For most Windows users, after updating the operating system to Windows 10, there is a problem in detecting a printer or MFP connected to a PC. The computer simply does not see it. Let’s face this problem.
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Inspection of the USB port and connecting cable.
To begin with, just in case, we need to check the health of the USB port (suddenly you accidentally pulled the cord and it malfunctioned). You also need to check if the wire is plugged into the device, as it may be disconnected from the PC.
You should also inspect the printer itself: is it turned on, if there is ink in it, etc. If any of this happens, correct the problem and test the connection of the device to the computer again.
If everything is in order, then let’s move on to troubleshooting the Windows 10 operating system itself.
Check for problems.
First, you can use the built-in program to diagnose problems. It installs automatically when you install Windows 10.
To enter the troubleshooting module, you need to do the following:
- Go to the “Start” menu;
- Click on “Control Panel”;
- Select large icons in the category;
- Click on the item “Troubleshooting”;
- Then select “Hardware and Sound”;
- Select the item “Using the printer”;
After clicking on the last item, the troubleshooter will start. It will check printer connections, required services and drivers.
Connecting the printer to a PC.
The troubleshooter may not be able to fix the problem and may not see the print device. Therefore, you should try to install it yourself. There are a couple of ways to do this:
- You need to go to the parameters item through the control panel or just press the “Win + I” keys. Then go to “Devices” and select “Printers and scanners”. Click the Add Printer or Scanner button and wait a bit. In some cases, Windows 10 does not see the printer, but there are times when the system successfully connects and installs it. In this case, the Internet must be connected to the PC.
- The printer you want may not appear in the search results. Then click on the button “The required printer is not in the list” under the green search line. Thus, you can install the device using filters and specify the path to the drivers on the site. The program will download and install them by itself.
How to install drivers manually.
If after installing Windows 10 the printer does not work and the above options did not help to solve this problem, then you should do everything manually. You need to download and install the printer drivers yourself. To do this, go to the drivers section or the device manufacturer’s website and select a driver for your model. It must be downloaded for Windows 10.
After identifying problems with Windows 10, users have already published printer drivers from many manufacturers, and therefore it will not be difficult to find them on the Internet.
If you cannot find a suitable driver for Windows 10, then download it for Windows 7 or 8.
It is better to uninstall the old one before installing the new driver, otherwise some errors may occur. To do this, go to “Options”, then “Devices”. Remove the printer by right-clicking and selecting “Remove device”.
Developer guidance for Windows 10 support.
You can also read information from developers on the Internet about the functioning of their printers in Windows 10.
For example, HP claims that most of their devices shouldn’t be a problem. For devices that were working properly prior to the Windows 10 update, drivers do not need to be updated. But if you still have a problem, you can download a suitable program from Printeros.RU or from the manufacturer’s official website. It also contains information on how to troubleshoot problems when the computer cannot find the printer.
Printer manufacturer Epson also supports users. The company’s website contains all the necessary drivers and you can download them at any time.
Canon’s printer makers, like HP, say most printers will run on the new operating system without issue. Drivers can also be downloaded from their official resource.
After installing the drivers, there should be no problems. But if none of the above helped you, you can look for a solution to the problem for a specific device model. Maybe someone had similar problems and shared their solution on the forums. There are also English-language sites, but this requires knowledge of English.
What to do when none of the suggested options worked?
There are also cases when the printer does not print after all the manipulations performed. Why isn’t it working?
If you are reading this, then most likely the Windows 10 operating system will not be able to accept your printer. If in any doubt, consult an experienced professional for advice.
You may not be able to find the correct drivers for your device. And if you do not want to buy a new printer, then you just have to return the previous operating system. Look on the Internet for how to do this.