Troubleshooting skills are handy for solving printer problems. Run through these lists of tips so you won’t have to call for IT assistance the next time any of these happen. You’ll be able to fix them on your own:
Check paper alignment
Sometimes, it’s a simple matter of fixing the paper alignment to get the printer to work properly, says How to Geek. Check for paper jams to ensure problem-free printer operation. Clear things up and you’ll be good to go.
Look at the ink or toner
Check the ink (for inkjet printers) or the toner (if you’ve got a laser printer) before you start printing. If you’re low on ink, that might be why your printer doesn’t seem to be working. You could also check ink or toner levels on Windows easily enough.
Review the queue dialog
If there are too many printing jobs, that could be why your files have yet to be printed. Clear all those pending jobs. Then try it again. This should help resolve the issue. In addition, if you checked and see that your printing job has been accidentally paused, simply hit “Resume” so the printer would keep on working.
Update your printer drivers
Sometimes, the issue might require you to install or update your printer drivers. Call in a printer maintenance service if this isn’t something you want to bother with.
Play around with the settings
Slow printing speed? You might just need to adjust the default settings. The same logic applies too if your print outs turn out spotty. Just adjust those settings.
Get help
One thing to keep your printer in tip-top shape is to have regular printer maintenance service checks. Have professionals check out your printer for problems and issues as an effective method for making sure your IT printer stays operational for a long, long time.