Why is my HP printer suddenly not printing
Simple Tips And Tricks To Fix That Jam
It can be frustrating when your HP printer driver suddenly stops printing, especially if you don’t know why it’s not working and how to fix it!
We’ll discuss the most common causes of this issue and provide some troubleshooting tips to help you get your hp printer driver back up and running.
HP printer won’t Print
“HP printer not printing” is a relatively common problem with many causes.
Missing or out-of-date drivers
Faulty connections
Bad configurations in Windows
Even simple things like having no ink or having paper jam can cause frustration with any printer, like your HP printer power connector, so start with the basics:
Check for any error or warning light on the printer to see whether there is one.
Make sure there is paper in the tray(s)
Check to see whether the ink or toner cartridges are empty.
Ensure the USB cable is plugged in or the hp printer is connected to Wi-Fi.
If it’s a network or wireless hp printer, see if you can connect it using a USB link instead.
We’ve found that some Wi-Fi hp printers can be unreliable when maintaining a connection.
We’ve found that some Wi-Fi hp printers can be unreliable when maintaining a connection.
To fix this, unplug your HP printer and any powerline adapters it might use, then turn everything back on again.
Check Your Printer’s Error Lights
HP Printers are frustrating, but they can occasionally tell you the problem, so you don’t have to trial-and-error your way through the troubleshooting process.
Through cryptic flashing and colored lights on the HP printer, your HP printer driver may display an error message.
It can be challenging to understand what your HP printer is trying to tell you with all its different lights, so consult the manual.
If you don’t have it on hand, most manufacturers will have a PDF copy available for download on their support page for your specific printer model.
If you cannot HP print after an ink cartridge, a clogged printer driver, or no ink, go to the appropriate section of this guide for further analysis.
Fiddle With the Ink Cartridges
If your HP printer says it’s out of ink, but you can tell there is still some left, don’t panic! There are a few things you can do.
Start with checking the print head; it might be clogged or dirty. You can clean it out by following your printer’s built-in cleaning routine (which should be detailed in the manual).
If your printer’s heads are on the ink cartridges themselves, clean them with a damp paper towel. To clean up any little copper strips where the ink comes out, blot them with a wet paper towel.
Please give it a quick dab with a dry paper towel after the ink flows more freely across it before reinserting the cartridge.
If you have a laser default printer, shaking the cartridge from side to side before replacing it may help you get more toner.
It’s also probable that your printer driver isn’t aware of the new ink cartridges you’ve inserted. If it doesn’t immediately detect new ink, there may be a setting on the HP printer that allows you to “re-fill” the reservoirs. Check your printer’s user guide to find out how on your particular model.
Remember that third-party cartridges may also be problematic, so test genuine cartridges from the printer’s manufacturer to see if they perform better.
Set Your HP Printer As Default Printer
When you send a print job in Windows, it usually goes to your default HP printer drivers. If everything is hooked up but nothing prints, check if your HP Printer is set as the default in Windows.
Instead, all your printing requests are directed into an empty black hole with no return. Let’s double-check that and make sure your HP is the default printer.
Go to your Windows Control Panel and select “Devices and Printers.”
Your control panel can be reached by typing “Control Panel” in the search bar on Windows or pressing the Window logo key and “R” key on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run dialog. In this dialog, type “control” and hit Enter.
This will open Control Panel in most Windows operating systems.
In the list of printing devices, look for your HP Printer and double-check that it’s the one you’re having problems with. Select “Set as default printer” from right-click menu on the HP printer listed. Please confirm by clicking “Yes” if there is a confirmation message.
You should now see an excellent little green check mark below the icon of your HP printer; this means it’s now the default printer for Windows.
Try printing your documents to see if that helps!
Why is my HP printer not printing even though it’s connected?
One of the most frustrating things that can happen when you’re trying to print is for your HP printer to show that it’s connected but not printing. There are a few possible reasons for this issue. First, check to ensure that your HP printer has enough ink or toner. If it’s low, you may need to replace the cartridge.
Second, check the paper tray to make sure it’s complete and that the paper is inserted correctly.
Third, If you’re using a wireless connection, try restarting your printer and router.
Fourth, try printing from a different program or application. Sometimes, specific programs can conflict with printers and cause them to malfunction.
