Ultimate Troubleshooting Steps for HP Printer

HP-Printer-Issue

HP Printer Troubleshooting Guide : Solutions for Common Issues

Method 1.Repair System File Using SFC Scan

  • Open the Start menu or Windows search option.
  • Search for Command Prompt.
  • Right-click and run it as an administrator.
  • Type ‘sfc /scannow’ and press Enter.
  • It will take some time to detect and replace corrupted files. Once it’s completed, restart your PC and ensure your HP printer is connected. Try printing again.”
 

Method 2. Update Your Faulty/Outdated Drivers

 
  • To open the dialog box, select the Search option and input “run.” Next, click “OK” after typing “devmgmt.msc” into the dialog box as indicated below.

    Next, the ‘Windows Device Manager’ screen will open. Next, double-click on the “print queues” category to make it larger, as seen in the picture below.

  • Right click on the listed printer  name under this category and click on ‘update driver’ from the menu.
  • Lastly, you need to wait for the update download to finish and then follow the instructions shown on screen.

Method 3. Update Firmware To Troubleshoot Printer Issues

A. Update Firmware from the HP Smart App

  • Launch the HP Smart app, then select your printer’s image to access settings and management tools.
  • Navigate to Advanced or Settings, and then click on Advanced Settings to open the printer’s Embedded Web Server (EWS).
  • On the EWS home page, select the Printer Update tile. If not found, go to Tools > Printer Updates > Firmware Updates.
  • If prompted for login, input the PIN from the printer label, then click Submit. You can usually find this label inside the cartridge access area.
  • In the ‘Check for Printer Updates’ section, click on ‘Check Now’ to automatically install any available new updates.

B. Update Firmware Directly from the HP Printer

  • Ensure the printer is powered on and connected to your computer.
  • Visit HP Software and Driver Downloads, then input your printer model.
  • Choose ‘Firmware’ from the drivers list, select the download option next to the update, and proceed by following the provided instructions.
  • On the HP Printer Update screen, verify your printer’s status.

Note: If your network printer isn’t visible, temporarily link your printer to the computer using a USB cable. Wait for 20 seconds, then click Refresh.

  • If the status reads ‘Ready’, tick the checkbox adjacent to the serial number, then click ‘Update’.
  • If the status indicates ‘Up-to-Date’, your printer firmware is current.
 

Method 4.Remove the Existing Print Command Traffic

  • First, from the start button open control panel and click on ‘Devices and Printers’.
  • Then, right click on HP printer icon and select ‘See What’s printing’ option. 
  • Now, to cancel the previous print command queue, open the ‘printer’ menu and select ‘cancel all documents’.
  • Click ‘yes’ to confirm. Now you can proceed with your print task.

Still unable to troubleshoot the issue, run our Diagnostic Tool for printer check up

Method 5. Ensure Printer Set as Default

 
  • From the search bar of your system, open the ‘run’ dialogue box and type ‘control panel’.
  • After opening the control panel, choose ‘Devices and Printers’.
     
  • On the following screen, choose the HP printer option, right-click on it, select ‘Set as default printer,’ and proceed.
  • After completing the steps mentioned above, if you see a green checkmark below your printer icon, it indicates that your printer troubleshooting is finished.

Method 6. Troubleshooting Step to Check For HP Printer Spooler Error

  • To start, close all the programs or files you are attempting to print using your printer.
  • Navigate to the “Start” icon, enter “Administrative Tools” into the search field, then select “Services” after that.
  • Next, scroll through the list to find ‘Print Spooler’. Right-click on it and then select ‘Stop’
  • Thereafter, go to ‘My Computer’ & double-click ‘Local Disk (C:)’ and select the ‘Windows’ folder > ‘System32’ folder> ‘spool’>’Printers’
  • Then, delete all the print jobs in this folder.
  • Go back to ‘Services,’ and search ‘print spooler’ & right click on it. Now, select ‘Start’ option.
  • Thereafter, try to test print a page as restarting the spooler may have just fixed your HP printer error.