Solving Your Printer Connection Problems (6 Solutions to Try)
Updated on: July 31, 2025
Error: Cannot Connect to the Printer.
Ugh, Not again!
Printer problems happen at the most inconvenient times, like when you need to print those presentation notes for your next meeting in five minutes. But don’t freak out, after scrolling through this list of solutions for printer connection problems you’ll know how to get those notes printed off and still be early for your presentation.
Continue reading for six different solutions to try out the next time you are troubleshooting a printer that’s not connecting.
Solving Your Printer Connection Problems (6 Solutions to Try)
Ensure There is a Connection
Okay, you restarted the printer and it’s still not connecting? Let’s first ensure there is a connection.
Checking Wired Printer Connections
If your printer is connected to the network by a cable, then double-check the cable is fully plugged in. You can even unplug the cable and plug it back in while you’re checking just to be sure. You can also clean out the area where the cable plugs in to be sure no debris is preventing the cable from connecting.
Checking Wireless Printer Connections
If your printer is connected to the network without a wire such as Bluetooth then you will want to check the owner’s manual that came with your printer and follow their connection steps listed there.
Aside from your printer connection, you will want to ensure that there is a stable network connection. Otherwise, there will be nothing for your printer to connect to. So check that there is a strong internet connection available.
Is an Update Available?
If there is a necessary update available, it could be causing the printer not to connect or (even more frustratingly) prevent your documents from printing when the printer does connect.
Luckily, this is a pretty easy fix. There are two ways to update your printer:
Update via Device Manager (Recommended). Go your computer’s start menu and search “device manager”. Open it. From there, right-click on the printer you want to update and select “Update Driver”.
Check Your Manufacturer’s Website. If your printer isn’t updating or might need a little more help in order to update, check your manufacturer’s website to see if a new update has been released. You can usually just search “[printer name] updates” in Google to get this info.
Try the Troubleshooting Tool
Luckily our computers come equipped with this pretty nifty tool that can troubleshoot our problems for us.
Here’s how to use it:
From your start menu type in ‘Printers’ and select the Printers & scanners system settings.
On the right side of the screen, you can run the troubleshooter.
Once that finishes running, follow the prompts on the screen.
Run a Printer Power Cycle
In the words of Jacob, our Service Desk Lead:
"Printers are just like computers and sometimes they just need a little nap. If your printer is acting up, unplug it from power for five to ten minutes and then give it another shot.”
This is also known as a power cycle.
To run a power cycle for your printer, simply:
Turn off your printer and unplug it
Wait 30 seconds
Plug your printer back in,
Turn the printer back on.
That’s it! Basically, it’s just a fancy way to restart.
Restart the Print Spooler Service
Restart the print spooler service. The what?
Yeah, that’s a thing. It handles all the tasks you send to the printer. So, if this isn’t working your printers won’t be able to connect to carry out those tasks.
To do this:
In the search box on your computer’s taskbar, type “services”
Select Services in the list of results
Scroll down to “Print Spooler”. It should be a bit over halfway down the list, with the other “P” services
Right-click it and select Restart.
Remove then Re-Add Your Printer
Similar to unplugging then plugging the device back in or turning it off then back on again is removing then re-adding the printer to the device list.
Here’s how you can do this:
Head over to your settings and search “device manager.” When it pops up, click it.
Find the Printers & Scanners tab.
Select the printer you are not able to connect to and click “Remove”.
Go back to the “Printers & Scanners” tab.
Click “Add a printer or scanner”
Your device will search for printers and scanners for a moment. When you find the one you just removed, just click “Add Device”.
If you’re still having trouble after trying each of our tips, you may want to contact an IT professional. If you have a managed service provider, just give them a call for help. If not, you may want to call the company that manufactured that printer.
Here are some quick links to help you out:
How an MSP Can Help Solve Your Printer Problems
If you’ve given the above solutions a shot and nothing seems to solve your printer problem, then you need to break out the big guns (or, at least call the tech professionals).
With the help of an MSP by your side, you wouldn’t have to even search for this article to try and troubleshoot the problem yourself. Rather, you would’ve called the Service Desk or sent them an email and a solution would be on the way in no time.
Not to toot our own horn, but we’re kinda tech superheroes, coming to your rescue when your printers, computers, applications, and anything techy gives you a hard time.
Remember when tech problems persist it’s best to contact your I.T. department or MSP so you don’t waste more time and money trying to solve the problem yourself rather than having the proper help from the start.
If your business is located in Michigan, click here to check out Omega Computer Services to solve your tech problems large and small!
