It not always the hardware fault. The intermediary between your computer and your printer is the printer driver. Drivers can become outdated or lose compatibility with your operating system after an upgrade, much like other software. A driver update could immediately resolve the problem if your printer is continuously crashing or not responding to simple commands. Another possibility is that the incorrect driver for your printer was downloaded into your computer. You can usually get your printer and desktop to communicate again by uninstalling the driver you currently have on your computer and then replacing it with an updated version.
Visit the support page of your printer manufacturer and enter your printer model number to find an updated version of your driver. After that, adhere to the instructions on the page to get the most recent version. Below are links to the support sites for the most often used printer brands.
- HP Printer Drivers & Support
- Epson Printer Drivers & Support
- Brother Printer Drivers & Support
- Canon Printer Drivers & Support
- Lexmark Printer Drivers & Support
- Xerox Printer Drivers & Support
How to Add a Printer in Windows 10
You might be able to print straight away without installing the printer software if you are trying to connect to a new printer on Windows 10 and intend to print via Wi-Fi. The majority of brand-new printers work with Windows 10 out of the box. Select the printer you wish to add by going to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners> Add Printer. You may make this printer your default printer if you want to use it frequently. You can also print a test page to check the print quality before printing your document.
How to Print a Self-Test Page
Printing a test page or printer status report might assist you identify the issue if you’re having problems troubleshooting a printer issue. The printer driver, printer software, or cable connection is probably the cause of your problem if the test page prints out satisfactorily. If it doesn’t print correctly, there probably a problem with the printer itself, which may need to be fixed.
How to Print a Test Page in Windows 10
In Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners to print a test page. Then choose Manage>Print a Test Page after choosing your printer.
How to Print a Test Page in Windows 8
In Windows 8, hit the Windows key on your keyboard, then type “printer” into the start page search bar to print a test page. Choose Settings > View Devices and Printers, then from the “Printer Properties” menu that appears when you do a right-click on the printer icon, choose “Print Test Page.”
How to Print a Test Page in Windows 7
In Windows 7, select “Star