Windows 10 has a problem with printer support. As an IT administrator, printing issues will likely be one of your biggest IT headaches.
Here are five common problems with Windows 10 printing and some suggestions for solving them.
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The printer output does not match what the user expects.
There can be several reasons why a printed document does not match the user's expectations. Sometimes, the problem is attributed to an application. This is particularly true of web browsers. There is a good reason that many websites offer a printer-friendly version of specific pages.
Check if a computer uses the correct driver if a user prints from an application that produces consistently good print quality. A wrong print driver can cause the printer's gibberish to appear. Other times, the printer will print text but not graphics or unique fonts.
Check if Windows is using a Microsoft driver. If not, check if it is a driver provided by the printer's manufacturer. The manufacturer's driver may provide features that the Windows driver cannot. Ensure the driver is updated if the device uses the manufacturer's drivers.
Read error code oxc4eb9004 hw_micci2_v12
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Nothing happens when the user clicks on Print.
The print spooler could have failed if nothing happened when the user clicked on Print. Enter the Services—msc at the Windows Run prompt. The Service Control Manager will be opened. Ensure that the Print Spooler Service is configured to start automatically and is running.
The printer is out of ink or paper or has lost its network connectivity.
Check the status of your printer first if you are unable to print. Depending on its make and model, the printer's status may be displayed on a Windows desktop or the printer itself. The printer will stop printing when it runs out of ink or paper. However, there are other things you can check to make sure that the printer is not running low on ink or paper.
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Print spooler
Print Spooler should be running.
Check the network connectivity of your printer. Print jobs will be stuck in the queue if the printer's network connectivity is lost. A conflict in IP addresses can cause the same problem. You should ensure that a print server manages the printing jobs. It must be online and have connectivity to the printer and the network clients. If your print server is Windows-based, ensure the Spooler service (Figure 1) runs. Rebooting the print server can fix some printing problems.
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The print queue contains corrupt data.
Rebooting the print server can fix some printing problems.
A corrupt print job can cause a print queue to become stuck. In this case, you will need to empty the print queue. The easiest way to solve the issue is to use Print Management Console if the user runs Windows 10 Pro.
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Print Management
Print Management Console.
Click on the printer, and then choose Open Print Queue. Choose the Cancel All Documents option from the Printer menu once the print queue has been opened.
You can manually clear the print queue if the Windows machine does not have the Printer Management console. Stop the Print Spooler and delete all the files from the %WINDIR%System32SpoolPrinters folder. Restart the Print Spooler after deleting all files.
Also Read How to Fix 17 Common Printer Problems?
Windows has taken my printer offline.
If you suspect Windows has taken it offline, you can bring a printer back online. Right-click the printer causing you problems and choose the Open Print Queue option from the shortcut menu. Click on the Printer option in the print queue. Ensure there is no checkmark next to the Use Printer Offline. Click on Use Printer Offline to remove the checkmark.
There is still one trick you can try if none of the above techniques work. Devices and
Printers. This screen shows you all the installed printers. Click on the printer with the problem and select Troubleshoot from the shortcut menu. Windows will then attempt to diagnose the issue for you.
