Thinking again to the period of Windows 3.0, 3.1, and Windows for Workgroups, I dimly recall that printer drivers may very well be particularly troublesome. Happily, with Windows 95 by way of Windows 7, printer issues didn’t register a lot on my radar. But within the wake of upgrading my community to Windows 10 a couple of years again, I seen an uptick in printer issues. On the opposite hand, Windows 11 appears rock stable the place printing comes into the image.If printing is a trigger for concern along with your Windows setup, chances are you’ll be relieved to know that every one issues I’ve encountered have been simple to diagnose and repair, offering you already know what steps to take to determine what’s up. I hope this how-to will assist readers zip by way of detection and analysis and proceed extra rapidly to the same old cures for printing ills.Typical signs for printer problemsWithout belaboring the apparent, the most typical difficulty with printing in Windows is an lack of ability to print to some particular print system. Somewhat frustratingly, you may choose a identified and previously working printer, fireplace off a print request, and see nothing occur in response, aside from the variety of jobs within the print queue rising. What provides?Other typical signs embrace the next:
Adding a printer to a PC or the community, solely to seek out no corresponding system entry popping up within the Settings app (below Devices > Printers & scanners in Windows 10 or Bluetooth & gadgets > Printers & scanners in Windows 11) or in Control Panel (within the Devices and Printers pane in Windows 10 or the Printers & Scanners pane in Windows 11).
Upon encountering the circumstances described within the previous merchandise, one might additional encounter difficulties discovering a tool driver for a lacking or uncooperative printer.
A printer could also be seen as a tool within the acceptable place in Control Panel or Settings, however it could present a standing of “Unavailable” or “Offline.” Sometimes, all makes an attempt to vary this standing by way of printer controls in Windows or on the system itself fail.
Diagnosing and fixing printer issuesFor the overwhelming majority of printer issues, a tool driver is someway concerned. It could also be corrupted, damaged, or lacking. That’s why the most typical repair for printer issues is pretty easy and simple — specifically, eradicating the issue system and thereby uninstalling its driver, then including it again once more. For all however a couple of of the instances I’ve encountered in over 200 upgrades to Windows 10 and 11 (and additional analysis on reported issues with printing or printers), this has been ample to repair the issue that’s greatest described as “can’t print” or “won’t print” to a print system.I’ll stroll you thru this system intimately in a second, however utilizing Windows’ built-in printer troubleshooting device might present a shortcut to getting your printer working once more, so it’s price attempting that first. Herewith, then, is my two-step strategy to diagnosing and fixing printer issues: Step 1: Run the Windows printer troubleshooterIn each Windows 10 and 11, the printer troubleshooter is present in Settings. Click Start > Settings, then kind hassle into the search field. In Windows 10, choose Additional troubleshooters from the Troubleshoot pane. In Windows 11, that possibility is called Other troubleshooters. From both vantage level, Printer is the choice to pick.This launches a standalone troubleshooting utility that performs numerous assessments by itself, then enacts automated fixes if it will possibly and experiences on exercise (or lack thereof) upon completion. It’s simple and simple to make use of. This resolves the overwhelming majority of print points by itself. Figure 1 reveals the problems that the Windows 10 troubleshooter checks. (They don’t all match right into a single window.) Ed Tittel / IDG
Figure 1: The Windows 10 troubleshooter checks for 12 points in all — seven seem in within the high display screen, 5 extra within the backside display screen.
Windows 11’s printer troubleshooter is chattier and provides up extra data, as proven in Figures 2 by way of 6. I’ll present commentary in every caption to clarify what’s exhibiting. You can scroll up or down among the many screens proven in Figures 3 by way of 6 as you want. Ed Tittel / IDG
Figure 2: The preliminary printer troubleshooter display screen in Windows 11 will get you began on the troubleshooting course of. When you click on Yes, it produces the data proven in Figures 3 to 6 as a single scrollable window.
