Ah, printers—the sworn enemies of smooth workflow and stress-free mornings. You innocently hit “Print” on your document, expecting a crisp sheet of paper to slide out, but instead, your printer decides to stage a rebellion. The dreaded “Printer in Error State” message pops up, and suddenly, you feel like you’re negotiating with a stubborn toddler who refuses to eat their vegetables.
But fear not! We’ve got your back. In this guide, we’ll unravel the mystery behind this cryptic error and, more importantly, show you how to fix it without sacrificing your sanity—or your printer.
Why Is My Printer in an Error State?
Before you go Hulk-smashing your printer, let’s understand what’s actually causing this issue. The “Printer In Error State Error” message can be triggered by:
Loose or disconnected cables – Because your printer enjoys a little game of hide and seek.
Outdated or corrupt printer drivers – When your printer speaks one language, and your computer speaks another.
Jammed paper or low ink – The printer’s passive-aggressive way of saying, “Feed me.”
Network connectivity issues – Because WiFi likes to take spontaneous vacations.
Hardware malfunctions – Sometimes, printers just wake up and choose chaos.
Now that we know the usual suspects, let’s fix this menace once and for all.
Method 1: Check the Printer’s Connection and Restart Your Devices
The first and easiest step you should take to fix the “printer in an error state” error is to check the printer’s connection. If the connections between your computer and your printer are not set properly, then the error will occur.
Therefore, you should make sure that your computer and printer connect to each other appropriately, and the network (either wireless or Bluetooth) and the cable you use for the connection has no problem.
Then you should power off your computer and printer thoroughly and then leave them for a moment. Then turn them on to check if the error still appears.
Method 2: Make Sure Your Printer Is Online
If your printer is offline, then the “printer in error state” issue will appear. Therefore, you should make sure that your printer is online. Here is a quick guide:
Step 1: Type control panel in the Search box and click Control Panel.
Step 2: Set the View by Large icons and then choose Devices and Printers.
Step 3: Click your printer to check whether it’s offline or online. If it is online, the status will show as Ready.
Step 4: If the printer is offline, then right-click the printer to choose Use Printer Online.
Step 5: After the printer’s status has shown as Ready, check if the error message is gone.
Method 3: Update or Reinstall Your Printer Driver
If neither of the methods can fix the “printer in error state” error, then the culprit may be your outdated printer driver. Thus, you should update your printer driver to fix the error. Here is the tutorial:
Update Printer Driver
Step 1: Press the Win + X keys at the same time to choose Device Manager.
Step 2: Expand the Print queues and then right-click the printer you want to use to choose Update driver.
Step 3: Click Search automatically for updated driver software and then follow the instructions showing on the screen to update your printer driver.
Step 4: Check if the “printer in error state” error still persists.
Reinstall Printer Device
If updating your printer driver doesn’t work, then you can try to reinstall the printer driver. Here is the tutorial:
Step 1: Find your printer in Device Manager and then right-click it to choose Uninstall device.
Step 2: Restart your computer and the Windows will automatically reinstall your printer device.
Step 3: See whether the “printer in error state” error is gone.
Final Thoughts
Printer error us are like that one friend who always finds a way to complicate things. But with patience (and a little bit of technical know-how), you can get it back on track. So next time your printer acts up, you’ll be armed with the knowledge to fix it like a pro!
FAQs
1. Why does my printer keep going into an error state?
Your printer may have outdated drivers, connectivity issues, or paper jams. Follow the steps above to troubleshoot.
2. What if my printer still won’t print?
Check if your printer is properly connected, ensure it has ink, and run the Windows printer troubleshooter.
3. Should I just get a new printer?
If your printer is old and has been causing constant problems, it might be time for an upgrade. But try these fixes first!
