The laptop does not see the canon printer. The computer does not see the printer: causes and consequences

Why doesn't the computer see the printer? Many users face this problem. And everything is fine with both devices. In addition, the printing equipment can work perfectly on another PC. And when connecting to the right one, it’s buggy. It is not recognized by the system or produces errors. How to fix the problem?

From the source of the problem to its solution

What to do if the computer does not recognize the printer?

1) Check that the connection is working properly.

Most often, it is because of poor contact that the personal computer does not respond to the connected equipment. Therefore, remove the cable and reinsert it. Check that the connection is secure on both sides.

Make sure that the cable is inserted into the computer into the correct, working USB connector. Most printing devices require a USB 2.0 connection. During the test, you can release other connectors (disconnect the mouse, keyboard). Connect the cable to each of them one by one. Perhaps it will respond to some connector.

The banal reason for the invisibility of printing equipment is that the on/off button was not pressed. They just forgot. It is located in an inconvenient place (either behind or to the side). Make sure you press it. The light on the housing should light up.

2) The driver has fallen off.

Or you forgot to install it altogether. Let's look at the situation of forgetfulness first.

In order for the PC to recognize the connected device, you need to download a special program. It is on the installation disk that came with the printing device. Insert the disc into the drive and follow the instructions of the installation wizard. Everything is clear there. Each next step is displayed on the screen.

If there is no disk, you will have to look for drivers on the Internet. Look at the manufacturer of your printer, model (all data is on the device body) and enter this information into the search engine. Choose the official website of the manufacturer. There you will find the section with drivers. Download the necessary ones. What should you pay attention to? Compliance of drivers and utilities

  • printing device models;
  • operating system of your computer (programs for 64-bit, 32-bit, etc. OS).

If you are asked to restart your PC, comply with the request.

Now you need to check the result of the work done. How can I do that?

Go to the Start menu. Go to the “Printers and Facts” tab. The necessary equipment must be there.

But often everything is installed, but the problem still exists. It's inside the operating system. So, if the laptop does not see Wi-Fi, first check the settings of the laptop itself.

Let's consider a situation where the driver is installed, but it is buggy. Flew off. The device can be displayed, but it does not work. Step-by-step instructions for fixing the problem can be outlined as follows:

1. Go to “Control Panel” - “Add or Remove Programs” (the path may differ slightly on different systems).

2. Find the name of your printing device and delete it.

3. Go to “Start” again - “Printers and Faxes” - “File” (in the upper left corner) – “Server Properties” - “Drivers” (in some systems the path to them is through the “Device Manager”).

4. Select the model of the printing gadget and delete it (if the system does not show the desired name, delete everything).

5. Install the drivers again.

3) By default, other printing equipment is selected.

This is not a problem, but a problem. Very common and therefore easily solved. Having installed the necessary equipment, right-click on its icon and check the box next to “Use as default”.

4) Automatic printing service is disabled.

Menu "Start" - "Control Panel" - "Administration" - "Print Spooler". Double click to open the tab. We are looking for the inscription “Startup type”. Set it to “Auto” (“Automatic”).

5) Operating system failure.

How can I check this? Connect your printing device to another computer or laptop. If it works, then there is a problem in the system. You'll have to reinstall it.

Perhaps these are all the reasons for the invisibility of a working printer.

Printers are information output devices that require connection and preliminary configuration to use. However, very often users encounter a problem when the computer does not see the printer.


In this article, we will talk about the most common reasons why the PC and printer do not sync, as well as methods to solve them.

Why do you need a printer?

Printing services are very common these days. In almost every shopping center, on the first floors of office buildings or at work, everyone can print out on paper all the necessary information from an electronic document. However, the ideal option would be to buy a printer for your home, since in this case you can always print whatever your heart desires.

Today, various printer models are on display on store shelves, allowing you to produce black-and-white or color printing in a wide variety of sizes. Some models support wireless connection to a PC, and can also combine several devices such as a printer, scanner and copier. Such models are called MFPs or multifunction devices. Therefore, choosing a printer can be a difficult task and will take a lot of effort and time. However, there are situations when you bought a printing machine you liked, brought it home and when trying to connect to a computer you encountered a problem - your PC does not see the printer.

