Printer troubleshooting
Most printer problems come down to a handful of causes: power, connection, the print queue, drivers, or paper. Work through the safe checks below before anything more involved.
Sounds familiar?
- Nothing happens when you print
- The printer shows as offline
- Pages come out blank, streaky or faded
- The printer makes noise but doesn't feed paper
Quick checks, in order
- 1
Restart in the right order
Turn the printer off, then restart your computer or phone. Turn the printer back on and wait until it is fully idle before printing again.
- 2
Read the printer's own display
Write down any error message or code exactly as shown. It usually tells you whether the problem is paper, ink, or connection.
- 3
Check the queue on your device
A single stuck job can block everything behind it. Cancel all jobs, then print one test page.
- 4
Print a self-test page
Most printers can print a configuration or test page from their own menu. If that works, the printer is fine and the issue is with the connection or your device.
These are general steps that work across most brands. Menu names differ between models — if something doesn't match your printer, ask us rather than guessing.
Still stuck? Talk to us.
Call our toll-free line or start a live chat. Tell us your printer model and what you're seeing — we'll take it from there.