3 Common Printer Problems (and Easy Fixes)

Let’s face it—printers can be maddening. Whether it’s for work, school, or last-minute forms, they always seem to fail at the worst possible time. The good news? Many common printer problems have easy solutions.

Here are three of the most frequent issues and how you can fix them without pulling your hair out:

1. The Printer Won’t Print

What’s likely going on: 

It might be offline, paused, or not set as your default printer.

Try this: 

• Make sure it’s turned on and connected (via USB, Wi-Fi, or network).

• On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners and make sure it’s set as the default.

• On Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners and check that it’s the selected device.

2. Paper Jams (Even When There’s No Paper)

What’s likely going on: 

A small scrap of paper might be stuck inside, or the rollers are misaligned.

Try this: 

• Power off the printer and gently remove the paper tray and any access panels.

• Check all rollers and paths—use a flashlight if needed.

• Gently remove any debris and restart the printer.

3. Faded or Streaky Prints

What’s likely going on: 

Low ink, clogged nozzles, or dirty print heads.

Try this: 

• Run a print head cleaning cycle from your printer’s settings menu.

• Check ink or toner levels and replace if needed.

• Print a test page to confirm improvement.

Still Having Trouble? 

If your printer is giving you grief, PCRescue can help. We offer remote support for printer issues—even if your printer is being extra stubborn.

Get Help Now