Don't panic

So, you turned on the printer, the lights on it came on, indicating that it is working, you send a document for printing and... nothing, the printing process does not start. In this case, you need to calm down and try to understand the reason. It is not necessary to immediately take the device to a service center or call a specialist to your home. You can try to deal with the problem yourself.

Check if the connection is correct

Very often, many users, especially beginners, when connecting the printer to a computer, forget about some wires or do not fully insert the plug. Therefore, if your printer “refuses” to print, check the integrity of all wires, as well as the correctness of their connections. If everything is in place, then try connecting the printer to different USB ports. If a document from a computer is never sent to print, then this problem needs a more thorough approach.

Drivers have crashed

Many users enter the query into search engines: “Why doesn’t the computer see the printer?” Every day thousands of users turn to search engines for help with this problem. However, the answer to this question is very simple and you will find out a little further in the article.

It is worth noting that a printer, like any other device, requires appropriate software called a driver for stable operation. When connecting a printing device to a computer for the first time, you must install them from the special system disk supplied with the device. However, during operation, drivers may fail due to various operating system errors or failures.

Thus, if, when you try to print a document, your computer cannot detect the printer, and all its cables are connected, then most likely the reason is the driver. The best option would be to completely reinstall the software. In most cases, this helps solve the problem. If this does not help, then in this case it is necessary to continue troubleshooting.

Oh our carelessness

No matter how trivial it may sound, very often it is human inattention that is the reason that the computer does not see the printer. The operating system automatically remembers all output devices connected to the computer, so when trying to print a document, you might not have specified the currently connected printer in the settings. In addition, system settings could be lost as a result of operating system errors. So there is no problem with the printer. All that is necessary is to indicate the working output device when sending a document for printing. If this does not help, then you should reinstall the drivers.

Automatic or not

Sometimes the automatic print start function is disabled in the printer settings. This situation happens extremely rarely, however, if you encounter a similar problem, you need to go to the “Print Queue” and make sure that the necessary parameters are set correctly. If automatic printing is disabled, then in this case it is enough to just check the box next to the corresponding item.

System failure

Very often, the computer and printer do not synchronize due to a Windows system failure. In this case, only a complete reinstallation of Windows will help. This process is quite time-consuming and requires the user to have certain knowledge required to complete the task. In addition, you will need to reinstall the printer software. If this does not help solve the problem, then in this case there are only two options: you have installed drivers that are incompatible with the printer or your printing device has failed. In this situation, you will need to buy a new printer or go to print all the necessary information to friends or specialized salons that provide printing services.

System incompatibility

Another very common problem that the computer does not see the printer is incompatibility between the driver and the operating system. The whole problem is that it is very difficult to find out whether this is true, so it is recommended to pay attention to such nuances at the stage of choosing a printer. Most modern manufacturers of printers and MFPs indicate in the technical specifications which operating systems the device supports.

Thus, simple negligence can lead to a lengthy dispute over why a document sent for printing does not reach the printer. In addition, there are situations where a certain firmware version is not supported by older or newer versions of Windows.
However, don’t panic and bang on the printer with your fists, it still won’t help. First of all, try to find a suitable driver assembly on the official website of the manufacturer.

As a rule, official resources implement a convenient search filter in which you need to specify your printer model and Windows version, and the search system will automatically give you the appropriate driver. Also, do not forget about the correct installation of software for your printer. During the installation process, you must strictly follow the installer's prompts, and if he asks you to connect the printer to your computer and turn on its power, do so, otherwise this may lead to incorrect installation of drivers and further problems when working with the device.

Finally, it must be said that if you cannot cope with the problem on your own, then in this case contact a qualified specialist

The computer does not see the printer, what should I do?

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Users often encounter problems connecting and operating printing equipment.

Ordinary users do not know what errors can occur and how to avoid them. Therefore, let’s consider possible problems and methods for solving them:

  • The print service is disabled.

