7 Solutions for Printer Errors

The effectiveness of your printer has a significant impact on your workflow, therefore it's critical to understand what to do if it breaks down. It might be really annoying when you receive the message "Your Printer is in Error State," but there are eight ways to fix it.

Why Is My Printer In Error State?

Your printer may have sent an error message for a number of reasons. A malfunctioning printer drive, software updates, or a broken connection between the printer and computer could all be to blame.

To figure out what's wrong with your printer and how to fix it, follow the troubleshooting procedures listed below.

How to Fix a Printer Error in 7 Steps

There are 8 ways to remove the "printer in error status" warning, ranked from easiest to most difficult.

For printers from HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, and Lexmark, follow these instructions.

1. Verify your computer and printer connections.

As simple as it sounds, issues with the physical chord connecting the printer to the computer often get overlooked.

It’s important the cord is in good condition, plugged directly into an outlet instead of a surge protector, and plugged securely into the computer and printer. 

If your printer connects wirelessly to your computer, navigate to settings to make sure the printer is recognizable from your computer. Settings > Devices > Add printer or scanner.

Be sure the correct printer is selected, and the status says “Online.” 

2. Confirm that the paper tray is loaded.

Your printer may malfunction if you send it a print job but there is no paper in the tray when it should be.

Lift the tray up yourself to check for paper jams. Try sending the print job again after raising the printer tray and stuffing it entirely with a small stack of paper.

3. Restart the computer and printer

You should restart your printer and PC if all the aforementioned functionalities appear to be in working order but the "error state" notification still appears.

Press and hold the power button until the printer shuts off to restart it. For 15 seconds, unplug the printer's cord from the wall. Some manufacturers advise holding the power button down while unplugged for 15 seconds. Restart the printer by plugging in the power cord.

4.Confirm Printer Is Online

If you’re trying to send a print job and the printer is not online, the “error state” message may appear on your screen. Most printers also have a “Use Printer Offline” mode, which restricts the printer from connecting to the computer. Some printers will also go into a “Sleep Mode,” appearing offline. 

Click on Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, then click on your printer. Click ‘Open queue,’ then select your printer from the menu. Make sure ‘Use Printer Offline’ is unchecked. 

The printer should also be connected to the same WiFi as your computer. 

7. Reinstall or update printer drivers

The printer drivers may need to be updated or reinstalled if none of the alternatives mentioned above have worked. Updated drivers from manufacturers are frequently made available to enhance printer performance. Reinstalling your printer's driver is fairly similar to doing so for the whole device.

Go to Device Manager, select your printer by right-clicking it or by pressing and holding it, and then choose "Update driver" or "Update driver software."

If neither of the aforementioned options work, click "Uninstall" and restart your computer. When your computer starts up again, go to the same location and select "Install."

7. firmware update for printers

You can get the most recent firmware for your printer from the manufacturer's website and instal it on your computer if you think it might have an outdated version of firmware.

To make sure you get the right firmware update, check the firmware on the printer's website. Updates to printer firmware should improve printer performance and resolve minor issues, such as error messages.

Conclusion

The number one source of headaches and aggravation during the workday is printer error code.

The following time your printer displays an error warning, carefully implement one of the eight solutions listed above to get rid of the alert and restore normal printer operation.