Printing Troubleshooting: 5 Common Printer Problems and How to Fix It

Have you tried rushing onto your printer device to print an important file when it suddenly acts up and won't print a single thing? Or, does your printer print slow, produce ad quality prints, or won't respond at all? Then you have a case of a lousy printing device. Troubleshooting a printer is quite frustrating and tricky if you're not knowledgeable about it.

In troubleshooting your printing device, it is essential to know what model and what kind of problem you are currently experiencing to solve your problems quickly. Knowing where to start first can lessen your frustration. And with that said, here are the five common printing problems and ways to troubleshoot them swiftly.

Printer Won’t Print

It is frustrating when a printer won't print a single thing, and it takes up a lot of your time and patience. If this is your problem, there are many ways to troubleshoot it, and it is as easy as one, two, and three. The quickest way to solve this printing problem is to turn off the printer for a minute or two and turn it on again. This is one of the easiest and safest ways to get your printer back on track.

If your printer is still acting up, you may check the ink cartridge if it's empty and ensure that the print head is not clogged. You should also check if the paper installed is not jammed or placed wrongly. If you've run out of options on what to do, learn more at Printer Services site here.

Make sure the paper you're using isn't too thick or too thin if you're trying a new kind of paper. Thick paper sometimes tends to clog the belts, while thin papers, on the other hand, are easily wrinkled and prone to tearing. Ensure that the inside of your printer is clean by regularly cleaning it with a damp cloth or a vacuum pump to help your printer run more smoothly.

Too Many Paper Jams

There are many potential reasons why paper jams happen. This trouble usually occurs when the paper is not appropriately placed on the paper tray or when the photosensors and rollers are worn out and dirty. To fix this problem, remove the paper from the tray and align it properly to avoid getting jammed. Also, don't forget to clean your photosensors and rollers.

In cleaning your photosensors, try cleaning them with compressed air spray to avoid potential risk and damage. For print rollers, you can clean them easily with a lint-free cloth and clean water. To prevent paper jams in the future, make sure that you don't overfill your paper trays, and remember to clean your sensors and rollers regularly.

Poor Print Quality

Sometimes, you might be wondering why your final product is a mess when your printing device is working perfectly fine. Poor print quality includes messy ink smudges, poor image resolution, and faded prints. When this happens, troubleshooting your printer includes checking the toner cartridge and printing drivers and heads. 

In troubleshooting your printer, check your print drivers to see if you have placed the correct type of paper suitable for your type of printer. Ensure that the papers are appropriately placed in the tray to avoid getting smudged while printing. Don't forget to check your printer heads to see if it isn't clogged or dirty. A dirty and overused printer head may contribute to poor print quality.

Printer is Unresponsive

There are times that a printing device is suddenly unresponsive no matter how hard you try, and it is one of the most frustrating printing problems. To fix this problem, it may require you to turn off your printer and restart it. Also, you may want to assess your network connection if you are connected and if all cables are correctly attached and plugged in.

Restarting your printer is one of the easiest ways to get it back running in no time. If your printer is still unresponsive after restarting it a couple of times, there might be a software issue that you alone couldn't fix. It is recommended to get it fixed in the shop where you bought it to ensure that you get your money's worth.

Printing Process is Slow

If you're having trouble with slow printing or your printer takes a lifetime to produce your prints, you might want to reset your printer, check the preferences, update your driver and printer firmware. To solve this printing issue, it is essential to know first what might cause the problem to arise.

Slow printing can take up too much of your time and can decrease productivity. Restarting your printer might solve the problem in an instant, but if the printing process does not improve, updating your firmware and driver can help. Your printer's speed should improve after updating your firmware and driver.

Takeaway

Troubleshooting your printer is quite tricky and complicated at first. Knowing the basic ways on how to fix your printer when it acts up is essential. It can help you save you a lot of time and help you save some money for unnecessary fees.