When using our computer, there are usually no lack of devices or peripherals that help us work with it. One of these essential elements is the printer, since it allows us to print everything we need on paper without having to go to a copy shop. If we regularly use the printer, it is possible that at some point we have observed problems when printing, both in Windows 10 and in Windows 11, which can be as annoying as it is frustrating.
And it is that it can happen that, all of a sudden, we send a document to the printer and verify that it no longer prints and returns an error message. In this case, we are going to show some recommendations that we can carry out to solve these printing problems in Windows.
Causes that prevent printing correctly
The problems that we can find related to the printer are varied. It may not display correctly in Windows, there may be problems with a network-connected printer, we may not be able to print documents after an operating system upgrade, or the print queue is running, among other reasons. Any of them have in common that the printer does not work correctly and that we do not know how to solve it.
In the event that it happens to us, there are several reasons that can cause these failures. From a problem with the drivers, an incorrect configuration or that the file that is in the print queue is damaged. That is why there is no solution that is valid for any circumstance, but we will have to try different options until we find the one that solves the problem.
Troubleshooting steps
Next, we are going to see different options that we have to be able to solve the main problems that we can find when printing.
basic solutions
The first thing we must do is opt for the most basic solutions, such as restarting Windows. In this way, we will be able to solve minor bugs such as the case that two or three services overlap each other. Rebooting updates all services as well as their settings.
It is also important to check that we have the latest system updates installed. To check if we have any pending updates, we access the “Settings” menu by pressing “Windows + I”. Later we press “Update and security” in Windows 10 or “Windows Update” in Windows 11, and in the new window we check if there are pending updates and execute them.
Check printer connectivity
Once we have verified that the restart does not solve the problem, we must verify that the printer is connected and that all the cables, both for power and connection to the computer, are correctly connected. Likewise, we must check if a flashing light appears on the printer that could mean the presence of an error, such as a lack of paper, ink, toner, etc.
In the event that we have a wireless printer, like most Wi-Fi devices, we must ensure that it is connected to its own wireless network before other devices can print to it.
Check and reset the print queue
If everything is correct, we must check if there is any document that we have sent to the printer that is causing problems. To do this we must access the Configuration page by pressing the keyboard shortcut “Windows + I”. Then click on the Devices (Windows 10) or Bluetooth and devices (Windows 11) section and then on Printers and scanners.
Once here we select the printer and click on the Open print queue button. From here, the operating system will show us all the jobs we have submitted. In the event that we have any pending, it is best to cancel everything and try printing again, to check if it is already carried out correctly.
Restarting the printing of the document can also solve our problems when printing. To do this we must open the printer’s print queue and select the Document tab. We right-click on the job and select the Restart option.
Run the troubleshooter
Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 have their own troubleshooter specially designed to detect and fix possible errors with the printer. To do this we just need to click on the Troubleshoot button. The system will automatically check if there is a problem with the printer and try to solve it without us having to do anything. From the Printers and scanners section of the Configuration menu, click on the “Troubleshoot” section.
Likewise, if we click on the Hardware Properties option, a window opens where we can see the status of the device and check if the operating system has detected any problem that may be causing us to be unable to print.
Use System Services Manager
In case the problem persists, we can choose to open the System Services Manager and check if the Print Queue service is running. To do this, we will press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to launch the Run command. Here we type services.msc to open the Services Manager. Now we locate the Print Spooler service and check if it is “Running”.
If this is not the case, we double-click on it and in the Service Status section, click on Start to restart it and try to print a document again.
Update drivers
The problem can also be caused by damaged, deleted or outdated device drivers. We cannot forget that these small pieces of software are responsible for allowing the operating system to recognize the connected device correctly.
That is why the printing error can start from the driver of our printer being outdated. To update it we must access the Device Manager by pressing the keyboard shortcut Windows + X. From here, we display the Print Queue section. Right click on your printer and click Update Driver.
This will bring up a window where we can choose to have Windows search for the drivers automatically or download them manually from the manufacturer’s website and use the Browse my PC option to select and run it.
Restore the system to a previous version
If we cannot solve the problem and we still cannot print correctly with our printer, we can choose to restore the system to a previous version that we have saved where everything worked correctly. In this way, whatever the problem that prevents us from being able to print correctly should be fixed.
We will do this by accessing the Control Panel. Later, in the group by tab, we select “small icons”. Next, we click on “System” and then on “Advanced system settings”, which we find on the right side of the window.
This will cause a new window to open where the “System Properties” is displayed. Here we will click on the “System Protection” tab. Finally, we click on the “System Restore” button. Now we only have to select a previous restore point that we have saved and click on “Next” to start the process.
