Have you experienced that the printer is not printing, and you do not understand exactly why so?
Say no more. We created this guide, which aims to solve your printing problems, in case you have an Epson, HP, Canon or Brother printer.
How to get your printer to print again
This is an issue that many have faced.
!However, the fact that your printer will not print does not mean that your printer is defective!
With the help of Pixojet's step-by-step guide, you will be able to remedy the problem yourself quickly and easily.
Read this guide to learn more about getting your printer to print again.
Epson printer will not print
There may be several reasons to why your Epson printer will not print.
In this guide, based on Epson's own suggestions, we have tried to shed light on the issues that may be associated with your Epson printer not wanting to print.
If you find that your Epson printer will not print and all the indicators are off, do the following:
1. Press the printer power button to make sure the printer is on. Then turn off the printer.
2. Check that the power cord is properly connected.
3. Check that the power plug is working properly and that it is not controlled by, for example, a timer or a wall socket.
Do you find that the indicators were turned on and off again?
If you find that the printer indicators were turned on and then turned off again, your printer voltage may not match the electrical outlet specifications.
! In this case, turn off the printer immediately and unplug the power cord from the wall!
Check the voltage of the printer on the back of your printer. If this does not match the socket requirements, it is important that you do NOT reconnect the printer.
Instead, contact the buyer from whom you have purchased your printer.
Do you find that only the printer power light is on? Then do the following:
1. Check that the USB cable that connects your printer and your computer is connected properly and that the cable is not damaged.
If your Epson printer is connected to the computer via a USB hub (USB adapter that transforms your USB port into 2 or more USB ports), be aware that the printer must be connected to the first USB port from the computer, and that the USB transformer is approved by the computer.
If the printer driver is not approved on the computer, connect your Epson printer directly to the computer.
2. Then turn off your printer and computer, remove the printer USB cable, and print a function check page.
A function check page is printed by holding down the maintenance button, then pressing the power button to turn on the printer.
Both buttons are released when the printer is turned on.
A test page with a nozzle check pattern is now printed. If there are holes in the pattern, clean the printhead.
3. If the control page has been printed correctly, check that the printer driver and software are installed correctly.
4. If you have tried to print a large image, your computer may not have enough memory to print it. In this case, reduce the image resolution or print the image in a smaller size.
5. Also make sure you do not have documents in the printer queue. This can get in the way of a new print job, in which case you must remove all print jobs that have stopped working.
6. If your Epson printer is still not printing, uninstall the printer driver and reinstall it.
If you find that your Epson printer error indicator flashes or illuminates after you have replaced the cartridges, do the following:
1. Make sure the ink tank is in the correct position to replace the ink cartridge (if the ink tank is positioned on the far right, press the maintenance button to move it to the replacement position)
2. Then remove the ink cartridge, reinsert it into the ink tank, and continue to install your ink cartridge.
HP printer will not print
If your HP printer does not want to print, read this step-by-step guide, based on Hewlett Packard's own instructions, and resolve your printing issue.
You will find instructions for the Windows and Mac operating systems in this guide.
Solve your printing problems (Windows)
1. First of all, check that the printer is on and the paper tray is not empty. If the error is not due to these two things, then follow the next steps.
2. Does your printer display show a specific error message? If it does, follow the on-screen instructions.
3. If your HP printer is connected to your computer with a USB cable, unplug the cable and plug it in again. If your HP printer is connected to your computer via a wireless network instead, make sure the connection is working.
4. Make sure the printer is not offline or paused.
This is how you make sure your HP printer is not offline or paused:
4a. Do one of the following depending on your operating system:
- Windows 10: Go to Start → Windows System → Control Panel. Then click View Devices and Printers in the Hardware and Sound menu.
- Windows 8.1 and Windows 8: Point at the upper right corner of your screen and click on Options. Select Control Panel → View Devices And Printers.
- Windows 7: Click Start → Devices and Printers.
- Windows Vista: Click Start → Control Panel → Printers and Faxes.
- Windows XP: Click Start → Control Panel → Printers and Faxes.
READ ALSO OUR DETAILED GUIDE: The printer is offline
4b. Double-click your printer model and select See What's Printing to access the print queue.
4c. Make sure Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline in the Printer menu is not selected.
4d. Try printing again if you have made changes.
5. Make sure your HP printer is selected as the default printer:
5a. Do one of the following depending on your operating system:
- Windows 10: Go to Start → Windows System → Control Panel. Then click View Devices and Printers in the Hardware and Sound menu.
- Windows 8.1 and Windows 8: Point at the upper right corner of your screen and click Settings → Control Panel → Show Devices and Printers.
- Windows 7: Click Start → Devices and Printers.
- Windows Vista: Click Start → Control Panel → Printers.
- Windows XP: Click Start → Control Panel → Printers and Faxes.
5b. Check now that your printer model is marked as the default printer.
If your HP printer is not selected as the default printer, right-click on it and select Use as default printer.
Now try printing again.
6. Restart Print Spooler:
6a. Depending on the operating system, you must do one of the following:
- Windows 10:
Go to Start → Windows Administrative Tools → Services.
Right-click Print Spooler and then Properties.
Check that next to Start Type on the General tab, there is the Automatic selection.
If the service does not run automatically, click Start under Service Status and OK.
- Windows 8.1 and Windows 8:
Point at the upper right corner of the screen and click Options.
Click Control Panel → System and Security
Select Administrative Tools and double-click Services.
Right-click Print Spooler → Properties
Check next to Start Type on the General tab, there is the Automatic selection.
