10 Basic Printer Problems And How To Fix Them

Printer Problems And How To Solve Them

Printers may have a number of problems will lead to print failure or sometimes it halts printing. The printer problem occurs mostly due to low ink levels, slow printing, paper jam, low-quality printing and much more. These problems can be resolved. Your printer might also be having some rare issues like the other printers. The following are some of the common printer problems. But all of these may not sync with the ones with your device.

Your printer might also be having some rare issues like the other printers. The following are some of the common printer problems. But all of these may not sync with the ones with your device. Go through the issues and know how to fix printer problems.

Sometimes the printer won’t print:

This is one of the most common problems with many printers. If there is no error message pointing to the problem, check if the connections are perfect. In the case of a wired printer, check the device is still connected to the USB or Ethernet cable. If it’s a wireless one, check that the Wi-Fi is enabled and connected to the right network.

Do you find the printer is connected perfectly, but still not printing? Check the printer driver. Sometimes it may get corrupted and need to be reinstalled. The right driver can be found on the manufacturer’s download page. If, still, you didn’t get the output, go to the troubleshooting section in the printer’s user manual.
It may print slowly:

You can print in the draft mode which results in the highest quality output. This will anyhow, increase the printing speed. This will lead to a fast printer. If your device supports double-sided printing, avoid much usage of it. The machine has to rotate the document for printing both the sides. This will gradually slow down the printing speed.
Can I still print when ink levels are low?:

Most of the modern printers notify the ink levels of the printer when they are low. You need not hurry to fill the cartridge when the printer has a warning on ink levels. Then the exactness of these notices varies between manufacturers and models.

The only way to truly find out how much ink is the printer is left with is to print until the quality goes down or the printer stops. Once you know the ink has definitely run out, you can remove the ink cartridge and replace it with the new one.

By doing it this way, you will have a rough idea of how legitimate your ink warnings are. You’ll be able to print in the future and know how much you can roughly print once the warnings come on.
Can I Print From My Mobile?:

First, it’s better to check if the printer has the ability to print documents from smartphones and tablets. Usually, printers can print with the support of AirPrint which allows iOS users to print directly from the iPhone or iPad. And mainly both the devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Most of the printer manufacturers have launched apps that allow iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry users to print from their devices.

It is possible to print to a non-Wi-Fi printer. But your device has to have a wireless access point and a printing utility installed on a networked computer. Printopia for Mac! For Mac and Windows allows you to print from a phone or tablet. Cloud printing services also work across platforms and device types with non-Wi-Fi printers.
Wi-Fi printing takes too long:

To speed up your printing time over Wi-Fi, you can place your wifi printer too close to your router. You can also make sure that the router is adequate offering 5GHz band along with 2.4GHz. It might be worth checking that the firmware is also up to date.
Printer Costs Too High:

The common expenses for any printers are paper and ink. There are a few factors to be followed to reduce printing expenses. Firstly, decide if you really want to print a document or file. Make sure that you don’t waste the ink and paper printing unwanted and useless files. When your printer is left idle without printing for some time, you can switch it to draft mode and so the ink can be saved. And switching to double-sided printing will save papers.

High capacity ink cartridges which contain more ink can be recommended. So more documents can be printed for your money. There are also compatible ink cartridges which offer significant savings on expensive original ink cartridges but match their high quality. For many printers, you have a choice between lower-capacity and high-capacity ink cartridge or toner cartridges. The higher capacity cartridges cost more up front but they have higher yields and can print more pages and lower cost per printed page.

It is important to look at a printer’s running costs before buying. You should know the cost per page information before you purchase a printer. Be sure to weigh up what you want from a printer and it could save you money later down the line.
The Printed Text is Low Quality:

The print quality of text can differ greatly between printers. Generally, inkjets produce a quality suitable for everyday printing whereas lasers produce more professional looking documents. If you’ve noticed that the quality of your text has been gradually going down, there are a few things you can do to solve it.

Check if the print settings are correct (for both inkjet and laser).

Switch off draft mode.

Make sure the paper type on screen is the same as the type you are using.

For laser printers, sometimes the toner can ‘settle’. Just take the cartridge out and shake it from side to side and then replace it again. For inkjet printers, clean the nozzle and align the print head which can be accessed from the printers maintenance menu.
My Printed Photos are Low Quality:

Specifically for inkjets, make sure that you are printing on the correct type of paper. For printing detailed photographs you’ll want to use photo paper. Make sure you have selected the paper type you are using in your software settings. Cleaning the nozzle and aligning the print head will help to improve print quality.

You may be running low on one color which may cause for discolored prints, in which case its time to change the cartridge. It is also worth noting the old ink cartridges should be checked and replaced where necessary.
My Printer keeps Jamming:

Paper jam is one of the most common and most annoying ones among the printer problems. The most common cause of paper jam is when the paper is not aligned properly.

Make sure the stack of paper is squared before putting it in the tray and don’t over-fill it. If the printer is still getting jammed, go to the troubleshooting section in the printer’s user manual or read Internet ink’s handy paper jam guide.
My Multi-Function Print won’t Scan Anymore:

If your MFP’s scanner stops working, it may be down to the software. Try reinstalling the software, but if the problem persists, check the user guide or check the manufacturers’ support page. Sometimes complicated inbuilt machines like scanners can fail, so it’s important to consult with the manufacturer first.

These are the most common printer problems if a person has a printer. Go through these issues and know the solutions for these. You can get them solved on your own when you come to face them with your device.