It can be incredibly frustrating when your printer won’t print, and even more aggravating when you can’t figure out why it’s suddenly not working. The next time you’re forced to troubleshoot a problem or call a printer repair specialist, consider one of the following common causes.

Why Won’t Your Printer Print?

1. It’s Not Properly Connected

When your printer won’t print, check that the machine is turned on and that there’s paper loaded into the tray. Next, look at the cables and determine if they are properly connected. If your printer operates on a wireless network, you’ll need to make sure that the correct drivers are installed on your computer, which can usually be found on a CD or as a download from the manufacturer’s website.

2. There’s a Paper Jam

When there’s a paper jam in your printer, all the print jobs will stop, and you may need printer repairs. To troubleshoot, open your printer and make sure there are no errant scraps or wads of paper blocking the work flow. You should also make sure that the paper tray isn’t overfilled and that the sheets are aligned properly; if a sheet of paper is fed into the printer at the wrong angle, it will cause another jam.

3. The Job Was Sent to the Wrong Printer

When you have more than one printer on your network (if you work in an office, for example), it might seem like your printer isn’t working when you hit the print button and nothing comes out. However, it’s possible that your print job was sent to another one in the network. To see if this is the case, check the Devices and Printers folders on your computer and make sure the one you want your job sent to is selected.

If you try these tricks and it still won’t work, contact the printer repair experts at Alpha Laser Richmond. Since 1993, this company has been serving all five New York City boroughs, as well as Westchester, Long Island, and Northern and Central New Jersey. They provide a wide range of products and services to both residential and business clients, including PC repairs and ink cartridge recycling. Visit their website to learn more about the company, and call (718) 317-1263 to speak with a team member.