Ed Tittel / IDG
Figure 3: The troubleshooter suggests a guide person motion — specifically, to energy off and unplug the system, then plug it again in and energy again on. (Note the particular directions for USB-attached printers.)
Ed Tittel / IDG
Figure 4: A printer might not present up within the gadgets listing. (If that’s the case, it reads “My printer is not listed.”) The troubleshooter begins the primary 4 difficulty checks.
Ed Tittel / IDG
Figure 5: Two extra difficulty checks, plus the “Add Printer Wizard” button and follow-up.
Ed Tittel / IDG
Figure 6: Seven remaining difficulty checks, adopted by the general “Did this solve the problem?” verify. Across Figures 3 to 6 we see the identical points checked as in Figure 1 for Windows 10.
Overall, the Windows 10 and Windows 11 troubleshooters cowl commonest Windows print issues. If this doesn’t repair what’s ailing your printer, transfer on to Step 2.Step 2. Remove and exchange the motive force for the issue printerTo take away a printer, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners in Windows 10 or Settings > Bluetooth & gadgets > Printers & scanners in Windows 11. Click the printer’s system entry to go to its properties web page, then click on the Remove button on the high proper. Alternatively, you’ll be able to right-click the system entry within the Devices & Printers pane (Windows 10) or Printers & Scanners pane (Windows 11) in Control Panel, then choose Remove system from the ensuing pop-up menu. Figure 7 reveals the Remove button to the best of the Settings entry for my Samsung ML-2850 community hooked up printer (in Windows 11). Ed Tittel / IDG
Figure 7: The properties web page for my Samsung ML-2850 printer in Windows 11. Note the Remove button to the best of the printer show. (Also notice entry to the troubleshooter for this particular system — one other solution to deal with printer points.)
Note: If you attempt to take away a printer from the Printers listing however end up unable to finish that motion, strive clearing its print queue. Apparently, Windows likes to have its print queues cleared earlier than allowing a associated print system to be eliminated. (This goes again so far as I can recall and applies to XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11.)To achieve this, right-click the icon for the issue printer within the Devices & Printers or Printers & Scanners pane in Control Panel and choose See what’s printing from the ensuing pop-up menu — or, if you happen to’ve received the printer’s properties web page open in Settings, choose Open print queue from the listing of choices. Then delete all pending objects by highlighting them, right-clicking, and choosing Cancel.Once a printer has been eliminated, it’s time so as to add it again in. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners; in Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & gadgets > Printers & scanners. You’ll see an Add system button, as proven in Figure 8 (for Windows 11). Ed Tittel / IDG
Figure 8: The Add system button seems on the head of the “Printers & scanners” merchandise in Settings > Bluetooth & gadgets in Windows 11. (It seems to be a bit of totally different however works the identical means in Windows 10.)
