Windows has significantly improved its printer support over the years. It is very rare for anyone to need an installation disk to get a printer working. A network printer may be a little more complicated to set up but it’s not yet close to the time work that used to be before Windows 7.
Windows cannot connect to the printer
Installing a new printer on Windows is easy; you turn it on, connect it to your laptop or desktop, and Windows 10 will install drivers for it. There is not much else involved with the OS but your printer may have its own problems that you need to fix before you can actually print. If you have installed the printer, and it has been working fine for days only for Windows to suddenly say that it cannot connect to the printer, try the solutions below.
1. Check printer
Printers are some of the most difficult hardware to work with. Always make sure your printer is set up properly.
- Make sure the power cable is securely connected and not loose.
- Make sure the data cable from the printer to the computer is securely connected at each end.
- Make sure there is no open panel or drawer on the printer. Check your printer’s manual for anything that might help.
- Make sure no paper is marked.
- Make sure the paper in the paper tray is pushed as far back as it should be. A printer with a blank paper tray can appear offline to your computer.
- Check if the printer needs to be cleaned and talk to your printer manually to find out the correct way to do it.
- Check ink levels; if one card is blank or near-blank, the printer can refuse to print and there is not much you can do about it.
- Try connecting the printer to a different USB port.
- Try replacing the data cable with a different / new one.
2. Troublesome printer run
Windows 10 has a troubleshooting issue for printers. If your printer is set up properly but Windows cannot connect, run the troubleshooter.
- Open the Configuration app with Win + I keyboard shortcut.
- go to Updates & security.
- Select the Tab Troubleshoot.
- Click Additional problems.
- Run the trouble printer and enter all its recommended configurations.
3. Clear print & service queue
If printing jobs are attached in the queue, clean them. Difficult printing jobs can cause all sorts of problems, all of which prevent other printing jobs from being completed.
- Open the Options app with Win + I keyboard shortcut.
- go to Tools.
- Choose Printers & Scanners.
- Select the printer you are trying to print to.
- Click Open queue.
- Choose all and destroy them.
- Tap on the Shortcut Win + R keyboard to open the run box.
- In the run box, enter services.msc and tap enter.
- Look for the Print Spooler service.
- Right click on it and select Stop.
- Restart the computer and try printing.
4. Uninstall and reinstall the printer
If a printer experiences an error, whether because it was disconnected from a print media or because you cleaned it, you may need to reinstall it to resolve the issue. error at the end of the OS.
- Open the Configuration app with Win + I keyboard shortcut.
- go to Tools.
- Choose Printers and scanners.
- Select the printer and click Remove.
- Unplug the printer from the power source and disconnect it from your system.
- Restart the computer.
- Wait 10-15 minutes.
- Turn on the printer.
- Connect it to your Windows 10 system.
- Windows 10 will detect and reinstall the printer.
Conclusion
Printers are difficult to deal with; even models designed for home use will run into errors that are difficult to resolve. It is a good idea to learn how to service your printer ie clean it, check for paper tags, check and refill ink and you can avoid major problems with it.
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