PRINTER NEEDS ATTENTION

[112639]

When I select "Print" for a document nothing happens. I have to then go into Devices and select my printer. The message is "printer needs attention" but no reason given. I then run the troubleshooter, which finds nothing. Only then will the document print. Where is the printing glitch?

[Sneha_01]

Hi @112639 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like your printer is encountering an issue where it requires manual intervention to start printing, despite running the troubleshooter with no results. The "Printer needs attention" message typically indicates that the printer is either in an error state or there is an issue with the communication between your computer and the printer. Here are some steps to help identify and fix the problem:

1. Check Printer Status & Error Messages

Before diving into other troubleshooting steps, ensure that the printer’s display panel (if it has one) doesn’t show any specific error codes or warnings (like out of paper, low ink, paper jam, or offline status). Sometimes the printer could be stuck in an error state that requires manual attention.

• Check for any paper jams in the printer, including in the paper tray or any internal rollers.
• Check ink or toner levels to ensure the printer has enough ink/toner to print.
• Ensure the printer is not showing a paper mismatch, low ink, or cartridge error.

2. Restart Printer and Computer

Often, a simple restart can resolve communication glitches:

• Turn off the printer, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
• Restart your computer as well, and then try printing again.

3. Set Printer as Default Device

Sometimes Windows can get confused about which printer is set as the default. Ensuring your printer is set as the default device can help.

1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners.
2. Find your printer in the list and click on it.
3. Select Manage and then click Set as default.

4. Check the Printer Queue

The printer queue can sometimes hold jobs that prevent new jobs from printing. Clear any stuck print jobs:

1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on your printer and select See what's printing.
3. In the print queue window, cancel any stuck print jobs by clicking on Cancel All Documents.
4. Try printing again after clearing the queue.

5. Reset Printer to Factory Settings

If the printer’s internal settings have gotten corrupted, you may need to reset it to factory defaults:

• Refer to your printer's user manual for instructions on how to reset the printer.
• After resetting, you'll need to reconnect the printer to your network (if it's a wireless printer) and reinstall any necessary drivers.

6. Update Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause printing issues. Updating or reinstalling your printer drivers can help fix the issue.

1. Go to Device Manager by pressing Windows + X and selecting Device Manager.
2. Expand Printers, find your printer, and right-click on it.
3. Select Update Driver and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Alternatively, you can go to the HP website  and download the latest drivers for your specific printer model.

I hope this helps.

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