Wireless printers are known for adding value to printing by adding to convenience. If you have never owned one, you must have imagined them as a device that lets you print from any corner of your home. By the way, get a reality check as it is not that easy. They can be annoying sometimes when you are in an urgent need to print a document. If it’s not working, this can happen for multiple reasons such as:
- The printer won’t connect to Wi-Fi
- Unable to find your printer on the network
- Your computer can’t connect to your wireless printer
And similar other problems
Troubleshooting a wireless printer may be easy for some but if you are one who fears or loathes technology; this is going to be difficult for you. Fret no more, this article is just going to help you in the way you need. Just read the instructions carefully, follow the instructions and hopefully you will get out of the troubled sea.
Wireless Printer is not Printing? What’s Wrong?
The problem begins when people keep their printers sidelined. But that’s just fine because no one would like such hideous and huge printers to destroy the interior of their rooms. But that’s not fine with the wireless printers as keeping them away in a corner leads to a poor internet connection.
According to Michael Duffett, (Vice President and General Manager of Inkjet Printer Marketing at Canon U.S.A.), ‘Most people place their printer where it is most convenient for them, not necessarily where it gets the best Wi-Fi signal’.
Even when your printer is in the same room as your laptop or computer, anything coming in between the route of your printer will deteriorate the signal. Adding to the challenge are the complex printer designs that just make the setup much more complex.
Most of the printers don’t have the signal strength indicators making it difficult to determine the issue. The screens are tiny and the interfaces are not designed in such a way to match the efficiency of smartphones or tablets. Some of the printers still rely on multi-tap key entry or arrows key to enter the complex Wi-Fi passwords.
Printer is Connected but Won’t Print | Troubleshooting Wireless Printer Problems
The simple troubleshooting steps listed below will most probably fix the underlying issue. After that, if you still deal with the same problem, it’s time to call the manufacturer or get a new device for yourself:
1. Restart Everything
It is the most basic troubleshooting method that is helpful in most of the technical glitches. Giving a restart to all the devices such as printer, computer and router may automatically fix the issue. A restart may fix the software glitches that are causing your wireless printer to not print properly.
2. Try Connecting with a Cable
For a while, try to connect your printer with a cable just to check if the Wi-Fi is causing the issue. If your printer is working this way, you know what you need to do. Change the Wi-Fi network you are using, or print using the cable for the time being.
3. Get Printer an Ideal Spot
You just cannot keep your printer anywhere you want and expect it to print flawlessly. It should not be placed far away from the router as that may affect the Wi-Fi signals in carrying out the print command. If your printer is connected to Wi-Fi but the computer can’t find it, get them closer.
If the printer is inside the desk or at some closed place, move it to a better position. You can also keep the door open while printing to let the signal flow properly.
4. Reboot the printer
You know this trick if you are related to technology in some way. You simply need to unplug the device, cables, and everything and then after a while plug them back correctly. Doing this often solves most of the technical glitches.
5. Make Sure the Printer Is Set As Default
If the wireless printer is not connecting at all, it is possible that the printer is not set as default or the computer is sending the command to the incorrect printer. If this is the case, you should manually set it as default using the steps mentioned below:
6. Run the Troubleshooter
If your printer is connected but isn’t printing, run the printer troubleshooter as it is known to fix most of the printing issues.
7. Update the Router Firmware
If still, you can’t find the printer on the network, try updating the router firmware. This will fix all the bugs as well as the connectivity issues. Moreover, if you have recently shifted from Windows 10 to a different version, this may cause the system problem in finding the wireless printer on Windows 10. Updating the firmware may help you remove the disruption in the connection that you are facing.
8. Firewall Settings
Firewalls are important, I know, but sometimes they can be the reason for the discord. They may block the network settings that are essential for printing. It depends on how you have set the settings that if the firewall will allow your printer to appear on the local network. Another thing you have to ensure is that if the software is up-to-date and you haven’t enabled multiple firewalls.
9. Reset the Printer
If all else fails, this could be the last resort. Resetting the printer will clear every single setting, and will let you re-establish the connection from the beginning. The process to reset the printer may vary from brand to model. The reset command may be there in the printer’s settings menu. If you own the wireless printer from the HP brand, you may have to power down the printer for a while and then plug it back. You can even look for the correct directions on the manufacturer’s website