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My printer won't connect and I'm unable to print anything

Teamster Local670 0 Reputation points
2026-04-20T17:24:56.7166667+00:00

I'm looking for help with my printer setting. I can see the printers but they won't install. Please help!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows
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  1. Jay Tr 12,015 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-20T18:59:54.14+00:00

    Hi @Teamster Local670, 

    Good day, I hope you are doing well. 

    I’m sorry you’re running into this issue when the printers appear on the device but do not install properly. This can sometimes happen when there is a problem with the printer drivers or with the Print Spooler service in Windows.   To help resolve it, please try the steps below: 

    1. Remove the affected printers from your device. 
    • Select the Start button, then select Settings  > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & scanners. 

    User's image 

    • Select the printer you want to uninstall. 

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    • Select the Remove button.  

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    • Then confirm you're sure you want to remove this device by selecting Yes. 

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    1. Download and install the latest printer drivers from the printer manufacturer’s official website. 
    • Go to the printer manufacturer’s official website and look for the support or downloads section for your exact printer model. 
    • Download the most recent driver available for your version of Windows, then run the installer and complete the installation. 
    1. Reinstall the printers after the new drivers have been installed. 
    • After the new driver has been installed, return to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select Add device or Add a printer or scanner. 
    • Allow Windows to detect the printer again and complete the installation. 
    1. Restart the Print Spooler service:  
    • Press Windows + R 
    • Type services.msc and press Enter 
    • Locate Print Spooler 
    • Right click it and select Restart 

    I hope this information is helpful. Please follow the steps above and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can continue working together to resolve the issue.  

    Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out so I can continue to support you. If you found the response useful, please consider marking it as accepted, as this may help other community members who are looking for similar guidance.  

    I look forward to continuing the conversation.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.     

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-04-20T17:25:06.58+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Follow these steps in Windows to remove and then reinstall the printer so it can connect and print again.

    1. Remove the existing printer entry
      1. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & scanners.
      2. Select the printer that will not install/print.
      3. Select Remove and confirm by selecting Yes.
    2. Reinstall the printer (automatic detection)
      1. Make sure the printer is powered on and connected (USB cable firmly plugged in, or connected to the same Wi‑Fi/network as the PC).
      2. In Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & scanners, select the Add device (or Refresh) button.
      3. Wait while Windows searches for printers connected locally or wirelessly.
      4. When the printer appears in the list, select Add device for that printer.
      Notes:
      • If using Wi‑Fi with access points/extenders or multiple routers/SSIDs, ensure the PC is on the same network as the printer.
      • For a new wireless printer, follow the printer’s own setup instructions and check the manufacturer’s site for any required software.
    3. If the printer does not appear – add it manually
      1. In Printers & scanners, select Add device and then choose Add manually.
      2. Choose the option that best matches the setup. For a USB‑connected printer, select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings, then Next.
      3. Select Use an existing port, choose the port the printer is connected to (for USB, select the USB port), then Next.
      4. When prompted for a driver:
        • If there is a driver disc, select Have Disk; otherwise select Windows Update and wait for the list to refresh.
        • Choose the printer manufacturer (left) and model (right), then select Next.
      5. Enter any printer name and select Next.
      6. Choose whether to share the printer (for most home setups, select Do not share this printer), then Next.
      7. Select Print a test page to confirm it works, then Finish.
    4. Confirm installation
      • In Printers & scanners, verify the printer is listed.
      • Print a test page again if needed to confirm printing from Word or other apps.
      • If the printer is installed but still does not print, check the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting steps or updated drivers.

    References:

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