Why Isn’t My Printer Printing?

September 11, 2017

Whether you’re a student or a busy professional, the printer can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Troubleshooting this piece of office equipment can be easy, but sometimes even when it appears you’ve done everything right, it still won’t print properly.

We’ll walk through basic troubleshooting steps for common issues and what to do when the printer feels like a lost cause. Let’s get started.

Fixing Common Printer Problems

The following problems might seem like “duh” issues, but when you’re in a hurry to print a document, you might overlook them. When your printer isn’t working, double check these basics first:

• Is the printer on?
• Is there paper in the tray?
• Is there a paper jam?
• Are the ink cartridges low or empty?
• Are there any error messages on the screen?

If you’re working with a Wi-Fi-enabled printer, check to make sure it’s properly connected. If this doesn’t fix the problem, test the printer by using it plugged in via USB cable.

Once you’ve run through the checklist and verified that the hardware components work, make sure you’ve selected the correct printer on the program you’re using. Still no luck when you click “Print”? Let’s take a deeper look at what could be causing the problem, so it doesn’t interrupt your personal workflow any longer.

Before You Throw the Printer Away…

(Un)install Drivers

Printer drivers are vital for connecting the printer with your computer applications to allow documents to print. With the wrong or outdated driver, the printer won’t be able to recognize the computer, thus preventing it from printing. Uninstall and reinstall your current driver, or download a newer, updated version from the manufacturer.

Check the Queue

Printers allow you to pause jobs and put printing on hold. The queue will continue to grow until you manually start printing up again, so every new job will be placed at the end of the list. Check your print management software for any holds on the machine, as well as the printer screen for any messages.

Call the Experts

If you’ve exhausted these options, and your printer still isn’t functioning, it’s time to bring in the printing experts. Our goal at Pacific Office Automation is to help you improve your workflow and productivity. You can’t do that when the printer won’t work. If you’re struggling with your printer, contact us at our Portland headquarters or any of our other West Coast branches. We’re here to help.