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5 Common Reasons Why Your Printer Won't Print and How to Solve Them

Updated: Jan 20, 2023




Printing is a part of everyday life, from simple school assignments to complex business documents. When your printer stops working correctly, it can be a major inconvenience. This is especially true when you have no idea why your printer won't print. Fortunately, there are some common causes of printer problems that can be easily addressed. This article will discuss five of the most common reasons why your printer won't print and how to solve them. With a little bit of troubleshooting, you can get your printer up and running again in no time. The solutions range from simple to more advanced, but with a bit of patience and persistence, you can get your printer working again. So, if your printer isn't printing, read on to find out how to diagnose and fix the problem.



Common Reason #1: Printer is Not Connected to the Network

Most printers are connected to a local area network (LAN). This means that you can connect to the printer from any wireless devices on your network, but only if the printer is connected to your home network. If a printer isn't connected to the network, then you won't be able to print from it, no matter what device you're using. This problem can occur for a number of reasons, such as: Printer is turned off - If your printer isn't connected to the network, you won't be able to print from it even if it's turned on. This is especially important for shared printers. Make sure that your printer is turned on. If it's a shared printer, make sure it's connected to a power outlet that is turned on and plugged into your router. Router is not connected to internet - If your printer is connected to your network but not the internet, then you won't be able to print from it. If the router is offline, you won't be able to connect to any devices on your network. Make sure that your router is connected to the internet.


Common Reason #2: Printer Driver is Outdated

Printer drivers are software that tell your computer how to communicate with your printer. They allow you to print documents, scan to PDF, or copy images from your computer to your printer. If you notice that your printer isn't working correctly, the first thing you should do is check to see if there is a new printer driver available. If you are using an old printer driver, it may not be compatible with your computer's operating system. This can cause a number of problems. If you think that a new printer driver might solve your problem, be sure to check your printer manufacturer's website. They may have the latest printer driver available for download.


Common Reason #3: Printer is Offline

If you try to print a document and your printer goes offline, there could be a few different reasons why this happened. For example, the printer could be experiencing a temporary network outage, or you may have turned the printer off manually. In either case, you'll need to correct the problem if you want to print from your computer. To solve this problem, try one of the following solutions: - Reboot the printer - If the printer is experiencing a temporary outage, you can turn the printer back on to fix the problem. When you turn the printer back on, it should automatically reconnect to your network. If it doesn't automatically connect, you can try connecting it manually. Be sure to check the printer's user manual for instructions.


Common Reason #4: Printer is Not Recognized

If your computer won't recognize your printer, it could be for a number of reasons. First, make sure that the printer is connected to a power outlet that is turned on. If it is connected, then try the following solutions: - Check to see if a new printer has been connected - If a new printer is connected to your printer, the computer may not recognize the new device. Try unplugging the new printer and then reconnecting your printer. If all printers are unplugged, turn off the computer and then turn it back on again. This will reset the computer and should correct the problem - Check to see if a new device has been added - If you've added a new device to your network, the computer may not recognize the device. Make sure that the computer recognizes the new device. If it doesn't, try restarting the computer, router, and new device.


Common Reason #5: Printer Queue is Blocked

If your printer won't print, there could be a number of reasons why this is happening. One common reason is that the printer queue is blocked, and the computer can't find the documents that you want to print. This can happen when you try to print a document, but there are other documents in the queue that are taking up the printer's memory. To solve this problem, try the following solutions:


On Windows 10 and up, there are icons that appear towards the right side of your taskbar, if you do not see the printer icon, then click the arrow pointing upwards to reveal hidden icons. Once you have located the printer icon, right-click it and select "Show all active printers", a window will pop up, allowing you to select the first document in the queue and deleting it.


To cancel a print job on OS X, simply look in the Mac Dock for the printer icon. Hover over it and identify the printer’s name (or IP address). Click on it to open the printer utility, then select the print job you want to remove and hit the (X) button. This will cancel the job and clear out the queue. You can also check the printer's user manual for more advanced solutions to this problem.


Conclusion

For most people, printing is a regular part of their daily lives. However, when things don't go according to plan, it can be both frustrating and inconvenient. The good news is that there are some common reasons why your printer won't print, and there are also ways to solve them. With a bit of troubleshooting, you can get your printer back up and running in no time. So, if your printer isn't printing, check these common reasons and fixes to see if any of them apply to your situation.

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