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Printer won't connect

Printers lose touch with computers all the time, and a few restarts plus a fresh setup usually gets them talking again.

Be careful: Only get printer software from the printer maker's own website or the official app store. Ads offering 'printer help' or asking you to call a number are often scams.

What to do

  1. Step 1: Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Make sure it shows no error lights or messages.

  2. Step 2: Restart the computer.

  3. Step 3: If the printer uses Wi-Fi, check on the printer's screen or lights that it's connected, and that it's on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.

  4. Step 4: If it uses a cable, unplug the USB cable at both ends and plug it back in, ideally straight into the computer, not a hub.

  5. Step 5: If it still won't print, restart your Wi-Fi router: unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in, then wait a few minutes.

  6. Step 6: Open Settings, click Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners. Click your printer and click Remove.

  7. Step 7: Click Add device and wait for your printer to appear, then click Add device next to it.

  8. Step 8: If it doesn't appear, install the printer maker's official app or driver from the maker's own website or the Microsoft Store, and follow its setup.

Still stuck? If the printer can't join Wi-Fi at all, use its own setup screen or the maker's official app, or contact the printer maker's support.