If the service does not run automatically, click Start under Service Status and OK.
- Windows 7:
Select Start → Control Panel → System and Security → Administration.
Double-click Services
Right-click Print Spooler → Properties
Check next to Start Type on the General tab, there is the Automatic selection.
If the service does not run automatically, click Start under Service Status and OK.
- Windows Vista:
Select Start → Control Panel → System and Security → Administration.
Double-click Services
Right-click Print Spooler → Properties
Check next to Start Type on the General tab, there is the Automatic selection.
If the service does not run automatically, click Start under Service Status and OK.
- Windows XP:
Go to Start and right-click on My Computer
Select Manage → Services & Applications
Double-click Services → Print Spooler
Right-click Print Spooler, and then click Restart to restart the service.
6b. Check now that your printer model is marked as the default printer.
If your HP printer is not selected as the default printer, right-click on it and select Use as default printer.
Now try printing again.
7. Restart the computer
8. Delete all pending files in the print queue.
Check the power connection and reset the printer
1. Make sure the network cable is plugged into the printer correctly (there must be a power connection to the printer and a connection to an electrical outlet)
2. Check the Power Button on the printer. If it is not switched on, press the button.
3. Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer while the printer is on, and also unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet.
4. Wait 15 seconds and plug the cord back in and reconnect the cord to your printer as well.
5. If the printer does not start automatically at this time, press the Power button.
6. Then try printing again.
Solve your printing problems (iOS)
1. Check the printer for error messages and resolve any errors by following the instructions on the printer display.
2. Unplug the USB cable from the printer and plug it in again.
3. Check that the printer is not in pause mode or offline.
3a. This is how you make sure your printer is not paused or offline:
- Select System Settings → Printers and Scanners
- Click Open Print Queue
- Select a print job and then one of the following actions: Delete, Set aside, Resume or Pause Printer.
- Now try printing from your HP printer again.
4. Restart the computer.
Buy HP printer ink cartridges here
Canon printer will not print
The following guide is based on Canon's own suggestions for Canon printers that will not print.
1. First and foremost, make sure the power cord is plugged in properly and that your Canon printer is on.
The printer will now be ready for use and the Paper indicator will flash green. Wait until the paper indicator stops blinking and stays lit instead.
If you are printing photos or other graphics, be aware that the printer may take longer to start printing.
2. Then check that the printer's supplied USB cable is properly connected to your Canon printer and your computer.
For example, if you are using a USB hub (adapter / transformer that converts one USB port to several devices), disconnect the USB cable and connect the cable directly to the computer instead, and then try printing again.
3. Delete eventually unnecessary print jobs that are in queue.
4. Make sure your Canon printer is selected as the default printer for printing.
Your printer will not be able to print if the installed driver does not match the printer whose name is selected in the Print dialog box.
5. Check for paper in the paper tray. If your Canon printer is out of paper, it will not be able to print.
6. If your print data is very extensive, click Print Options on the Page Setup tab in the printer driver. Then turn on Prevention of Print Data Loss in the On dialog box.
7. Finally restart your computer.
Buy Canon printer ink cartridges here
Brother printer will not print
The following guide is based on Brother's own suggestions for Brother printers (Windows users).
Make sure your Brother printer is on and there are no errors
1. If the printer display is blank, your Brother printer is not on or in hibernation mode. Just press one of the printer buttons. This will allow you to see if the printer starts from hibernation mode.
If it does not start, make sure the printer is plugged into an electrical outlet that you know is working properly.
2. Check for error messages on the printer display. If the printer displays an error message, correct the error by following the instructions on the printer display.
Buy Brother ink cartridges here
Make sure your Brother printer is selected as the default printer
In order for you to print from your Brother printer, it must be selected as your computer's default printer.
This is how to check if your Brother printer is selected as the default printer:
- Windows XP: Click Start → Printers and Faxes
- Windows Vista: Click Start → Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Printers
- Windows 7: Click Start → Devices and Printers
- Windows 8 or later: Select Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Devices and Printers
If your Brother printer is selected as the default printer, then a green circle with a check mark will appear next to your printer model.
If your printer model does not have a check mark, then right-click on your Brother printer and select Set as default printer.
Delete any print jobs that may be queued
- Windows XP and Windows Vista: Double-click your Brother printer. Choose Printer → Cancel All Documents
- Windows 7 or later: Right-click on your Brother printer. Click See What's Printing → Printer → Cancel All Documents.
If it is not possible to select Cancel all documents, click Open as administrator. Enter the administration password and click Yes.
Check the printer status of your Brother printer
- Is your printer offline?
- Windows XP and Windows Vista:
Right-click on your Brother printer and select Use printer online.
If you are not logged in as an administrator, select Run as administrator → Use printer online → Continue.
- Windows 7 or later:
Right-click on your Brother printer model. Select See what is printing → Printer → Use printer offline. Unmark this.
If it is not possible to select Use printer offline, click Open Administrator → enter the administration password → click Yes.
- Is your printer in pause mode?
- Windows XP and Windows Vista:
Right-click on your Brother printer and select Continue Printing. If you right-click and the menu shows Pause Printing, then your printer status is OK.
If you are not logged in as an administrator, click Run as administrator → Continue printing → Continue.
- Windows 7 or later:
Right-click on your Brother printer model and select See What's Printing → Printer → Pause Printing (unmark).
If you cannot select the Pause printing option, click Open as administrator → enter the administrator password → Press Yes.
If the above step-by-step guide does not solve your printing problem, we encourage you to read more under Brother's own support section on Brother's website.
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