It has happened to a lot of us.\u00a0 You install a brand new ink cartridge into your printer, hit \u201cprint\u201d and eagerly anticipate the arrival of that first document.\u00a0 Then, nothing.\u00a0 Printers can instantly switch from lifesaver to frustrating if they stop working in the middle of an important print job and more often than not, the root cause can be difficult to diagnose.\u00a0 Here are a few troubleshooting solutions for some of the most common printer problems, so you can skip the headache and get your printer back on track.<\/p>\n
Start with the basics:<\/strong><\/p>\n Before you start troubleshooting, first double-check all of the basics.\u00a0 Make sure the printer is plugged in, turned on and properly connected to your computer.\u00a0 Check the printer settings on your computer and confirm that the printer is on your network and ready to print.\u00a0 Inspect the paper path for a paper jam.\u00a0 If you see any paper, gently pull on the page to remove it from the printer.\u00a0 If all of the basics check out, you might be able to pinpoint the problem with a couple of free troubleshooting diagnostics tools.\u00a0 Microsoft offers a printer troubleshooter for Windows 10<\/a> users on their support site.\u00a0 Apple users can find similar troubleshooting tips for Mac computers here<\/a>.\u00a0 HP printer owners can also use their\u00a0Print and Scan Doctor<\/a>, just download the program and it will walk you through the appropriate resolution steps for your printer.\u00a0 Keep reading for more specific troubleshooting tips.<\/p>\n Fixing common printing issues:<\/strong><\/p>\n The cartridge tries to print but nothing comes out on the page.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Blank pages typically occur due to a clogged print head or a faulty product but before you start troubleshooting, check to make sure that you have removed any protective tape from the cartridge.\u00a0 Most cartridges have an orange or yellow piece of tape that covers the vent hole and it must be removed before installation.\u00a0 If you install the cartridge with the tape still attached, it will not be able to print.\u00a0 We recommend removing the tape over a trash can, as some ink can escape from the cartridge during this process.\u00a0 To remove, gently pull the tape away from the cartridge.\u00a0 If you remove the tape and still are not getting prints, move onto our troubleshooting steps.<\/p>\n This troubleshooting technique is only relevant to printers that use an integrated ink cartridge. An integrated ink cartridge is a cartridge that has the printhead built into the cartridge itself.\u00a0 A few of the most common integrated ink cartridges include the HP 61, HP 63, HP 64, HP 65, HP 67, Canon PG-240 and Canon PG-245.\u00a0 Sometimes you need to prime the printhead to get the cartridge to start printing, especially if a cartridge has been sitting on your shelf for a while.\u00a0 To start, grab a warm, damp paper towel and a dry paper towel.\u00a0 Take the warm, damp paper towel and blot the cartridge with the printhead side down onto the towel.\u00a0 You should see ink appearing on the paper towel after blotting a couple of times.\u00a0 Be careful not to confuse the printhead with the gold and copper contacts or dots.\u00a0 After blotting onto the damp paper towel, hold the cartridge against the dry paper towel for 30 seconds to a minute.\u00a0 This process wicks out any dried ink that may be preventing you from a quality print.\u00a0 Once complete, insert the cartridge back in the machine and run a test print.\u00a0 Repeat the process a couple of times for best results.\u00a0 If the second time does not cut it, move on to our next tip, printhead cleaning.<\/p>\n\n