There is nothing frustrating like having a printer connected to your machine and not printing anything. Sometimes, you are at the point where you need so many things to get done and find that it fails to print even the little things, like, for instance, when printing documents, photos, or reports. You’ll be in pain as a result of these delays. Fortunately, there is much you could do to diagnose and fix the problem so your printer works effectively.
In the following blog, we will share the common cause of your unresponsive printer as well as provide you with easily actionable solutions for getting your printer working again correctly.
Why Does My Printer Refuse to Print Anything?
Before discussing the solutions, let’s first know why your printer is not printing even though it is connected. There are a number of reasons for this phenomenon, including the following:
Software or Driver Issues: Printer drivers may be old or corrupted, which might lead the printer not to function.
Printer Queue Problems: A print job may sometimes get stuck in the printer queue and will not print.
Connection Issues: Even though it is connected to the printer, if bad or unstable connections remain, the printer may not even work
Ink or Toner Low: If the level of ink or toner remains low, it may not enable the printer to complete printing
Paper Jammed: Sometimes, it might stop due to jamming or blocking that occurs with some papers.
Poor Configuration of the Printer Settings: Faulty or defective printer, as well caused by faulty printer settings and settings.
Step to Fix When the Printer Cannot Print
Now that we know why, let’s move on to how to troubleshoot it. Try the following troubleshooting steps to fix your printer not printing anything:
1. Check the Printer’s Status
First, check the status of the printer. Sometimes, the printer goes offline or enters an error state, which means it can’t print. Here’s what you can do:
Windows: Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers. Right-click on your printer and choose See what’s printing. When it says offline, right-click and choose Use Printer Online.
Mac: System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and then click on the printer. Sometimes there’s an “offline” status condition on your printer. Click on Resume.
2. Printer Queue
There may be a very common cause if your printer has stopped printing completely. This includes a jammed document within the printer queue. That might prevent further print jobs by the printer if it is not operating properly. Now to remove the stuck printer queue, follow the below instructions:
Windows: Open Printer Queue from Devices and Printers. Cancel any print jobs that queued up by selecting them and pressing Cancel.
Mac: Open System Preferences, click on Printers & Scanners, click your printer, and click Open Print Queue. Cancel the jobs that will be hung there.
Print again after clearing up the queue
3. Test your printer:
Though it sometimes seems the printer is on and connected, it still might not be. Your printer will stay connected to the computer using a USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth link, but make sure first that the computer is actually connecting it properly.
For your USB printers, unplug and replug the USB; it also should not work after using a few of the USB ports.
For Wireless Printers: You are simply confirming your computer is on the same Wi-Fi network that your printer is on. There should be a button or option in the control panel or settings menu that gives you a name for the printer.
For Bluetooth Printers: You need to make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on both your computer and printer and to pair them together.
4. Out of ink or toner
If your printer runs out of ink or toner, it will not print. Check the ink or toner levels and replace the cartridges if they’re running low:
For Windows: Typically, ink levels can be viewed using the printer’s software.
For Mac: To see levels of ink available, go to Printers & Scanners, select your printer, then choose Options & Supplies. 5. Reset Your Printer and Computer
Sometimes, a restart may be all it takes to correct some problems in printers. Pull the power cord out of the printer and computer, wait for a few minutes, and then put them back on. That will give them a chance to reset the connections and minor bugs in the software that cause your printer not to be responding in the first place.
6. Update Printer Drivers
Printer drivers that are old or corrupted will keep the printer from working right. Make sure to have updated versions installed:
Windows: Click Device Manager > Printers > Right-click on the printer > Update driver.
Mac: Apple Menu > App Store > Updates and check if printer updates are available.
Check for the printer’s manufacturer’s site if required for downloading updated versions for your printer model.
Printer Diagnostics – 7
Most printers possess diagnostic tools that are offered with the printer. The diagnostic tool can be accessed using the printer’s own software or its built-in menu. A trouble could be solved through a printer diagnostic that will point out exactly what the problem is and the steps in correcting it:
8. Paper Jams
A paper jam would simply stop your printer from printing. Just open the paper tray of your printer and look for that piece of paper that might have obstructed your printer. Take it out gently to clear out the paper path of your printer. Check on the rollers and other parts too to see if they have any debris that causes jams.
9. Reset Printer Settings
If the above methods do not work, resetting your printer to its original settings can often solve some of the issues. Check the user guide or printer settings menu for the guide on how to do a factory reset on your printer.
Conclusion
If nothing prints from you when trying to use the printer, your work gets derailed with unnecessary stress attached to it. However, with the step-by-step troubleshooting approach, you would readily identify the trouble and make amendments. From clearing out a printer queue to checking printer connectivity, the lists are quite large.
If the problem is still not working after applying these tips, then a professional intervention will probably be called for. For additional information on printer problems, troubleshooting tools, and fixes, visit PrinterNotWorking.
To get the best care and attention for your printer so that it is ready for any printing job when it is needed.