Imagine your expensive home or office printer not printing the job it’s designed for. You face cryptic error messages, paper jams, low ink, connection drops, and more. Users have even reported that they couldn’t figure out why their printer stopped working. Well, common printer problems become unbearable when you are near a deadline. If your printer goes offline or loses connection, don’t let it stop your important work. It’s time to troubleshoot.
Let’s find out what prevents your printer from performing its sole task, printing. Then, we will move on to the potential solutions.
Is Your Printer Not Printing? Reasons Disclosed
Are you sure that you have turned on the printer? You can sometimes print directly without checking if the device is on. It’s one of the embarrassingly common printer problems.
So, your machine can be off or in sleep mode if you experience the printer not printing. Well, this one’s easy to find out. Let’s check out other possible causes that might be sneakier than you would expect.
Connection Trouble
Printers need a solid connection to your computer or mobile device. In case the connection gets lost anyhow, the print command doesn’t reach your device at all. However, wireless printers are typically moody about network signals.
Paper Selection or Mishandling
Why is my printer connected but not printing? Your printer might reject printing if it has no paper, if paper is loaded incorrectly, or if there is a jam. In fact, a slight paper misalignment can lead to the illusion of a paper jam, even if nothing is stuck.
Ink or Toner Unavailability
Does your printer run on fumes? Most printers will stop printing if just one color cartridge is empty. Well, it’s especially true for the colored ones. You can’t even proceed with monochrome printing as well.
Clinged to the Wrong Printer
Have you connected many printers to your computer? Then, your computer can recall a different printer than the intended one. If the print job goes to another ghost printer that you rarely use, nothing will be printed on the current one.
Print Queue Congestion
A stuck print job can cause the printer not to print due to a clogged queue. So, every new document just gets in line behind the stuck job. Nothing moves forward, and you have to wait forever.
Missing or Outdated Drivers
A driver is the software that instructs your printer how to function. In case it’s corrupted, missing, or outdated, your printer can’t figure out what to do with the command you are sending it.
Firmware Errors
Well, firmware is nothing but your printer’s brain. Common printer problems include buggy or outdated firmware. So, your printer will stop printing for no clear reason.
Sensor Malfunctioning
Your printer may show a paper jam, but you cannot find one. A defective or unclean sensor, meanwhile, can explain this.
Software or App Glitches
Using a third-party application for remote or advanced printing? Chances are that the app itself is the issue. App updates or bugs can easily break compatibility without warning.
Hardware Failure
If your printer is ancient, hardware components may simply stop working. After all, even the most loyal printer retires at some point. So, you can see your printer not printing as a warning sign.
How to Fix a Printer That Refuses to Print
Let’s solve the mystery of the printer not printing now that you have uncovered the suspects. Make sure you try the following fixes one by one if you are not sure about the exact reason.
1. Power Your Printing Machine
Start by inspecting its power cord. Check its tight connection at both ends. Also, plug your printer into a different outlet. If your printer has a power button, press and hold it for a few seconds.
Still suffering from offline printer problems? Then, you should attempt a hard reboot. For that, you can unplug the power cable for a minute or so. Afterwards, insert the cord back in.
2. Reconnect Your Printer
Your printer isn’t psychic. It should be properly connected to your computer or another compatible device.
- Use a good cable to connect the USB printer to your computer. This ensures a strong physical connection.
- Is your phone or computer hooked up to the same network as your wireless printer? Otherwise, confirm the relationship.
- Test your printer’s Bluetooth connectivity and re-pair the device.
So, a weak Wi-Fi signal can mess things up. So, move your printer closer to the router.
3. Resolve Print Queue Obstacles
If you suspect your printer can’t bypass all the jobs in the queue, then you should try this solution.
Follow the steps below if it’s a printer connected to a Windows PC:
- To view the print queue, go to Devices and Printers.
- Then, right-click your printer to see what is printing.
- Select jobs and delete or cancel them.
- Finally, assign your printer the jobs again.
Well, follow this route for macOS: System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Open Print Queue. Clear everything out and retry printing.
4. Focus on Ink or Toner Levels
Printers can be needy and act weird even if a single cartridge runs out. Not to mention, your printer can refuse to print anything. Check the ink or toner levels of your printer using the integrated display or companion app.
If you find anything dry or low, you need to replace the cartridge. Also, shaking the cartridge may get you through the emergency, but it’s not a long-lasting solution. However, refrain from using expired or third-party ink. Otherwise, you can end up clogging nozzles, a headache you want to avoid.
5. Handle Paper Jams
Does your printer flash a paper jam alert? Here’s how to avoid common printer problems instead of forcing out stuck paper:
- Shut down your printer.
- Also, unplug the printer from every peripheral.
- Now, open every possible flap.
- Check for any stuck or hidden bits of paper.
- Then, you can use compressed air to blow out the dust.
- Close your printer and restart the device.
If your printer still says there’s a jam, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to reset it. It should clear a phantom jam.
6. Re-align the Paper Tray
Why is my printer connected but not printing? As mishandling papers can lead to the printer not printing, you can opt for the following hacks:
- Reload the paper neatly.
- Additionally, the loaded papers should be of the right type and size.
- You can also fan the paper stack before inserting it. This would prevent sticking.
7. Make the Correct Printer Default
Check whether you have selected the right printing equipment. Use your computer to discover the truth.
For a Windows computer:
- Head towards Devices and Printers.
- Now, sneak into the default printer choice of your computer.
- If it’s anything else rather than the intended one, choose the right printer.
On your Mac, you must:
- Access the profile of System Settings.
- Next, opt for Printers & Scanners to see what’s selected.
- Confirm you land on the right printer.
Also, you should set the current printer as the default one.
8. Reset the Print Spooler on Windows
Resetting the print spooler on your Windows computer can fix common printer problems. It can even tackle offline printer problems.
Here’s how one can proceed with the reset:
- Hit Windows + R and type ‘services.msc’. Press OK.
- Next, locate Print Spooler.
- Right-click on Print Spooler.
- From the pop-up menu, click the Restart option.
Check if it restarts the service and your printer returns to normal operation.
9. Update or Reinstall Your Printer Drivers
Without the latest drivers for your model, the printer may just break down. So, access the manufacturer’s website and install the newest drivers available. Make sure you stick with official sources and avoid third-party sites.
Moreover, the most recent driver could have defects. You could remove it then and verify if everything reverts to normal.
10. Update Your Printer’s Firmware
Why is my printer connected but not printing? Outdated firmware can be responsible for that. But most printer brands offer downloadable firmware updates on their websites. Also, some might let you update via the mobile app.
Be sure to adhere closely to the directions. Do not activate your printer while updating.
11. Resolve the App Error
Are you mobile printing currently? Then, you must be using a mobile app and face the printer not printing. But it’s a usual case where an app can become incompatible after an operating system update.
Watch out for what you can do to solve the situation:
- Attempt printing from another device.
- Conversely, you can reinstall the app.
See if those solutions iron things out.
12. Try Factory Reset
This may sound like a nuclear option, but it can work. Keep in mind, a factory reset wipes out all settings. Also, it restores your printer to how it came out of the box. So, you must reconfigure Wi-Fi and other preferences.
For a solid reset, check out your printer manual or the manufacturer’s website.
Is It a Hardware Failure? Contact Atdoorstep to Know!
If your printer is older than your teenager, hardware breakdowns are nothing surprising. In fact, it might be time to let it go. But, if it’s not that old, get your printer checked by Atdoorstep’s printer repair technician. They can tell whether a repair or replacement is what your printer needs. So, connect with Atdoorstep if your printer not printing issues persist.
