HP Printer Troubleshooting: Ultimate Guide to Fixing Issues

HP printers are generally reliable and user-friendly, but like any device, they occasionally experience problems or errors. Common issues with HP printers on PCs include:

• The printer is not turning on.
• The printer is not printing properly.
• Paper jamming or misalignment.
• Loud noises are coming from the printer when printing.
• Slow printing speed.
• Connection issues.

Other problems may be caused by outdated software or firmware updates. The article below provides the best solution for troubleshooting HP Printer issues and errors.

Set HP as the Default Printer

One of the easiest Hp printers troubleshooting techniques is to set the printers as default. This way, every printing task would be sent to the Hp printer, which also helps avoid the offline issue. Be it any hp printer, this quick-fix solution would work. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch the control panel from Windows main menu. Type control in the taskbar’s search box and double-click the list option to launch the menu.

Step 2: Select the devices and printers option in the control panel menu.

Step 3: In the next window, select the HP printer from the list of devices and right-click it to select the option of the set as default printer from the context menu.

Update Drivers

Updating the hp printer driver to compatible operating system versions is another way to troubleshoot the avoid or resolve errors confronted by most hp printers. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch the device manager from the run utility. Click windows key+ R, and in the run command box, type devmgmt.msc and click ok to continue. It will launch the device manager menu.

Step 2: In the device manager window, navigate to the option of print queues and expand it. Locate the option of printers.

Step 3: In the list of printers, select the HP printer and right-click it to select update driver from the context menu.

Check HP Printer Spooler Error

Fixing printer spooler service errors can also act as troubleshooting for resolving the Hp printer errors. For issues ranging from basic printing, wrong paper tray, or other print jobs, setting spooler service, i.e., restarting the service, can help the pursuit. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Click Windows key+ R to launch the Run utility. Type services.msc in the run command box, and click ok to continue. It will launch the Windows services window.

Step 2: In the services menu, locate the printer spooler option. Right-click it to select the option of the stop from the context menu.

Step 3: In the next step, launch windows file explorer via the Windows key+ E shortcut keys. And type C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printer in the address bar. Click ok to continue.

Step 4: Clear all pending files in the printer queue in the next window. Restart the printer spooler service by following the steps mentioned above.

Clear Previous Print Command Traffic

A stuck print queue in Hp printers is an error that can be troubleshot by removing the printing queue for starting at least basic printing. This can be done without any complex Hp support. Here is how you can perform the action.

Step 1: Launch windows settings from the main menu. Type settings in the taskbar’s search box and double-click the list option to launch the menu.

Step 2: In the settings menu, select devices, followed by selecting the option of printers and scanners in the left pane. Double-click the option to launch.

Step 3: In the next window, from the list of printers, select the HP printer and click the option of the open queue.

Step 5: In the pop-up queue menu, select all the stuck printing queues and right-click to select the cancel option.

Disable Proxy/VPN connection

If proxy servers/VPN are being used on the device and an external printer (HP) is connected may result in various Hp printer errors. Disabling the proxy server settings may resolve the issue. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Type settings in the taskbar’s search box and double-click the option in the list to launch the menu.

Step 2: In the settings menu, navigate to the Network & Internet Proxy option. Double-click the option to launch the menu.

Step 2: In the Network & Internet Proxy window, toggle off (switch off) the button under the option of the proxy server.

 Change printer properties

Changing printer properties may act as a troubleshooting quick-fix solution to resolve various HP printer errors. Disabling SNMP in port properties can troubleshoot the printer error in this context. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch the control panel from the run utility. Click the Windows key+ R shortcut keys from the keyboard. Type the control panel in the run command box and click ok to continue.

Step 2: Select the devices and printers option in the control panel menu.

Step 3: In the next window, select the targeted HP printer and right-click it to select printer properties from the context menu.

Step 4: In the properties window, navigate to the ports tab and click the button to configure port.

Step 5: Under the section of LPR settings, Uncheck the box for the option of SNMP status enabled. Click ok to continue.

Regularly Run Maintenance Checks on Your HP Printer

Regular maintenance checks on an HP printer are essential to keep the device operating at peak performance. This helps maintain the quality of prints and avoids costly repairs or replacements that may arise due to neglect. Maintenance checks include cleaning the paper path, checking for driver updates, updating firmware, and properly aligning ink cartridges.

Frequently Asked Questions About HP Printer Troubleshooter