This is a difficult problem to diagnose because there are many printers on the market and numerous reasons why one might not print.
First, make sure your printer is powered up and connected to your Windows computer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Next, try updating the printer driver on your computer. Printer problems sometimes stem from out-of-date driver software, and can be solved by installing, or reinstalling, the latest driver.
To find the latest driver for your printer, first check Windows Update, which is designed to detect the hardware connected to your computer and automatically notify you when new drivers are available:
- Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button
, clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.
- In the left pane, click Check for updates, and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your computer.
- If any updates are found, click Install updates.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
If you don't see an updated printer driver listed, it's still possible that one exists: Your printer manufacturer may not have provided it to Microsoft yet.
Most printer manufacturers offer up-to-date drivers on the support sections of their websites. Drivers are typically organized by Windows edition and printer model. Once you find the proper driver, download and install it according to the manufacturer's instructions. For more help, see Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly.
If your printer still doesn't print, consult the support section of your printer manufacturer's website for model-specific troubleshooting tips.
