Indeed, printer problems can be quite frustrating when you encounter them in the middle of printing an important document. Some of the most common printing problems every printer owner has to face include paper jams and other common problems that bring out low print quality. Luck would have it that all such issues can easily be solved by you.
We will guide you on how to get back on track by giving you print help with the most common printing problems in this article.
How to troubleshoot printing errors:
1. Printing Device Not Responding, Shows Offline:
Sometimes, due to certain problematic connectivity issues and communication between the device and the printer, a problem occurs where users’ printing devices are not responding while being powered ON or showing some sort of notification as if being offline, which they shouldn’t.
- Check the Connections: Ensure that your printer is directly connected to your computer. For a wired printer, check if the USB connects correctly. A wireless printer requires that both your printer and computer be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Reboot Your Printer and Computer: In some cases, the problem is simply resolved by rebooting both devices. This simple solution resets the communication channels.
- Reset Printer Settings: Now, if these above solutions are not enough, then you need to reset the printer’s settings back to their factory settings. You just have to search through your user’s manual for instructions.
2. Paper Jams:
Paper jams are one of the most common printing errors. Whether caused by off-aligned papers or dust that will gather inside your printer, you will not be able to finish any of the printing jobs you might have intended.
- Turn Off the Printer: It is very imperative to turn off the printer first before attempting to remove the paper jam to avoid damaging its parts.
- Remove Stuck Paper: Open the printer’s access panel, taking care to pull out any paper that may have jammed in there. Make sure there’s no paper inside the printer, both from the front and back.
- Debris Check: Smaller pieces of paper or debris may also be a cause for jams. Clean the paper feed and rollers with a soft, lint-free cloth to prevent future jams.
3. Low Print Quality:
The other problem many printer owners face is poor print quality. This could include smudges, streaks, or faded text. Low ink levels, dirty print heads, or inappropriate printer settings might be the reason.
- Check the levels of ink or toner: Low levels can result in poor printouts. Replace or refill the cartridges as necessary.
- Clean the print heads: A clogged print head will cause the printer to reproduce uneven prints or fades. Most new printers come with an automated cleaning function that one can easily run off the printer’s software or control panel.
- Change Print Settings: Your printer may sometimes be set to print in low resolution to save ink. Change the settings to “High Quality” for better printouts, especially on important documents.
4. Printer Not Printing Whole Document:
The printer fails to print the whole document. It may be because of the wrong settings or print queue problems.
- Print Queue Check: Use your computer’s print queue; cancel any that are stuck so that the new jobs can work their way down the queue
- Setting Document Properly: Ensure proper size pages are selected before printing and uncheck the settings such as printing selection or pages if you want an entire document.
- Update printer: Sometimes, the problems could be caused by older drivers that limit communication between your printer and computer. In this regard, there is always the chance to download updated versions from the maker’s website of your printer.
5. Printing Slow:
Slowing print rate can also be very annoying since you expect to get that document done quickly. However, there are some main causes, like high resolution when printing, and queue jammed when printing, among others.
- Draft Mode: Switch to draft mode if you plan to print more papers every day, as it accelerates the whole process. Though it uses a lot of ink, the quality is poorer than normal.
- Print Resolution: At times, it decreases the resolution and increases speed if you are not printing the printout for any fine detail.
- Clear the Print Queue: In case there is a queue for more than one job, that also makes it slow. Just try clearing the queue and start printing.
6. Wireless Printer Connection Problem:
Another very common problem includes wireless printer connection. It can be a weak Wi-Fi signal or even the wrong setting of the device itself.
- Check your Wi-Fi: Ensure that both your computer and your printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi. Bring your printer close to your router, or just switch it to use a cable if your printer is not close to your router.
- Reinstall Your Printer Driver: Perhaps the connection problems in a wireless network would be solved by reinstalling your printer drivers or upgrading the ones on your system to update them, and you, in turn, will update it correctly in the network.
- Reset Printer Settings: If all the above steps fail you, then resetting your printer may solve connectivity issues, especially if you have recently changed network settings.
Common printing problems will occur, but knowing how to fix printing errors can save time and frustration. Many printer issues can be solved by simple solutions, from paper jams to poor print quality. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning print heads and checking ink levels, also prevents issues from cropping up in the first place.
If the above simple troubleshooting tips fail to work, then you may want to call in a technician. Have this guide handy whenever you need print help to solve common printing problems.