PC does not see USB printer

Why PC can’t see USB printer

There are several reasons why the computer can’t see the printer. These include hardware problems or problems with the ink cartridges or ink supply system. There are situations when a computer (PC) does not see or has stopped seeing a printer, even though both devices are working normally.

Why can’t the computer/laptop see the printer?

I have encountered a number of printer drivers that do not work correctly. If the computer has been asleep (or is in “Hibernation” mode). And then left it and “tried” to send documents to print. an error appears that the printer is not connected, check the connection, etc.ะด.

So first tip: Reboot your printer and your computer. Make sure that the LED on the printer is “lit” to show that it is connected to the network.

One of the Epson printers. device connected to the network

Computer does not see your printer via USB: How to fix it?

There may be many reasons for this, starting with a disconnected cable, ending with a fault in the operating system. Let’s look at common problems and solutions, from the simple to the complex.

A faulty connection

Sometimes a computer or laptop does not see the printer via USB due to a faulty cable or port, or a poor connection.

  • Unplug the device’s cable from both sides, then plug it back in.
  • Check to see if the USB connector is working properly. Try connecting another device, such as a keyboard or mouse.
  • Try connecting the printer to a different USB connector.
  • If possible, replace the cable.

Also make sure the printer is turned on. Some devices have a power button on the back or side, and users simply forget to press it. Sometimes a computer can’t see a printer via USB because of such a small thing, and it takes literally one minute to solve the problem.

Configuration failure

Check what hardware is used for printing by default. To do this, go to Control Panel, then to Hardware and Sound. View Devices and Printers. Right-click on the printer icon and select the “Use as default” option. In some cases this is enough to make the device work properly.

If the problem persists, double-click the hardware icon, select the “Printer” tab in the window that will open, and uncheck the “Suspend printing” and “Operate offline” items. Also click on “Clear Print Queue”.

If this does not help, go to Control Panel, choose “View” under “Small Icons,” go to the “Administration” tab, and open “Services. Find the “Printer Manager” service in the window that appears and set the automatic startup type.

If the service is stopped, click the “Start” button as well, and then print a test page.

No driver

It happens that the computer doesn’t see the printer via USB because of the lack of driver or because of incorrectly installed or outdated software.

Go to the manufacturer’s official website, download the driver for your device and install it. Then restart your computer and try printing a test page.

If you accidentally installed an unsupported driver, go to “Device Manager” through the control panel, find the necessary hardware, open its properties, then to the “Driver” tab and click “Uninstall”. After that, install new software downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website.

Device malfunction

If the printer does not connect to the computer via USB and all the above methods failed, the problem might be with the hardware itself. Try connecting the device to another computer or laptop. If the problem occurs again, the best option is to take the printer to a service center so that they can test and repair it.

Driver Problem

Laptop often fails to see peripherals in Windows 7 or 8 operating systems due to driver “flipping. This is the special software that guides the printer through the printing process. To check for such a problem, you should perform a few simple steps:

    Click “Start”, look for the “Computer” shortcut on the right-hand side, right-click on it, and select “Manage” in the menu.

does, printer

Instructions on how to install the drivers if you don’t have a proprietary disk. A description of the different ways to update your printer software.

Setup Failure

Check which hardware is used for printing by default. To do this, go to Control Panel, then to “Hardware and Sound”. “View Devices and Printers”. Right-click on the printer icon and select the “Use as default” option. In some cases this is enough to make the device work properly.

If the problem is not solved, double-click on the hardware icon, select the “Printer” tab in the window that will open and uncheck the items “Suspend printing” and “Work offline”. Also click on “Clear Print Queue”.

If this doesn’t work either, go to Control Panel, select “Small icons” from the “View” menu, go to the “Administration” tab and open “Services”. In the window that appears, you need to find the service “Print Manager” and set the automatic start type.

If the service is stopped, also click on “Start” and then send a test page to be printed.

Hackers enter the game

It is the software that plays an important role in the operation of the all-in-one printer. The corresponding drivers must be installed on your notebook computer. If they are there, but do not work correctly, the programs are uninstalled and downloaded again. Use a simple keyboard shortcut [WinR] for this. Copy and paste the command [control printers] into the command line that appears. This allows you to go into the properties of the printer itself and manually uninstall the drivers in the “Advanced” tab. Depending on the version of Windows (e.g. Windows 10), access to the drivers is in the Properties menu of the print server.

TIP! The official sites of the manufacturers are best for downloading programs. The software selection is based on the bit mode of Windows and whether the all-in-one printer is specified correctly.

Possible causes of malfunctions

Often the cause of printer invisibility is a lack of contact when connecting. caused by clogged ports, a faulty cord, or simply a loose fit at the junction.

This problem can occur if other printing devices are connected to your computer, or if they were previously connected but not properly uninstalled. This means that the operating system recognizes another printer that is automatically selected.

In searching for an answer to the question why the computer does not see the printer, users often forget about the settings of the operating system itself. For trouble-free printing, the service must be on all the time.

What to do if the computer does not see the printer?

One of the most common problems printer users have is that the computer fails to communicate with the PU. It is possible that one of the devices is faulty, as evidenced by this situation? If they are both functioning perfectly, then you need to look for other causes, which may include:

Incorrect connection. Often the computer does not recognize the printer because the cord is not working properly, the ports are clogged, the contacts are not tight. Pull the cord out of both machines, if you find small foreign objects or a lot of dust in the ports, gently remove them from there so that contact between the printer and the computer is possible. If there is no blockage then test another USB cable and disconnect the keyboard and mouse.

Drivers have not been installed or do not work. Use the CD and instructions that came with the printer to install it. If you do not have them for some reason, download them from the manufacturer’s official site. When you do this, choose a package that corresponds to the printer model you need and the OS installed on your home or work computer. Often PU drivers can be faulty, leading to malfunctions, but they are easy to replace with new ones. When doing this, remember to uninstall the old version beforehand.

A different machine is selected for printing by default. This situation can occur when other printers are connected to the notebook. They may have been plugged in at some point and forgotten to remove them, or done so incorrectly. To get your printer working go to “Devices and Printers”, right click on the image of your model and check the box “Use as Default”.

The print service is not enabled. To activate it, go to the Computer Control Panel, go to “System and Security” and then in Administrative Tools, open “Services” and “Print Queue Manager. Click on “Properties” and select the “Automatic” startup type or the “Run” command.

If your notebook PC does not recognize your printer, you can try to solve the problem yourself. If none of the above methods has helped you, it is worth to apply to the service center where the cause of malfunction will be found and repaired quickly. The main thing is not to attempt to break the construction of the devices or mechanically manipulate their parts as this may lead to more serious problems and loss of warranty. Take good care of your printer, then it will last you for many years!