Printer Isn’t Working: Five Things That May be the Culprit

Few things are more frustrating than a printer that refuses to do its job. This is especially the case when you’re in a rush. And whether you’re working from home or you’re trying to run a small business, printer issues can bring productivity to a screeching halt if they’re not addressed early. 

If you’re using a laser printer and dealing with faded prints or warning messages, checking your HP toner levels is a good place to begin, but we all go more into that later. Here are some common reasons that your printer might not be working and what you can do to fix them.

Low or empty toner or ink cartridges. 

This is one of the most common issues, especially with laser printers. If your documents are printing faint, uneven, or not at all, your HP toner might be running low or completely empty. Many printers will notify you when toner is low, but these alerts are often missed or ignored. Always check your printer’s display screen so that you can be aware of when it’s low and when you need to top your toner up. If the cartridge is near empty, replacing it solves the issue straight away. Also make sure you’re using genuine HP toner as third party products sometimes cause quality issues. 

Paper jams or feed problems. 

Paper jams are a classic printer headache, and they can happen due to misaligned paper, overloaded trays, or using paper that’s too thick. Sometimes tiny scraps of paper get stuck in the rollers, which cause repeated jams. Open your printer’s access panels and carefully remove any stacked paper, but be sure to follow the paper feed guidelines in your printer manual to prevent future issues. 

Driver or software issues. 

If your printer refuses to respond to print commands or appears offline, it may not be the hardware. It could be your computer. Outdated or corrupted drivers are common cause of communication issues between your printer and your device. Visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver software for your model.

Network or connectivity problems. 

Most printers support wireless printing these days, but it’s a convenience that depends on a stable connection. If your printer isn’t showing up on your network, check that it’s properly connected to Wi-Fi. Depending on your setup, rebooting both your router and printer can often resolve intermittent connectivity issues. Also, your device needs to be on the same network as your printer.

Firmware or settings glitches.

Just like any tech device, printers can occasionally glitch. Power cycling can reset the internal settings and resolve many issues. Outdated firmware can also cause compatibility problems with new devices or software updates, so check for any updates through your printer, settings menu, or companion app.

Final thoughts on why your printer isn’t working

Printer problems are rarely random and most stem from a handful of common issues. Between toner issues and software snags nowhere to look will save you time and stress.