We all had printer problems, some worse than the others. A few years back, we had to spend hundreds of dollars just to get them fixed. And because of that, people tried to fix the problems on their own, leading them to more complicated issues and spending more time and money. It’s safe to say that those printer problems were once a major cause of stress in our lives.
With the evolution of technology, manufacturers are making it easier for printer owners to troubleshoot common printer issues. On top of that, you can easily search for solutions online.
But, if you’re not having any luck finding a solution, here are some DIY printer hacks that will keep IT and printer technicians away.
- Paper Jams
You haven’t made the most out of your printers without paper jams. It’s the most common (and the most annoying) printer issue that everyone encounters. There are plenty of reasons why paper jams but it all boils down to incorrect paper placements.
Want to avoid this problem? Here are some things that you can do:
- Square off the stack of paper before putting it in the tray
- Make sure that the pages are properly lined up
- Check if the guides are flush with the paper
- Don’t put too much paper in the tray
- Printer Won’t Turn On
Sometimes, the printer won’t just turn on. But sometimes, people just overlook a power button. This happens all the time with wireless printers. Although the printer prints wirelessly, it still has to be plugged in and turned on.
Before you seek for more advanced support, you might want to do the following first:
- Check if your printer is plugged in
- Turn on your printer. Check the light indicator if it’s actually turned on.
- Try using other power sources if the printer won’t boot up.
- Printer documents faded and blotchy
If your printed documents started to get faded or blotched, then most likely, there are some issues with your printer cartridges. Now, before you buy some new cartridges, you might want to check the problem first. Ink cartridges can be pricey so before you throw them away, make sure that you really have to.
Check if your cartridges have dried up. If they are dry, you can do the following:
Step 1: Grab 2 pieces of paper towels – one wet and one damp.
Step 2: Take out your ink cartridge and blot it onto the damp paper towel. Do this a few times with the printhead side down.
Step 3: Hold the cartridge against a dry paper towel for a minute. This should dissipate the dried ink clogging the head.
Do this process again and slide the cartridge inside your printer. Do a test print.
Please note that this process only works with integrated cartridge heads, and not with the built-in type.
Regardless, always open your printer and check inside for any broken or jammed parts.
- Slow Printer Speed
Not all printers print in an instant, but they should all print at a reasonable speed. If you notice that your printer takes forever to get a document printed, you need to do something about it.
You need to know the reason why your printer is printing slow. It can be because of an outdated software or maybe you’re just too far away from the router when printing wirelessly.
Regardless, you can always try and print in draft mode. It will not only save you time, it will also save on ink or toner. Sure, the document quality will not be as vibrant, but this is a quick fix for every day, casual documents.
- Can’t print from a mobile device
Wireless printers offer a more convenient way to have our documents printed. But with the rise of this new technology, you can also imagine new issues coming in. One of the most common issues is not being able to print using a mobile device.
The first thing you need to do when you encounter this problem is to check your connectivity with the printer. Keep close to the router and make sure that you’re not too far away when printing.
Another thing that you have to check is if your app is updated. Most major printer brands have their own apps to connect with both Android and Apple users. Some updates are required so you can print your documents so make sure your apps are always up to date.
These are just some of the most common printer problems and how to fix them. Need a hand with your printer problem? Comment down below and we’ll try our best to help you.
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