If all else fails, contact us for your HP printer or computer to troubleshoot the issue further. Hopefully, one of these tips will help you get your HP printer up and running again.
HP printer is offline or not responding
The HP printer is offline on your Windows computer or Mac and does not print. Follow the steps in the order indicated. After each step, test the printer to see if the problem has been fixed.
Make sure the printer is ready to print
Before printing, check that the HP printer is turned on and has paper in the input tray. Additionally, ensure enough ink or toner and that the machine displays no errors or blinking lights.
Make sure the printer is not in Sleep mode or off. To wake it or turn it on, press the Power button.
To ensure successful printing, load paper into the input tray and adjust the width guides so they rest gently against the sides of the stack.
Before printing, ensure that you have installed the correct ink or toner cartridges and that your printer has enough consumables for the print job.
Check whether error messages or blinking lights are on the HP printer control panel. Before you utilize the HP printer, resolve any problems.
Please turn off the printer, wait 30 seconds, and then restart it.
Troubleshoot the wireless printer connection
Check network issues and setup requirements if the HP printer is not found during software installation or if wireless printing jobs fail.
Poor network connection
Move your HP printer, computer, or mobile device closer to the router to improve your wireless signal. Then, open a website to test if the connection is working correctly.
If Wi-Fi is slow or keeps cutting out, restart the router by unplugging it from the power source, waiting 15 seconds, then plugging it back in again.
The printer is off or in sleep mode.
Wake the HP printer by touching the control panel or pressing the Power button. The HP printer might display as being Offline even when it is ready.
Check the printer connection status.
Ensure that your HP printer is connected to the same network as your computer or mobile device.
Check if a light is next to your printer’s Wireless icon or button. If so, confirm that the light is turned on; if it’s off or blinking, the printer isn’t correctly connected to the network.
Reconnect the printer to the network
Place the HP printer within range of the Wi-Fi router signal, and then connect it to the network.
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Printers with a touchscreen control panel: To do this, open the Setup, Network, or Wireless settings menu. After that, select the Wireless Setup Wizard and follow the instructions to enter the network name and password.
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Printers without a touchscreen control panel: To connect your printer wirelessly, press the Wireless button for five seconds or until the wireless light starts flashing.
Then, press and hold down the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button on your router within two minutes until the connection begins. When it does, you’ll know because the printer’s Wireless light will stop flashing.
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HP Deskjet 6000 and 6400, ENVY 6000 and 6400, and Tango printers: To connect your printer to a Wi-Fi network, press and hold the Wi-Fi button and the Power button on the back of the printer for five seconds.
Once the blue bar starts flashing, within two minutes, press and holds the WPS button on your router until the connection begins, the blue bar will stop flashing once the link is complete.
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Enable Bluetooth for an HP Smart app setup
Enable Bluetooth on your computer or mobile device so that HP Smart can identify the HP printer after you connect it.
Wireless isolation could be causing your HP printer to appear offline. Check with your router manufacturer for more information.
Why is the print quality poor?
If your HP printer or even copier isn’t printing correctly, it may be because the nozzles on the print head are blocked. This can cause horizontal streaks on prints or wrong colors.
You can often solve this problem by cleaning the print heads. The procedure varies from printer to printer, but there should be an option on the control panel or in the printer software.
You may need to check the manual for this. You might find a maintenance section in your printer’s properties (either in an app or Windows Control Panel).
Clicking the icon will clean or align your print heads. You can find head cleaning kits on Amazon, but compare that cost to a new cartridge before you make your decision; there’s no guarantee that a cleaning kit will fix the problem.
The kind of paper you use will determine the quality of your print job, and subpar photocopier paper might be why your prints aren’t coming out well. This paper is often too absorbent, causing inkjet ink to soak in and leave behind a blotchy mess.
To avoid this problem, invest in high-quality printer paper from the manufacturer, especially if you want to print photos.
Laser printers require less paper than inkjets, and smears or stains in the exact locations on each page are typically evidence that there is dirt inside the printer, which is generally on the “drum.” Using only isopropyl alcohol and a gentle lint-free cloth when cleaning the imaging drum is essential.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions for removing and cleaning the drum, commonly known as an OPC.