Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer

Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer

The “Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer” error message appears when your Microsoft Windows computer is unable to establish a connection with your printer. When this happens, you won’t be able to print anything or do anything else that requires a printer.

If you receive this message, check to see if your printer is switched off, your printer drivers are up to date, or your computer has a tiny issue. After you’ve resolved these issues, your computer will be able to establish a connection with your printer.

1. Start the Printing Process

It’s easy to forget that if your printer is switched off, that can be why your computer can’t connect to it. Verify that both the printer and the power strip, if using one, are plugged in and activated.

Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer

2. Run the Printer Troubleshooter in Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Windows comes with a plethora of diagnostic tools to help you zero in on and fix issues. One of these is a tool for diagnosing and fixing problems with Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer.

By itself, this troubleshooter will find and fix the vast majority of problems with hardly any input from you.

Step 1. Press Windows + I to bring up the Settings menu.

Step 2. In the Settings menu, click Update & Security.

Step 3. From the menu on the left, select Troubleshoot.

Step 4. Choose the Additional troubleshooters on the right.

Step 5. To start the troubleshooter for the printer, select it.

Patiently wait for the troubleshooter to identify and resolve the printer problems you’re experiencing.

3. Initiate the Print Spooler Service Once Again

The print spooler service in Windows is responsible for temporarily storing print jobs. Whenever you see a message like “Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer,” stop this service and start it again.

This service can be disabled and enabled in under a minute.

Step 1. Quickly access Run by pressing Windows + R simultaneously.

Step 2. To access this menu, enter services.msc into the Run box and hit Enter.

Step 3. To access its settings, double-click the Print Spooler to the right.

Step 4. To pause the spooler service for a short time, click Stop.

Step 5. Hold on for just a minute and a half.

Step 6. In order to restart the service, click the Start button again.

4. Print Driver Upgrades are Essential

Windows automatically downloads printer drivers whenever you add a new printer to your PC. These drivers eventually become obsolete and can trigger a wide range of problems with Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer.

Outdated printer drivers could be the cause of your “Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer” issue. Normally, this kind of problem can be fixed by installing newer versions of the existing drivers. By using Windows’ Device Manager, you may avoid manually tracking down and installing the most recent drivers for your hardware.

Step 1. The Device Manager can be accessed by right-clicking the Start button and selecting the option from the context menu.

Step 2. Activate your printer by expanding the Print queues submenu, then right-clicking it and selecting Update driver.

Step 3. To have Windows look for updated drivers for your printer, choose the Search automatically for drivers option.

Step 4. You must let Windows locate and instal the most recent drivers automatically.

Step 5. If there are no updated drivers for your device, you will receive a notification that the current drivers are optimal. Select Search for updated drivers on Windows Update to coerce your machine into checking for the most recent drivers anyway.

5. Uninstall Your Printer and Reinstall it

The printer may not have been installed correctly on your computer if you keep seeing the “Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer” error message. If you have any difficulties during the printer’s setup, this is likely to occur.

If you uninstall the printer and reinstall it, the issue should go away.

Step 1. Simply hit the Windows key plus the letter I to open the Control Panel.

Step 2. In the Settings menu, click Devices.

Step 3. In the menu that appears, select Printers & scanners.

Step 4. In the right pane, look for your printer’s name and click the Remove device button.

Step 5. The printer can be removed by answering “Yes” when prompted.

Step 6. You may reset your printer by simply unplugging and reconnecting it to your computer.

Step 7. To instal the printer driver, just stick to the on-screen prompts.

Errors like “Windows Cannot Connect To The Printer” are typically caused by technical issues that are easy to resolve.