Click the Add system button, and Windows searches for related printers and their drivers. You’ll see a listing of gadgets to select from, which ought to embrace the printer you eliminated. Click Add system for the printer you’d like so as to add. As it comes on-line, it reveals “Connecting” standing first, then “Installing,” with a progress bar that tracks its progress. Upon completion, the system ought to present up within the listing, or it could produce an error standing — probably a “Driver is unavailable” message.Note: For USB-attached printers or all-in-one gadgets, it could typically be essential to unplug the USB cable from the pc after uninstalling the system. Then, reboot the PC and reseat the USB cable to pressure discovery of the system to invoke Windows’ built-in driver search and provide course of.If Windows doesn’t present a substitute driver, you’ll have to seek out one for your self. The greatest place to do this is on the printer producer’s web site, looking by printer make and mannequin, so be sure you have that info useful. (You can also flip to any of the motive force obtain assets out there on-line, such because the free SoftPedia or Snappy Driver Installer, or for-a-fee instruments akin to Driver Booster, DriverUpdate, DriverSupport, and so forth.)For my Dell Color MFP (multi-function printer) for instance, I needed to go to Dell’s Drivers & Downloads web page, then enter the system’s service tag ID (printed on a label affixed to the system) to seek out related drivers. I picked the entry with the newest date — specifically, Dell Open Print Driver (dated October 11, 2017) and downloaded the corresponding zip file. In the method of operating the dellopd.msi file that put in the required drivers, it additionally set that printer up because the default Windows printer on the goal PC. Most printer driver updates will do the identical on Windows 10 or 11 PCs.More on working with Windows printersWhen printers get eliminated and changed, their related system names might change. And when a reputation change happens, different customers who entry such printers, both by way of a community share, a print server, or some comparable technique of entry, might discover the earlier printer unavailable (as a result of that outdated identify is now not tied to a sound system). When you try so as to add a printer and such an try fails, click on the Details hyperlink on the outcomes web page: if there’s an issue with the system identify, the error message (typically numbered 1801) is sort of specific in figuring out a reputation mismatch.To get round this, you need to discover the present identify for the printer you wish to add. Then you’ll be able to elect the add possibility that reads “The printer I want isn’t listed” and provide a UNC identify for that printer. Use this syntax: computer-namedevice-name (the place computer-name is the identify of the pc to which the printer is hooked up or by way of which it’s out there, and device-name is the identify of the printer you want to entry). You can use a network-attached printer’s IP tackle to entry the system as nicely. The free Advanced IP Scanner device reveals you community system names and related IP addresses (IPv4 solely, although). Thus, it supplies the main target for one more “Add device” technique as nicely.When it involves working with printers in Windows, I normally drill right down to the properties web page for a print system. You can get to it by way of Control Panel (right-click the system and choose Properties), or below the Printer properties button for a tool that seems within the “Printers & scanners” pane in Settings. This degree of entry is critical for checking print queues, acquiring system standing, printing check pages, and the like.For extra assist with Windows printer woes, try Microsoft Learn and the Windows 10 or Windows 11 boards out there on-line. (Of the latter, probably the most helpful are Windows 10 Forums and Windows 11 Forum and the Microsoft Support Community, significantly the Windows Insider Program class.)Given that printers do act up every now and then, and that drivers pose occasional issues as nicely, it behooves savvy Windows customers to familiarize themselves with administration and monitoring instruments that the OS supplies. By approaching such issues with care, and an “I can fix this!” angle, you’ll be able to diagnose and repair the overwhelming majority of such points, particularly if you happen to’re keen to strive the “remove and reinstall” strategy that flushes out questionable or broken drivers and fixes most print-related issues. This is the surest path to printer satisfaction on a Windows 10 or 11 PC.Looking forward, Windows printer drivers will change dramaticallyIn a September 6 Windows Learn merchandise, Microsoft lays out an “end of servicing plan for third-party printer drivers on Windows.” The TL;DR model boils right down to one thing like this: By 2025, Microsoft would require all printers to make use of “Mopria compliant printer devices” for each community and USB-attached printers.This means all people will use the Microsoft IPP Class Driver for all printers, to take away “the need for print device manufacturers to provide their own installers, drivers, utilities, and so on.” This will make life simpler for individuals who personal printers that fall below these pointers. The Windows printer troubleshooter ought to have the ability to deal with any and all points that may pop up for such gadgets — not less than, in concept. Starting in 2025, no new printer drivers can be printed to Windows Update. In 2026, printer driver rating order (which determines which drivers to strive first, second, and so forth) will change to favor Windows IPP inbox class drivers. Starting in 2027, third-party printer driver updates can be disallowed (apart from safety fixes).People and organizations nonetheless utilizing older Windows printers will nonetheless have to make use of the guidelines and methods I’ve lined on this story. Over time, as these older gadgets get retired, the troubleshooting routines and instruments for Windows printing ought to grow to be extra standardized, streamlined, and simplified. Let’s hope that additionally means issues will work each simply and nicely. We’ll see…This article was initially printed in December 2015 and up to date in September 2023.
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