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Tips for fixing common printer problems

Tips for fixing common printer problems

Despite being promised a paperless future, there’s a good chance you still have to print things from time to time. While printers today are better than those of the 90s or 2000s, they still don’t feel as smart or reliable as other modern devices. The following are some of the most common printer problems you’ll encounter, and most of these can be fixed without too much trouble.

“Ghost” Paper Jams

“Ghost jamming,” sadly, isn’t some sort of spooky musical genre. Instead, it happens when a printer reports that it has a paper jam, but upon investigation, you can’t find one.

While a technician can fix some causes of ghost jamming, the most common reason is tiny shards of paper or other debris stuck between the rollers.

Open your printer per the manual and check that there isn’t anything in the print rollers you might have missed. If possible, try gently rolling the paper rollers to see if they move freely or anything drops out.

Turn the printer off and on again or see if a factory reset helps if the printer has the function. A standard printer “factory reset” usually involves pulling the power cord out for 30 seconds and putting it back in again

Slow printing speed

Printing speed largely depends on the type of printer used and the desired print quality. Documents with high-quality images will print slower compared to those containing only text. But a significant decrease in printing speed could be caused by:

  • Incorrect printer settings
  • Printing on both sides of the paper
  • Printer driver issues

Slow printing speed can be fixed by following these tips:

  • Print on one side only.
  • Print documents in standard, normal, or draft mode to save time.
  • Don’t print high-resolution images, unless necessary.
  • Update printer software and drivers.

Wi-Fi connection issue

Wi-Fi printers are convenient because they allow you and your team to print documents from your mobile device. But when you can’t connect to wireless printers, it can negatively affect your productivity. Follow these steps to resolve this issue:

  1. Turn off the printer and the devices connected to it.
  2. Unplug the Wi-Fi router for at least 30 seconds.
  3. Plug the router back into the wall socket, turn the printer back on and allow it to detect and connect to the router.
  4. Make sure any firewall and antivirus software is not preventing the printer from connecting to the router.
  5. If the printer is still not connecting, contact the manufacturer’s support team.

Misaligned or Weird-looking Text

This is an issue specific to inkjet printers. Many modern inkjet printers don’t have permanent print heads. Instead, every time you put in new cartridges, you’re also replacing the print heads. While this means you’re always starting with clean nozzles, it also means you need to calibrate the print heads.

Check your printer utility for a head-alignment function. Some printers can do this automatically, while others will print out a chart and then have you choose which text alignment setting looks the best. Even if you did the alignment when your current cartridges were first inserted, they might become misaligned over time, so it’s worth a shot.

The Printer Says New Cartridges Are Empty

When you put new cartridges in your printer, it will usually auto-detect that you’ve done this and reset the ink counter. This is especially true if you install new cartridges using the printer’s utility software. Different printers may use different specific ways to measure ink use or detect its level, but if your printer suddenly says its tanks are empty when you know they aren’t, start by pulling the power cord out, waiting 30 seconds, and then turning the printer on again.

Alternatively, check your printer’s utility software to see if there isn’t a manual override.

Another common cause of low-quality prints is cartridges running low on ink or toner. To replace ink and toner cartridges, it’s best to read the printer’s manual or consult with a specialist.

Contact Beringer Today!

Many common printer problems can’t be avoided, but most of them can be fixed easily. If you would like more information on managing printers, then reach out to Beringer Technology Group today.

Beringer Technology Group, a leading Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CRM for Distribution also provides expert Managed IT ServicesBackup and Disaster RecoveryCloud Based Computing, Email Security Implementation and Training,  Unified Communication Solutions, and Cybersecurity Risk Assessment.


theProfessor

theProfessor

Rob is the CTO of Beringer Technology Group, and focuses his efforts on software development, cloud engineering, team mentoring and strategic technical direction. Rob has worked with Beringer since 2005, and has influenced every department from Development, Security, Implementation, Support and Sales. Rob graduated with his MBA from Rowan University in 2012, earned his Bachelors of Computer Science in 1997, and is current with several Microsoft technical certifications. Rob is very active, and loves to mountain bike, weight train, cook and hike with his dog pack.