Microsoft may have jumped the barrel with Windows 11, which launched with a slew of faults and flaws. Some of these were resolved in the later versions, but others are still present today–printer errors being one of them.
Even after months of tinkering by the Microsoft team, if this issue is keeping you from printing important documents, you might want to look at this compilation of some tried and tested methods known to fix it.
1. Run the Printer Troubleshooter
When you have made sure the printer is well-plugged, there is paper in the printer tray and your printer has not run out of ink or toner cartridge, Troubleshooting is most likely to solve the general software issues.
All you have to do is open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Here, you will find the Printer troubleshooter among the list of Windows troubleshooters. Click on the Run button next to it to activate it. If there are any problems impeding your printing process, the troubleshooter will show you how to fix it.
2. Update the Relevant Drivers
Running the troubleshooter should be your go-to step whenever an error or issue arises. However, it is highly rare for it to diagnose, let alone solve, the problem. As a result, the next first reasonable step is to check for driver updates.
- Right-click the Start Menu button and select Device Manager from the list.
- Scroll down and expand the Print Queues menu.
- Right-click on Microsoft Print to PDF and select Update driver. This prompt will open another window.
Selecting Search automatically for updated driver software in Windows 11 runs a check through your PC for updates. If it shows the best device driver already installed, you can still give the manual option a try. To do this:
- Right-click Microsoft Print to PDF and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
- Go to the Details panel.
- Select Device instance path from the drop-down list under Property and then copy the Value that appears.
- Go to the DriverPack database.
- Paste the copied value in the search box, download a suitable driver and then install it.
3. Restart the Print Spooler
Occasionally, printer issues are caused by unresponsive devices and driver settings, rather than by outdated drivers.
To solve this:
- Press Win + R to launch the Run dialogue box.
- Type "services.msc" and press enter.
- In services, find Print spooler and double-click on it.
- Proceed by clicking on Stop.
- Then follow the path C:\Windows\system32\spoolsv.exe and delete all the files present in the folder.
- Now, all you have to do is go back to Services and manually start the print spooler service again.
- Restart your PC.
4. Recheck Your Default Printer
Often, improper printer and scanner setup is the leading cause of printing issues. The most common reason why you face printer issues is that you didn’t choose your PDF printer as your default printing device or that you configured it to the incorrect port. It can simply be solved by:
- Open Control Panel through your Windows search menu
- Click View devices and printers under Hardware and Sound.
- Under the Printers panel, right-click on your PDF printer and select Set as default.
- Then, head over to Properties > Ports.
- Scroll through the list and select the port type that matches your connection.
- Select Configure Port > Apply > OK.
5. Disable the Firewall
If your problem is still not solved the most probable culprit is your Windows Defender Firewall. It's possible that your firewall has been configured too strict, preventing the printer from interacting properly. As a result, turning off the Firewall is a viable option.
You can even permanently disable your firewall and move to another firewall alternative.
- Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection.
- Toggle off the Windows Defender Firewall.
- Go back, and repeat the same for Private network and Public network.
6. Check for New Windows Updates
Sometimes a newly available Windows update can be the key to resolving your printer issues and errors on Windows 11. It is possible you weren't notified about the latest Windows update, so it's worth checking out if a new version is available manually.
- Press the Win key and click on the Settings icon.
- Head over to Windows Update
- Click on Check for Updates.
Windows will automatically search for updates and if any new version is available, it will be installed, thus resolving your printer error.
7. Remove Your Last Windows 11 Update
Ironically, a new Windows update can also invite bugs that render your printer useless. If you noticed your printer stopped working right after a recent Windows update, you will need to delete the update from your computer.
For this, head over to Settings > Windows Update > Update history. Here, you should select Uninstall updates situated under Related settings. This action will prompt open a list of Windows updates where you must select the latest one and click on Uninstall.
If the latest Windows 11 update was the culprit, reversing it should do the trick kickstart the printer once again.
8. Run System Restore
If the problem began as soon as you upgraded to Windows 11, and you've exhausted all other alternatives, there's one final solution–the Windows System Restore. Using this method restores Windows to a previous restore point where you know your printer was functional without any error.
To go back to a restore point:
- Press the Windows key and type Control Panel.
- Click on its icon, search Recovery in the Control Panel’s search box, and choose Open System Restore from the search results.
- The System Restore dialogue box will launch open. Click on Next to proceed forward.
- Select the restore point to restore your computer back to when your printer was functioning without a hitch.
- Again, click on Next and then Finish to confirm your restore point.
- It will confirm one last time if you wish to proceed with the system restore process. Move your cursor to Yes and click.
Your PC will restart while it resets your Windows 11 to its last restore point.
Printer’s Fixed and Running—What’s Next?
Whether the printer’s malfunctioning due to troubles with your operating system or general hardware issues, it can be a frustrating experience. But hopefully, now that your printer is up and running smoothly again with the aid of these fixes mentioned above, feel free to delve into how you can make the most of your home and office printers.