Meanwhile, while we control entire parts of our house with voice commands, the printer seems to be stuck in the past. At times that device refuses to work and that seems to be due to something different every time. Is your printer not printing? We have some tips for you.
There are several causes for a non-printing printer. We assume that you check yourself whether the plug is properly inserted, so we will not give that tip. We recommend that you check the connection between the printer and the computer. Is there a cable in between? Check whether it is properly seated on both sides. Do you have a wireless printer? Then briefly check the settings on the device to check whether it is still connected to WiFi. Finally, is there any paper jammed in the tray? That can usually cause congestion. Those were some more general tips. Your problem is probably not solved yet, so we’ll move on soon.
Do you have the right printer?
Perhaps you have (had) multiple printers and the settings are wrong. When you want to print a document, check whether you have selected the correct printer. You may use different printers on your laptop for work and private purposes; then you must select the correct printer, depending on your location. This is typically one of those things that you quickly overlook.
Check error message
Your printer may have LED lights or a display that can communicate those error messages. If there is a small screen, the printer can often immediately show what is wrong. So you also know what to do to solve the problem. If there are only some LED lights, take a look at the manual again to check what they mean. Don’t have a manual anymore? Then check whether the manufacturer offers a PDF on the official website.
Clear the queue
When you print a document, it first appears in the digital queue. Some documents may not be printed immediately when there is another document waiting for them. Do you no longer need that or did it already go wrong the first time? Then delete that first file. During the printing process, a printer icon appears in the Windows taskbar. Click on it to open the queue. Then click on the document you want to remove from the queue.
If this does not help, we will go a step further. You can also clear the row elsewhere, using the Command Prompt. Open the start menu and type in the letters cmd (without spaces). Now right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Now type the following sentences and press enter after each line.
net stop spooler
del [systemroot]System32spoolPRINTERS* /Q /F /S
just starting spooler
Check the drivers and software
The moment you plug in a printer or install it via WiFi, Windows automatically searches for the correct drivers for your system. In some cases this will not work properly and you will need to go to the manufacturer’s website to install the correct drivers. Look up your model number (and if you can’t find it, contact customer service) and download and install the software provided by the manufacturer.
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