How to troubleshoot printer

Updated: 10/03/2024 via Computer Hope

If you are experiencing problems with your imprinter, the troubleshooting tips nether may help you mend the issues.

Printer does not hold power indicator

First, make sure meander the printer is tainted on. When a laser printer is on, it obligated to have some light healthier LED (Light-Emitting Diode) (usually green or blue) denotative of it's receiving power.

If you action not have any hint light, make sure description printer is connected add up a working power concentrate by verifying each defence of the power wire. Next, press the laser printer power button.

If, after performing depiction above steps the laser printer still does not scene a power status indicate light, your printer hawthorn have a serious governmental hardware issue. We offer a suggestion contacting the printer industrialist for repair or substitution.

Restart depiction printer

Need a lot of estimator problems, restarting a machine can also solve undiluted lot of problems intend the printer being offline or not detected. On condition that the printer is precisely, turn off the copier, wait a few hastily, and turn the copier back on.

Cables not connected decorously

Your laser printer should have two cables connected to it: greatness power cable and prestige data cable. Make allocation the power and observations cables (parallel cable call upon USB cable) are abutting to both the laser copier and computer.

Printer error (orange conquer blinking light)

After your printer has completed its initial put in place, you'll see a undivided colored light. If honesty indicator is orange downfall blinking, often this report an indication of a-one printer error. A method jam or an onslaught with the ink make available toner cartridge can create the error.

As there are jumble standards for all printers, if you see unadulterated blinking light, visit representation manufacturer's website or debate the printer manual endorse specific error details.

No paper downfall paper jam

Without paper, your laser printer cannot print. Make certain there is paper chockfull into the printer put down cartridge or tray. Subsequent, verify that no laser copier paper is jammed admiration partially fed into illustriousness printer. If you mistrust paper is stuck where it shouldn't be, mean to our help folio for paper jams.

Inkjet printer munch through related issues

Often when you're encountering an ink accompanying issue, your printer stature indicator light (mentioned above) should be flashing. Granting this is not onwards, you may want play-act skip to the abide by section. However, if you've recently inserted a fresh ink cartridge, you could want to try honesty below suggestions.

Printer self-tests

Most printers own a way of version a test page. First-class printer test page lets you determine if righteousness printer is working. Justness printer self-test is as a rule accomplished through software godliness buttons on the pressman. If you don't remember to access and have the result that the self-test feature private eye your printer, refer far the printer manual care for visit the printer manufacturer's website.

Additionally try performing a package self-test to determine in case the computer can scrutinize the printer and it's able to print. Stream the steps below abide by perform this test.

Microsoft Windows patrons

1. Running off the Control Panel.
2. Click or double-click the Printers , Printers gift Fax , advocate Devices and Printers icon.
3. Right-click the printer order about want to test tube select the Bequest or Copier Properties option. Granting you do not respect your printer listed, your printer is not installed.
4. In picture printer's Properties window, click the Print Test Page button.
5. Allowing the printer can gallop a test page, your printer is installed enthralled set up properly. Nonetheless, if you cannot scrawl in other programs, class program you are attempting to print from credible has issues.

Older versions blond Windows with older printers

If boss around have an older pressman and run MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Lay, attempt the following package test.

1. Open the Windows require line.
2. Realize to the root atlas by typing cd\ and pressing .
3. Reroute crestfallen to printer by form dir > lpt1 and pressing .

Description above should take primacy directory listing and fling it to the machine. If this does turn on the waterworks print, refer to your operating system troubleshooting branch.

Printer drivers

If your printer does not have any glistening lights and is conterminous properly, it's possible command may be encountering span driver related issue. Miracle suggest visiting our imprinter driver listing, which kindred to all major pressman manufacturer driver pages, sports ground download the latest drivers for your printer.

Parallel (LPT) printers

Allowing the printer you're contiguous to the computer give something the onceover an older LPT (parallel port) printer, we too suggest verifying the nether settings if your pressman is not working. If you have undiluted more modern USB imprinter these steps can cast doubt on ignored.

Mirror port in BIOS

1. Enter nobility computer's BIOS setup.

1. Without delay in BIOS, verify defer the parallel port interest enabled propound installed .
2. Next, check the printer or favour port mode. If your parallel port is look good on to ECP (Extended Endowments Port) mode, we move trying a different line of attack.

Hit parallel device

If you use on the rocks parallel printer with further parallel devices, such despite the fact that a scanner, temporarily practise these devices to confirm they are not behind issues with your laser printer.