Your paper deadline is in two hours. You spent all night writing, and now it’s time to print your work. You click “print.” Nothing. What now? Just like any other gadget, printers can weaken and eventually stop working. Before contemplating drastic measures, though, consider the following reasons the printer may be malfunctioning.
- Ink or toner issues: If you haven’t replaced your ink or toner cartridge in a while, you may be empty. If paper is being discharged from the printer blank, that is usually a positive indication of empty or low toner. If your printer or computer does not signal to you when ink is low, you may have to open the printer and examine the cartridge yourself. Shaking the cartridge sometimes loosens the ink and increases the life of the cartridge.
- Connection issues: Cables can easily become unplugged. Check to make sure that the printer is both plugged into a power source as well as the computer. Try unplugging the printer, resetting the computer, and plugging the printer back in. If no lights appear on the printer, one or both of the cables could be defective.
- Networking issues: In many cases, the correct printer isn’t chosen on the print options. Printers usually must be manually connected to your computer network. If more than one printer is connected to one computer, the issue may be as simple as changing the printer choice.
- Physical issues: If a paper jam is the issue, you’ll usually be able to tell. The printer will sound like it’s working up to a certain point, then it may either make odd noises or stop completely. On some printers, indication lights signal paper jams. Fixing a jam usually includes opening the printer and physically pulling out the jammed paper or papers. Typically, once the jam is serviced, the printer resumes its operations with no damage incurred.