Solve common printing problems: The printer won’t print

There are numerous possibilities, so start with the basics, such as checking to see whether there is an error message/warning light on the printer, making sure there is paper in the tray, the ink cartridges aren’t empty, the USB cable is plugged in or the printer is connected to the Wi-Fi network. If it is a wireless printer, try using a USB cable instead.

Sometimes old printer drivers are still installed and set as the default printer. Open the Control Panel, Devices and Printers, right click the printer to use and set it as the default. Make sure that the correct printer is selected in the program you are printing from.

Microsoft has a printing troubleshooter that can help to identify problems. Click the Fix it button, download and run the program, then follow the steps in the wizard. You can also open the Control Panel, Devices and Printers, right click the printer icon and select Troubleshoot. It doesn’t always help, but it’s worth trying. HP has a Print and Scan Doctor to identify problems, and Canon has lots of great videos on its website – click your printer model and then click the Troubleshooting videos link.

Solve common printing problems: I can’t print from my tablet