This is a special program that is available in Windows operating systems. If it is disabled, operating difficulties may arise. The service could be disabled by a virus or by the user on purpose. To enable it, go to Start Menu - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Print Spooler.

  • Incorrect connection.

Checking the correct connection is carried out by inspecting the working cable and connectors. Dust and dirt may cause interference.

  • The drivers are not working properly or are incompatible with the printer.

These reasons are the most common. To eliminate them, you must completely remove drivers. Then reinstall them following the instructions provided by the installation program.

  • Faulty printer.

Countless breakdowns of working equipment lead to the fact that this issue is difficult to solve on your own. Therefore, if you notice a malfunction, it is better to contact a specialist. Such services are provided by special service centers.

  • Faulty cord.

The cable may be damaged due to mechanical stress or may be incompatible with this equipment. This problem can be solved by replacing the accessory.

  • Operating system (OS) errors.

If after all the manipulations the device does not start working, then it is worth connecting it to another computer to check the system. If this reason is confirmed, then you need to reinstall the OS.

  • The default printing device is different.

If another device was previously connected or several are used, the OS will automatically recognize the information of the other printer. Right-click on the icon of the current equipment and select the desired option “Use as default”.

To quickly find and fix the error, you can turn to professionals, thus saving time and nerves.

The computer does not see the printer, what should I do?

Carrying out the correct installation is not so difficult; for this you need to strictly follow the instructions, sequentially performing all the steps. While connecting, gradually eliminate possible problems.

  • Connect all elements to the computer.
  • Check the correct connection (serviceability of the cable and connectors, power button, connection to the desired connector).
  • Install drivers from the special disk included in the kit or download from the Internet, paying attention to the OS computer and printer model.
  • Set the default hardware by right-clicking on the device icon and selecting the desired item.
  • Enable Automatic Print Manager. To do this, go to Start Menu - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Print Spooler. Having opened the desired tab, find the “Startup type” parameter and set it to “Auto” (“Automatic”).

When all steps are completed, you can start working. Usually after this all problems are eliminated, however, interruptions in operation may occur. In order to efficiently remove all damage, it will help to contact specialists who will promptly correct the error.

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There may be several reasons why the computer does not see the printer. In this article we will look at them and try to solve the current problem.

First, check the cable that connects the printer to the computer. If it is not broken anywhere and the wires are not exposed, then pay attention to how the plugs fit into the computer and printer ports. To ensure good contact, they should not wobble, you can still move them a little. Now turn on the printer using the switch located on it. The red or green indicator light on the front of the printer body should light up.

The next thing you need to do is check the installed drivers on your computer. To do this, go to “Start” - "Control Panel""Device Manager". Then we look for the printer in the list. I don’t have it connected, so I’ll show you on another device. Right-click on it and go to “Properties”.

On the “General” tab we look at the device status. If it says the same thing as in the picture below, everything is great. If not, you need to reinstall the drivers. In some cases, even if the system reports that the drivers are working fine, it is better to remove them and install them again.

To do this, go to the “Driver” tab and click “Delete”.

To do this, go to the official website of your printer manufacturer: HP, Canon, Samsung and others. Then go to the “Support” section. Here we select the device itself, its subtype and model. Next, click “Select”.

For HP printers the site looks like this. You need to go here "Support service"– “Software and drivers”. Then enter your printer model and click "Product Search". You will be offered drivers, select the appropriate one and click “Download”.

Here in the section "Printers and Faxes" Your printer should be displayed.

In the event that your computer multiple printers connected, select the one you need, right-click on it from the menu and select "Use as default".

Then in the same menu go to "Printer Properties". On the tab "Additionally" check that the marker is near the item "Always available".

Another reason why the computer does not see the printer may be disabled print service. To do this, go to “Start” - "Control Panel""Administration". Here we double-click on the item “Services”.

In the next window we look for the item "Print Manager" and double-click on it.

Here, make sure that in the “Status” item it says “Working”. If your “Run” button is active, click on it. Then in the “Startup type” field, select from the drop-down menu "Automatically". Click Apply and OK.

I think everything worked out for you and you can print the required document without any problems.

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