There are few things that can cause frustration more quickly than having to print something quickly and your printer won’t cooperate and it won’t explain the reason! If streaky lines appear across your photos or text that fades is one issue but facing a printer who doesn’t even recognize that the existence of you is completely different. It doesn’t matter if you’re getting errors that aren’t synchronizing with reality, or your printer gives you the silent treatment knowing where to start in the event that your printer doesn’t print can help alleviate some anxiety. Get to know more about why won’t my printer print in color.
Troubleshooting strategies for specific issues will differ depending on the printer model you have however, once you’ve identified certain common problems you’ll be able to quickly lookup solutions that are specific to your printer. Manufacturers provide online resources to help you solve the most challenging printer problems. We’ve included some basics in this article!
Paper Jams and Ghost Jams
If your printer tells you that there is a paper jam there are a number of possible causes. First, ensure that your paper is correctly aligned in the tray. If the paper is not aligned even a tiny small, it may become a blockage. Most of the time, taking it from the tray and moving it closer to the elements that feed it will solve the issue. Paper trays are made to be able to hold a particular capacity of paper. In some cases, it might be as little as 100 sheets, and others are able to be able to hold a full ream. Review the user guide for your printer to determine the recommended paper capacity An overfilled paper tray will instantly trigger a paper jam alert on your printer. Make sure that the paper or media type selection in the printer’s menu corresponds to the print you are currently working on. Printers have settings for different types of papers like photo paper, card stock or presentation papers. The thinner paper could cause jams in paper if the settings are not correct and a quick switch of the paper type could fix your paper jam problem immediately.
Pick-up rollers are the rollers that collect the tray of paper and deliver it into the printer. They are also recognized to cause jam after repeated usage and may eventually need to be replaced.
If your printer tells you that it’s jammed with paper but there’s not there, it’s likely that there’s a mechanical issue. Don’t smash your printer into the field, however! When looking for a solution to ghost-jammed HP(r) printer Neal Poole discovered that sometimes real paper jams can leave a residue left behind, which can disrupt printer operations long after the jam has been removed.
A small amount of paper debris tucked away between the gears which move the rear duplexer
can leave your printer believing that there’s something inside the duplexer that’s but not actually the duplexer. Check the mechanical components surrounding the ghost jam, and ensure they work smoothly (some models provide more precise information on of where the jam is in particular for more intricate office equipment). Here’s a suggestion via Fixya which can be helpful:
*An aside This is specifically specific to specifically the HP(r) OfficeJet(r) L7680 However,
the general principles are applicable to all different printers and models.
- Take off the rear duplexer and hold one among the rollers. Are they able to move freely? If not, the first step should be to . . .
- Make two contact points made of brass using the help of a paper clip. By bridging the contact, it causes the printer to think that the duplexer has been installed so you’ll need to keep the contact intact until the last step.
- Click” OK” on the panel.
- Have a look at the plastic white gears on the left side. Do they move easily or do they stall and then freeze, skip or even jam? If you answered yes to the first scenario then you’ve got pieces of paper that you’ll need to remove off the gears.
- Take the roller with the largest diameter and turn it. Look for paper shards within the gear teeth.
- When the gears and rollers are spinning freely, you’ve cleared the ghost blockage,
- and you’re able to remove the paper clip, and then reassemble.
Unplug your printer and restart the sensor if you’re still receiving a jam warning after cleaning.
Printer Driver Problems
The hardware isn’t always the problem. Your printer driver functions as a intermediary between your PC and the printer. As with other programs drivers, drivers may also become out of date or become incompatible to your system following an update. If your printer doesn’t respond to simple commands or always crashy, a driver update can fix the problem immediately. It could be that you have the wrong driver installed on your PC to work alongside your device. Disable the driver on your desktop and changing it to a more current version, usually will have your desktop and printer talking again. To download the latest version of the driver for your printer visit the support site of the printer’s manufacturer and enter your printer’s model number. Follow the instructions in the support page and download the latest up-to latest version. We’ve also included links to the most well-known support pages for the printer brands below!
How to Print a Self-Test Page
If you’re having trouble identifying the problem with your printer Printing a test print
or a status report for your printer will assist in pinpointing the issue. If the print isn’t working, it is most likely due to an problem with the printer and it may need repairs.
How to Print a Test Page in Windows 10
To print a test sheet on Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners. Choose your printer, and select Manage>Print a Test page.
How to Print a Test Page in Windows 8
Print a test page on Windows 8, press the Windows key on your keyboard. Then type “printer” on the start page. Choose Settings > View Printers and Devices, then right-click the printer icon, then open the “Printer Properties” and select “Print Test Page”
How to Print a Test Page in Windows 7
Print a sample print within Windows 7, click the “Start” button > Control panel > Devices and Printers. After that, right-click the printer icon, then launch “Printer Properties” and select “Print Test Page”
