Here’s how to fix issues like print spooler not working, Windows couldn’t connect to the printer, printer driver not detected, Printer Driver is unavailable, print spooler service not operating, and more in Windows 10 update.
Have you installed a Windows update or upgraded to Windows 10 version 20H2 and are unable to print or scan documents? You are not alone; a number of customers have reported that their printers have ceased working after installing the Windows 10 October 2020 update, while some have reported that their printers have stopped working entirely.
Windows was unable to establish a connection with the printer.
The problems can include, among other things, Windows being unable to connect to the printer, the printer driver not being detect, the printer driver being unavailable, or the print spooler service not being operational. So, if your printer stops working after installing the latest Windows 10 Update but was working fine before the update, the problem is most likely with the printer driver. The latest version of Windows 10 fails to print documents due to faulty printer configuration and a stalled print spooler service.
Others, meanwhile, said that while they can print, the results aren’t perfect. Several user reports on Microsoft forums indicated that portions of the printed image are simply missing, leaving a blank gap. This problem affects a number of printers, including the following:
- Kyocera zebra
- Canon
- Ricoh, and so on.
Microsoft quickly reacted, acknowledging that the March 2021 Patch Tuesday KB5000802 update had broken many people’s printers. They are also working on an update, according to reports. While the update that was supposed to fix printing issues and BSODs was published a few days later, users had to manually install it.
How to fix a printer that isn’t working in Windows 10
The techniques below work on Windows 7 and 8 to cure practically all printer errors and problems (HP, Epson, Canon, Brother, Samsung, Konica, Ricoh, and more).
Make sure you’ve restarted Windows at least once before continuing with the troubleshooting procedures.
- Check that the USB cable is correctly connected on both the PC and the printer end. Also, correctly. Switch on your printer after connecting it to the PC.
- If you have a network printer, double-check that the network (RJ 45) cable is properly attached and that the lights are blinking. Switch on the wireless printer and connect it to the Wi-Fi network.
- Also, plug your printer into a different PC or laptop to see whether the printer is the problem.
Note: If your printer is not detected by Windows 10, you can add it by clicking on ‘Add a printer/scanner’ (from Control PanelHardware and SoundDevices and Printers). If your printer is an oldie, don’t be afraid to click on ‘My printer is a little older, help me find it’ and choose the ‘Replace the current driver’ option. After that, restart your computer.
Press Windows + R and type services to see if the print Spooler service is running. OK and msc
- Scroll down and look for “print spooler” as a service.
- Make sure that the spooler service is active and set to automatic starting. Then pick restart from the context menu when you right-click on the service name.
- If the service isn’t running, double-click it. As indicated in the figure below, go to print spooler properties, change the startup type to automated, and start the service.
- Let’s see if we can get some documents printed. Is the printer working? If not, proceed to the next step.
The printer troubleshooter could look for print spooler service failures, printer driver updates, printer connectivity difficulties, errors from the printer driver, printing queue, and more during the troubleshooting process. The process then restarts windows and attempts to print some documents or a test page.
Look into the Printer Driver problem.
The installed printer driver is the primary and most prevalent cause of practically all printer issues. There’s a potential that the installed printer driver is faulty or incompatible with the current Windows 10 version 1909, especially if the problem began after the Windows 10 update. Installing the correct printer driver also aids most users in resolving the issue.
To begin, go to the printer manufacturer’s website and look for the most recent driver that is compatible with Windows 10’s latest version. Save the printer driver software to your local drive after downloading it.
Then, first, delete the previous infected printer driver by following the steps below.
- Select Apps and Features from the Windows Key+X menu. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Programs and Features > Select your printer > Uninstall from the drop-down menu.
- In the Windows Search box, type Printer > Printers & Scanners > Choose a printer > Remove the gadget from the equation.
- Alternatively, go to the control panel > program and features > Uninstall the installed printer driver by right-clicking on it.
- To completely delete the printer driver, restart Windows.
- Then, in the Windows Start Search box, type Printer > Select Printers & Scanners from the drop-down menu. Click Add a printer or scanner on the right side > If Windows recognizes your printer, it will appear in the list > Select the printer and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up (in the case of a Wi-Fi printer, your computer must also be log into a Wi-Fi network).
Manually Add printer Windows 10
If Windows fails to recognize your printer, you will see a blue notice that says “The printer that I want isn’t listed.”
- Select Add a Bluetooth, wireless, or network discoverable printer if you’re using a Bluetooth or wireless printer.
- Find your printer from the drop-down menu and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings if you’re using a wired printer. Select Use an existing port from the drop-down menu. Choose your printer and follow the instructions on the screen.
If a driver is require during installation or configuration, pick the driver path you already obtained from the printer manufacturer’s website. After the installation is complete, it will attempt to print a test page and I am sure this time the printer will succeed in printing the document.
Spooler for Printing
Clearing the printer spooler, according to several users on the Microsoft forum and Reddit, helps them fix the printer problem. To accomplish this,
- In the Windows Start Search Box, type services.
- Services can be found by clicking here.
- The Print Spooler is located at the bottom of the page.
- For the Print Spooler service, right-click and select Stop.
- Go to C:WINDOWSSystem32spoolPRINTERS on your computer.
- Delete all of the files in this folder again from the Services interface, then right-click the Print Spooler service and select Start.
Did these methods assist you in resolving your Windows 10 printer issues? Please let us know in the comments section below.
