A printer not being able to print text is a common problem in many printers.
Printers can function reliably for years, but they can also go haywire or entirely stop working. This could bring a lot of stress, especially when there are tons of build-up workloads, deadlines, and submissions.
Why is your printer not printing text?
Printers may sometimes not be able to print text while still being able to print images. There can be several reasons why a printer won’t print words. It may not even be because of the printer. It could be the fonts, or it could be the driver of the printer. Here are the most common reasons:
- Insufficiency of black ink
- Inadequacy of toner
- Corruption of printer driver
- The color of the text
- The printheads
- The OS fonts
- The program settings
Primary step before trying the other fixes
- Step 1: Turn off the PC and unplug it from the power source. Disconnect
all the USB cables. - Step2: Restart the computer and carry out a test print.
This can help solve the problem that one might be facing while dealing with a printer.
If this doesn’t help, there could be plenty of underlying problems. Some of them are as follows.
Corrupt printer Driver
A printer driver is a software program. It enables the printer hardware and the operating system of the computer to communicate in order to process the final result.
Sometimes this particular software can become corrupted, and it may give a lot of printing issues.
Why is the Printer Driver corrupted?
The software may become corrupted because of a power surge or malware from the computer. Sudden electrical fluctuations can cause errors in the machine. It can also be damaged because there is an upgrade in the operating system of the computer.
If the pre-installed driver and the upgraded operating system are not compatible, it may lead to the corruption of the software.
How to fix a corrupted printer driver?
Find out your printer’s model name or number.
Visit the website of the printer and download a fresh copy of the driver for your printer model. Install it and run it on the computer, then restart your computer and the printer may start printing text. Make sure it is free from all malware and safe to be installed before downloading, by only downloading the driver from the official website of your printer’s brand.
Only Happening To A Particular Document? Corrupt document/file
A document may present itself normally in the application. However, when printed, it may crash or dysfunction. This shows that there is a possibility that the document itself is corrupted.
Why is the document corrupted?
If the file has been re-edited several times in different formats and has a long history, it may prompt the document to cause havoc. It can also be due to fluctuation in electricity while saving the document, which can cause the glitches in the computer.
How to fix a corrupted document?
Fixing a corrupted document is not feasible. But there are ways to retrieve the same document. Try copying the sentences or the contents and pasting them in a current document.
It means recreating/customizing the corrupt document. The other way to fix a corrupt file is restoring the document from a backup or checking the emails to see if there is a copy of the same document.
Insufficiency of Ink/Toner
The ink cartridges could run out of ink and toner over a period of time, and this would only make the printer provide a blank piece of sheet. There could be another reason as to why the paper is empty.
The printer may be printing the words, but it is the ink that could be flawed. If the part that is not printing has to do with only the black color then maybe the black ink is insufficient. The ink cartridges carrying the black ink may be empty or running low.
How to fix it?
A simple fix to it is to change the color of the text to Cyan, Magenta, Red, and Blue. If the colors other than black seems to be printing fine, replace the black print head or the ink cartridge.
Install the cartridges appropriately in their slots. While replacing the ink cartridge, make sure to double-check and remove the tape over the vent. The vents of the cartridges may be clogged and so cleaning the vents could also help.
A pin can be used gently to remove the clogging on the vent.
Printheads Could Be Clogged
A printhead is a movable part of a computer that consists of printing elements. It is primarily the heart of the entire printing system as it puts ink on the paper.
The problem could arise because of the type of device. Thermal printers tend to stop working suddenly, and it takes place without any warning. Sometimes, the pins that give output may stop producing due to usage over a long period of time.
How to fix it?
Make sure that the printhead isn’t clogged. It is possible to clean the printheads manually. However, most printheads have a system of automatically cleaning itself.
If, after both the cleaning system, there is still no printed text, try rerunning the automatic printing feature. Cleaning the print heads using the automatic cleaning takes up a lot of ink.
However, the printheads can be realigned once it is clean, and maybe the printer will start printing text.
It Could Be A Font Related Issue
One of the reasons a printer may be unable to print text is because of the fonts. Fonts are graphic designs applicable to alphabets, symbols, numbers, and characters. Fonts allow information to be displayed on the screen.
Fonts also specify typeface. Typeface supports word processing and desktop publishing to display information and provide output. If a type face is corrupted, it may be because of overuse or damaged file installation. This can cause the printer to print text that are not visible or a filthy looking paper.
This can be corrected by reinstalling the type face or even purchasing and acquiring a fresh copy.
When all the problems stated above doesn’t seem to be the cause, it is time to download and run a diagnostic software.
For example, HPwebsite carries “HP Print and Scan Doctor” software. Depending on the brand of the printer, try searching the website and look for similar print and scan software.
Once it is found, download and run it on the computer.
If running the diagnostic software also fails to generate any outcome, then make sure to consult a technician or expert. Consulting an expert can help fix the problem and also know the reason why the printer was misbehaving.
Printer jam
Rather than overuse or underuse, a printer could stop working because of low maintenance. Small items like paper and hair clips could fall into the printers, which can cause jam in the printer. Dropping of liquor and food can also damage the printer.
While a printer helps in providing a hard copy of documents, reports, pictures, and several other things, it can be a nuisance when it is jammed or not responding.
Well, jamming of papers or running out of ink is a basic problem. There are way more difficult problems a printer may bring, and it might even require a technician or up to the extent of throwing it away in a trash can.
Different Types Of Printers Print Text Differently
A printer is the output device of a computer that takes the electronic data stored on a computer and presents permanent output in the form of text, numbers, symbols, characters, and graphics on a paper.
There are two categories of printer:
Impact Printers: This kind of printers uses an electro-mechanical mechanism. To print a text on a paper, it uses a hammer or pin to strike against the ribbon and onto the paper
Example: Dot matrix
Non-Impact Printers: This kind of printers uses inkjet or lasers to print text and is non-impact in terms of technology. They do not pound letters on to the paper. They are generally quicker and provide outputs at a better speed.
Example: Inkjet and Laser Printer.
Depending upon the type of printer, the problems will also vary. So, it is essential to know the type of printer before trying to fix the problem.
For example: Inkjet printers commonly face problems like dried-up ink which causes blockage in the nozzle. The reason is because of under usage of the printer.
Conclusion
As discussed above, there are so many reasons why a printer is unable to print text.
While some of it may just be because of a temporary glitch; others may be permanently not fixable or fix worthy.
It is always good to know the type of printer in order to fix it. Searching for answers online or on the websites provided in the printer’s manual may also generate useful tips.
Purchasing and keeping extra inks and toners beforehand can also help a lot in cases of important or emergency documents that are to be printed. Troubleshooting the computer in a timely manner and keeping the computer protected from malware also helps.
However, before things get worse and the printer is all burned out, it is advisable to take it to the manufacturer or consult an expert. If the printer is too old, it might also be a good idea to toss out the old printer and get a new and improved one.
Reference:
Top 10 Best Printers For Art Prints (Ultimate Guide)