What to do if your printer stops working

Printers are prone to failure, such as every other device. Even the newest models can create problems for you. The first step is to not worry, because there is a solution for your problem! Some problems do require professional help, but here are some quick things to check by yourself before you contact a specialist:

1. It may sound obvious, but make sure your printer is powered on. It is possible the cables are not fully connected to the device. If everything is correctly connected, the power-on light should be highlighted.

2. Make sure you are using the correct printer in relation to the document you wish to print. This can be verified by clicking on “File” and next “Print”. The printing information should pop up and show what printer you are using. If it is not the printer you desire, drop down the list of available printers and select the one you want.

3. It is possible there might be other documents that are on standby, waiting to print. It is important to make sure that they have not been stopped. This might mean there is a problem that the printer has encountered. The previous printer jobs must be completed in order for new items to be printed. There are some typical issues as to why your previous jobs have not printed yet, such as a paper jam, lack of ink, or possibly connectivity issues.

4. The link from your computer and printer must be working for the printer to do its job. There is a possibility there is a connectivity issue between the two devices and this will cause a printing failure. If you open the printer properties and your desired printer is chosen but it refuses to print, it is clearly not functioning correctly. If your printer is a network printer you need to verify that the IP address is the one designated to said printer.

5. Your wireless printer can also lose connection to the network. If this happens, you can try reinstalling the printer on your network. If these five tips do not fix the issue, it is probably best to contact a specialist who can help you figure out what went wrong. Printerworks West can help your Edmonton-based business determine the best printer your printing needs. We can establish and maintain your printer fleet and also provide troubleshooting support. Partnering with an established MPS provider, such as Printerworks West, can help your business increase its productivity while decreasing the overall ongoing costs of business operations.

If you would like to learn more about Managed Print Services in the Edmonton area, please feel free to contact us.