The issue could be with the printer itself, the connection to your computer, or something on your system if you’re getting an error message about it not being installed or it doesn’t show up as an option in Windows or your applications. You should start troubleshooting the issue as soon as you can as most organisations rely on a workflow that includes printed output.
Reinstall the Printer
Reinstall the printer according to the instructions that came with it, and make sure that it is turned on and properly linked to a main power source. Additional troubleshooting procedures may be necessary if you are connecting to a printer over a wired or wireless network to make sure the connection is working properly. Restarting your network hardware and running network diagnostic tests can help in this situation. If you are using a USB cable to connect your printer to a computer, try a different cable and USB port to rule out any potential causes for the issue. If the printer won’t connect to any computers or won’t turn on, the issue is probably a hardware failure, and the printer will need to be repaired or replaced. Testing the printer on another computer can also help determine whether the system or device is at fault.
Update Printer Drivers and Software
Printer drivers regulate how your operating system and printer communicate (and by extension, the installed applications). In order to address bugs and enhance compatibility with newer software, manufacturers frequently release new drivers. As a result, obtaining and installing the most recent drivers for your model from the manufacturer’s website may cure the issues you’re having. It’s crucial that Windows and the programmes you have running on top of it are always updated to the latest versions for the same reasons—bug patches and compatibility fixes. Control Panel contains Windows Update.
Troubleshooting Applications
All of the programmes installed on your system should be able to see any printer that is visible to Windows in the Devices and Printers section of Control Panel. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the programme to see if clearing its configuration options and re-establishing its entries in the Windows registry fixes the issue if you’re having trouble getting a particular application to recognise a printer. Additionally, the procedure replaces any deleted or damaged application files.
Further Troubleshooting Steps
Running Windows’ System Restore tool might be sufficient to restore printer access if the problem is still not fixed. If the printer was recently trouble-free, this is very likely to assist. Additionally, Microsoft provides a free printing troubleshooter application that you can download that could be able to solve your issue (see link in Resources). If the printer functions properly on other computers but not on yours, a motherboard or USB port fault may be to blame, especially if Windows is unable to recognise the device after it has been plugged in. Finally, there’s a chance that there’s a known problem with your printer and the software you’re trying to use, in which case you should be able to find information in the support section of the printer manufacturer’s website.
