If the printer is giving you an error message, this message will point you to the exact cause of the problem. If you’re unable to interpret the error message, consult the printer’s instruction manual or consider calling technical support.
The paper in the tray should fit flatly in the tray; there should be no ridges or bumps in the paper once you put it in the tray and you shouldn’t have to force it in.
Check for correct paper size and type in your printer manual and make sure you haven’t overfilled your paper feeder to avoid paper jams and may even stop a smudgy or uneven print problem. Some types of printers can struggle to print on special paper, such as glossy sheets or heavy cardstock. Using a slightly smaller stack of clean, lightweight, 8 inch (20. 3 cm) by 10 inch (25. 4 cm) printer/copier paper will likely avoid the messy headache of jams.
For best results, aim to dust your printer at least once a week.
Your printer manufacturer’s website can most likely be found in the printer manual. Bookmark and check the website regularly to make sure you don’t miss an important driver update in the future!
If your printer is near your internet router, you can connect it to your internet by connecting it to the router via ethernet cable. You can also connect your printer directly to your computer with a USB cable, if you’d rather avoid dealing with Wi-Fi connections entirely.
If you have an Apple device or a Mac with a printer attached, you’ll probably have to use either AirPrint or Printer Pro to print directly from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Other common apps or softwares used to print from mobile devices include PrinterShare, Epson Connect, Mopria Print Services, and Google Cloud Print.
If necessary, you can also easily remove the printer heads and clean them with a little water or isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to test and clean your print heads often (i. e. , once every few months) to avoid build-up.
Each printer calls for a specific ink cartridge type, so please follow the directions provided in your printer manual to properly replace your particular cartridge. These directions can typically be found by opening up the printer cover; on or in the cartridge or toner package; or onscreen when you computer alerts you to low ink levels. Remember that infrequent printer use can also cause pages to print incorrectly or not at all because of dried up ink or cartridges that have “settled”.
Sometimes you can “squeeze” a little more toner out of the cartridge by opening the printer’s toner cartridge bay, removing the cartridge, and shaking it back and forth to loosen up the toner that is still in the cartridge.
When shopping for ink cartridges, look for those that are marked “OEM,” which stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. These cartridges are built by the same company that built the printer itself and offer the best quality of ink. “Compatible Cartridges,” meanwhile, are those that have been built by third-party companies for use in a wider range of modern printers. Although these tend to be cheaper than OEM cartridges, their ink quality also tends to be less reliable.
If you’re unsure what type of paper or ink you should be using, consult the manufacturer’s website or contact customer service for more information on your specific printer model.
For example, if you’re trying to print high quality photos, selecting plain paper settings on your computer will result in very low quality printouts. You can usually change printer settings on your computer in the pop-up window as you go to print something, though some settings can also be changed on the printer itself.
