The struggle to connect a printer to a laptop is quite prominent. You want to create a setup and use the peripherals without any problems, right?
In some cases, the fault lies in the computer; in others, it is the printer that is the root of the issue.
This article aims to cover some of the most effective troubleshooting methods to solve printer woes as a laptop user.
Table of Contents
Restart the Peripherals
You need to restart both the printer and the laptop as the first suggestion. Sometimes, a quick reboot is all it takes to make a device work, and these two are no exception.
If you want, you can also shut them down and wait for a bit. Giving more time to reboot means that the devices are fully ready before they start again.
Check Power Management
Poor resource management often indicates that there is a bigger problem on a laptop, and it reflects when you want to set it up with a third-party peripheral like a printer.
Let’s say that you own a MacBook that has battery issues and goes to sleep mode too often. Troubleshooting how to stop MacBook from sleeping could lead to discovering deep-rooted issues that your computer has.
And once you are finished with that, you should notice an increase in the overall performance improvement, which translates into fewer resources consumed.
Remember that the printer itself also takes some of what the laptop has to offer, and you should never underestimate resource hogs, no matter how big or small they are. Every bit counts and adds up.
Consider Missing Updates
It is possible that outdated drivers and software, especially the operating system, are behind the problem at hand.
Check all the aspects of the two devices and confirm that everything is up to date. If something is missing, do not hesitate and download a new version, even if it takes a while.
Compatibility issues often arise from versions that do not interact with one another because one of them is not updated.
Test the Connection
As a laptop owner, you are most likely relying on wireless internet. Moreover, if the printer is wireless itself, then you can expect to encounter even more issues with it at least as far as the internet connection goes.
Interferences from other peripherals that are jamming should be the first thing you need to check to confirm that everything is fine with your Wi-Fi.
Similar to restarting the devices, restarting the Wi-Fi network in the router is also a good piece of advice.
If you are out of ideas and are determined that the fault lies in the internet connection, contact your internet service provider and talk to them. Perhaps they can help you by seeing things on their end.
Scan for Malware
Malware is often associated with various problems for your devices. The struggles to connect a laptop with a printer are no exception.
Even if you are relatively careful and tech-savvy, do not discard the possibility that you made a mistake while surfing the net. Landing on a shady page and clicking a banner is sometimes all it takes to get a virus on your computer.
Use reliable antivirus software that scans everything and sees what the scan results show. If the system has corrupted files, command the antivirus software to deal with infected data.
As a rule of thumb, you want to have antivirus software running in the background all the time while the laptop is turned on. Doing so is one of if not the best ways to prevent potential troubles with malware in the future.
Get in Touch With Tech Support
As you continue to go through various methods and begin to realize that there is nothing else left, you still have the option to get in touch with tech support.
Perhaps checking in with the manufacturers of your printer first is the best, especially if you have no troubles with your laptop otherwise.
Someone well-versed in the peripheral ought to provide you with more suggestions specific to a model and brand. The odds of solving the issue ought to increase after receiving the information.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, there are multiple ways to troubleshoot printer and laptop connection issues. Knowing the basics mentioned in this article is a good foundation if you ever experience such problems yourself.
Fredrik Miller is the Founder of PrinterLake.com, a platform dedicated to providing information on sublimation printing. With a Master’s degree in Information Technology from Reputed University, Fredrik brings a wealth of technical knowledge and expertise to the site.
He leads a team of writers who are experts in the field and strive to deliver the best and most comprehensive information on sublimation printers, inks, and paper.