look at the screenshots below.
Problems with ink cartridges and supplies
Drying and clogging
The problem with ink drying or clogging with their residues, due to which the printer does not print, is more typical for devices with inkjet technology. There, liquid paints are used as consumables, which thicken and dry over time. This easily causes malfunctioning of the fine nozzle passages and nozzles.
There are two ways to solve this problem:
The software option implies the use of special utilities built into the printer software, which can automatically clean the channels of the cartridges or the print head if it is installed as a separate element. You can perform this procedure through the “Service” tab (depending on the brand, the name may be different) in the print settings. You can get into them through the control panel.
The first option does not always help, but rather in cases where the blockage is not strong. The second method requires manual intervention in the operation of the cartridges. It involves physical cleaning in the form of rinsing with special products.
Incorrect installation
Inkjet and laser printer cartridges may be incorrectly installed, and proper installation is important for a stand-alone continuous ink system. The following are basic guidelines for each type of consumable.
- The inkjet print cartridges should be installed in the correct color in the carriage. They should not dangle freely, but fit snugly against the contacts. If necessary, for a high-quality installation, you can use cardboard inserts.
- Use only toner cartridges for laser products that are suitable for your model. No protrusions should obstruct the installation process. Make sure that when you reach your place, there is a crack and that the shutter of the photocell protection opens completely.
- For CISS, which are located next to the device and are not part of its design, the position on the table is important. The printer itself and the feeding system must be on a level surface and level. The paint wires must not be bent.
CISS malfunctions
- Improper installation above or below the level of the printer will result in ink overflowing inside the device or inability to get there at all. Look again how to install it correctly in the enclosed instructions for the product.
- Air ingress into the NPC system easily leads to the failure of the printer and it refuses to print due to this breakdown. Such a malfunction should be corrected in order not to further exacerbate the problem. The first step is to inspect the tubes for any areas without paint. If there are any, then it is air. You need to extract it according to the instructions for your CISS, which can be found on the Internet.
- In addition to air, other troubles can arise with plumes in the form of kinking or clogging. They should be eliminated as soon as possible. It is easy to do even for an inexperienced user of office equipment.
Non-original consumables
If you recently replaced the cartridge with a new one, make sure that it is original or compatible and matches the model of the printer you are installing into. Not all devices can work with non-original consumables and the installation of substitutes will easily block printing from the computer until the correct quality cartridges are installed.
Fingerprint counter
Modern printer models are equipped with cartridges on which manufacturers install special chips. These are small microcircuits on the case, capable of counting the number of printed sheets. When the figure approaches or exceeds the set limit, then printing does not occur further and the printer requires replacing the consumable. Not all models notify about this, but simply stop printing.
The printer itself is out of order
There are frequent cases of breakdown of the printing device itself. It should be remembered that the repair of old equipment will not always be justified. Perhaps buying a new one would be the best option.
Signs of printer breakdown can be not only its complete failure to work when it does not print anything at all. If the device begins to wrinkle the paper, emit blank sheets, does not print all colors, not the entire pattern is transferred to the paper, toner does not fix, the text is applied unevenly, then the probability of a malfunction is very high.
Some models may signal problems by flashing lights on the case. These are often yellow or red indicators. Pay attention to this even if the printer continues to print.
