Quick And Easy Fixes For Printer In An Error State

If you have been a printer user, for a sufficiently long time, it’s possible that you have come across the error “printer in an error state” at least once. Once you encounter this error, it’s not possible to continue your printing works, and as no error code is displayed, you have no idea where to begin troubleshooting. This issue though frustrating and annoying is fixable by following the methods discussed below.

Probable Causes For Your Printer In An Error State

This extremely generic message doesn’t mean any particular error. It can be due to any connection issue that your printer is facing, or it may be a problem with the printer itself such as low paper density, lower ink volume or even a paper jam.

So, to fix this error, you should first check that your printer is not facing any internal issue such as a paper jam, or any other. Sometimes, these problems can also show you the printer in an error state.

After ensuring that your printer is not affected by any internal error, you may try to fix this particular issue by following the solutions as mentioned below.

Solution 1: Check The Connection

The first step to fix this printer in an error state issue is to check the connections. Ensure that your computer is well-connected to your printer. If you are using cables to connect them, make sure they are flawless. If you are using WiFi or Bluetooth to connect your printer to your computer, make sure the connections are well-established using the correct settings for them.

Solution 2: Restart Your Devices

As this is a generic error, a simple restart of your devices may solve this error. So, restart your computer and your printer as well. Check that the power source is working correctly, and there is power in your printer and computer. If needed unplug and then replug your devices, wait for a few minutes, and then restart the devices to see if that resolves your issue.

Solution 3: Update Printer Drivers

The printer in an error state may also be due to outdated printer drivers. To fix this situation, you need to update the printer drivers. To do that, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R from your keyboard.
2. Type ‘devmgmt.msc’ in that box and click OK. The Device manager will open.
3. In the Device Manager window, click on Network adapters to expand it.
4. Now, look for your printer driver name. Once you find it, right-click on it and select Update driver.
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen to complete the update process.
6. Restart your computer.

Solution 4: Reinstall The Printer Drivers

Another effective solution to this error is to reinstall the printer drivers. If the printer in an error state issue is caused by faulty drivers, this solution should fix the issue.

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R from your keyboard. When the box opens, type devmgmt.msc in that box and click OK.
2. In the Device Manager window, look for your printer name. Normally, they are located under IEEE compatible hardware section. Click to expand this section and look for your printer driver name. Once you have located it, right-click on it and select Uninstall.
3. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
4. Next, right-click on your printer driver and select Update driver from the list.

Windows will now search for an updated version of your printer driver, and once it finds it, it will install them. Just make sure you give the proper permissions in the prompts that appear during the installation process.

Solution 5: Device Manager Tweak

1. Press the Windows key + R from your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type ‘devmgmt.msc’ and click Ok to open the Device Manager.
3. In the Device Manager, navigate to the View tab, click on it, and select Show hidden devices.
4. Now, click on Ports (COM & LPT) to expand it. Right-click on the printer port, and select Properties.
5. On the Properties window, navigate to the Port Settings, and select Use any interrupt assigned to the port, and next check Enable legacy Plug and Play detection.
6. Click Apply followed by OK.
7. Restart your computer to see if that fixes your issue.

These are the solutions to try to fix “printer in an error state” issue. Hope, after going through one or more of the solutions as mentioned, you can fix this situation, and start working on your printer again.