Can't print using Microsoft Edge

Question

Can't print using Microsoft Edge. Get error code 30, works with Firefox browser. Device Manager shows printer HP Deskjet 3050A working properly. Reloaded printer software twice, still not working.

Answer 1

Thank you for trying out the steps I provided earlier, I am sorry to hear that it did not help resolve your issue.

Printer not activated error code 30 HP, Epson – This error can affect any printer brand, and if the issue appears, the cause is most likely an outdated printer driver. Also printer not activated, error code -30 appears when trying to use a quick print option to print documents.

Try to manually search for your printer drivers from the Manufacture's website

HP: https://support.hp.com/ph-en/drivers/printers

EPSON: https://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/search/01/se...

Canon: https://ph.canon/en/support/download

Brother: https://www.brother.com.ph/en/support

Even if the printer shows as active, Windows sometimes fails to recognize it as the default device. Navigate to Control Panel → Devices and Printers, right-click your printer, and select "Set as default printer". This can help Windows route print commands correctly

Once the updated printer drivers are installed, your applications might try to use Print to PDF feature automatically, and that can cause the error message to appear.

To fix this problem, it’s advised to always manually select the printer that you want to use when printing.

Open the document you want to print to a PDF file.

Find and open the Print dialog box in the application (may vary depending on the app used).

Usually go to File and select Print.

Choose Microsoft Print to PDF in the Select Printer section.

Click Print or OK.

If this problem occurs when trying to use Print to PDF, the issue might be a third-party solution.

Previous versions of Windows didn’t have native Print to PDF support, and this is the main reason why users had to use all sorts of third-party solutions.

In case that fails, Restart the Printer Spooler: Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Locate the Print Spooler service, then right-click and select Restart. This refreshes the print services and may clear up any transient issues.

If the error appears when printing PDFs or documents from a particular program (like Adobe Acrobat or another PDF viewer), try running the application as an administrator:

Right-click the program shortcut.

Select "Properties" and go to the Compatibility tab.

Check "Run this program as an administrator." This ensures that the application has full control, which can sometimes bypass permissions issues that lead to errors like code -30

Head to Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters (or simply search for "printer troubleshooter" in Settings). Run the built-in Printer Troubleshooter to let Windows automatically detect and fix common printing issues. This can help spot misconfigurations that manual steps may miss

If your printer connects over USB, a conflicting or outdated USB composite device driver could cause activation errors. In Device Manager, locate the USB Composite Device entry, right-click it, and choose Uninstall. Unplug the printer, reboot your PC, and then plug it back in. Windows should reinstall the correct driver, which might eliminate the error

Working through these steps should help clear the error code -30 by addressing both permission and driver issues. If you've tried one method already or need clarification on any step, let’s dive deeper into that particular area.

Answer 2

Thanks Markus,

A Quicken update had changed the printing default to "Quicken PDF printer and caused the error -30.

Answer 3

Hello! I'm Mark, an Independent Advisor and Welcome to Microsoft Community.

First I'd like to thank you so much for taking the time out of your day with your inquiry/concern! I'm happy to assist you.

Just a gentle reminder that we are only Microsoft users here in the community. We are not Microsoft employees and we do not have tools to access any Microsoft System.

You can try out the steps I have provided below.

Try printing from a different website or document to see if the issue is specific to one page. If it prints successfully, the problem may be with the original document or webpage.

If the webpage supports it, click the Immersive Reader icon in the address bar to simplify the page layout, then try printing again

Ensure that your printer is set up correctly. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners and check if your printer is listed and set as the default printer.

Open Windows Settings (Win + I), navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters, and run the Printer troubleshooter to identify and fix issues.

If the problem persists, consider resetting Edge to its default settings. Go to Settings > Reset settings and choose Restore settings to their default values.

Instead of using the menu, try using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + P to open the print dialog.

Ensure that both Microsoft Edge and your printer drivers are up to date. Check for updates in Edge under Settings > About Microsoft Edge and update your printer drivers through the manufacturer's website.

If all else fails, you can print to a PDF file first. Select Microsoft Print to PDF as your printer, save the document, and then open the PDF to print it from a different application.

Let me know if you need more help :)

Answer 4

Microsoft Edge is up to date, the problem is not with the browser my other browser Firefox now as the same issue, also now I can't print anything (PDF files, documents etc..). The problem is with the "error code -30" "Activation Error, printer not activated". Device Manager shows the printer active and working properly. I can print remotely from my Samsung tablet using HP Smart app. How do I get rid of this error code?

Answer 5

What version of Microsoft Edge do you have? Have you asked Bing or Copilot about printing with Microsoft Edge?

I have this version.

I just selected and printed this without any problems.