How to troubleshoot printer issues
Printer does not have power indicator
First, make sure that the printer is turned on. When a
printer is on, it should have some light or LED (usually green) indicating it's
receiving power.
If you do not have any indicator light, make sure the
printer is connected to a working power outlet by verifying each end of the
power cable. Next, press the printer power button.
If, after performing the above steps the printer still does
not display a power status indicator light, your printer may have a serious
internal hardware issue. We suggest contacting the printer manufacturer for
repair or replacement.
Cables
not connected properly
Your printer should have two cables connected to it: the
power cable and the data cable. Make sure the power and data cables (parallel
cable or USB cable) are connected to both the printer and computer.
Printer error (orange or blinking light)
After your printer has completed its initial startup, you'll
see a solid colored light. If the indicator is orange or blinking, often this
is an indication of a printer error. A paper jam or an issue with the ink or
toner cartridge can cause the error.
As there are not standards for all printers, if you see a
blinking light, visit the manufacturer's website or review the printer manual
for specific error details.
No paper or paper jam
Without paper, your printer cannot print. Make sure there is
paper loaded into the printer paper cartridge or tray. Next, verify that no
printer paper is jammed or partially fed into the printer. If you suspect paper
is stuck somewhere it shouldn't be, refer to our help page for paper jams.
Inkjet printer ink related
issues
Often when you're encountering an ink related issue, your
printer status indicator light (mentioned above) should be flashing. If this is
not occurring, you may want to skip to the next section. However, if you've
recently inserted a new ink cartridge, you may want to try the below
suggestions.
Printer self-tests
Most printers have a way of printing a test page. A printer
test page allows you to determine if the printer is working. The printer
self-test is usually accomplished by holding down a series of keys. If you
don't know to access and use the self-test feature on your printer, refer to
the printer manual or visit the printer manufacturer's website.
You can also perform a software self-test to determine if
the computer can see the printer and it's able to print. Follow the steps below
to perform this test.
Open the Control Panel.
Click or double-click the Printers, Printers and Fax, or Devices and Printers icon.
Right-click on
the printer you want to test and
select the Properties or Printer Properties option. If you do not see your
printer listed, your printer is not installed.
In the printer's Properties
window, click the Print Test Page button.
If the printer can print a test page, your printer is
installed and set up properly. However, if you cannot print in other programs,
the program you are attempting to print from likely has issues.