Issues with printers are a common thing with many who face them on a daily basis. Obviously, they are electronic devices that have their own pros and cons and therefore require regular tuning and care in order to work properly.
Talking of error codes, these are short messages that pop up on the printer display screen indicating that there is some fault that needs to be checked and fixed.
What Are Printer Error Codes?
Basically, they are indications that there is something fishy in the system that needs to be solved. And interestingly, they indicate both hardware and software issues thereby giving a clear signal as to what needs to be checked and sorted out.
How To Recognize Printer Error Codes?
Use Printer Manual
You might have seen that small ‘diary type’ book that comes with the printer. It is basically a guide to everything related to the printer you purchased and also has explanations regarding all the printer error codes. This way, you can easily sort out the issue without having a problem.
Use The Internet
Available to almost everyone now, the internet is packed with all the information you require and there are several authentic places you can check out if you have any problem and want to sort it out.
You can reach out to Printer Repair Dubai if you want to find everything related to printers. On our website, we cover all aspects, be it related to self-repair work or troubleshooting. You will find easy hacks to solve printer problems in no time there.
Common Printer Errors
So there are different error codes for different brands and models, but the issues are common. Read further to know some of the common printer error codes –
Paper Jam
- Epson Printer – W-11 Error
- HP Printer – E4 Error
- Lexmark Printer – 200, 201, 202 Errors
A very common issue and we are sure every printer user might have faced it sometime. Basically, paper jams occur when printer paper gets stuck inside the machine thereby creating a problem.
The common reasons why paper jams occur in printers include dirty rollers, incorrect paper placement, and damaged paper usage. These factors easily lead to paper jam issues in a printer.
You can easily recognize a paper jam if your printer is making weird noises if an error code pops up on the display screen, or if the print comes out incomplete. But, the problem is not that big and can easily be solved by removing the jammed paper.
Some tips to avoid paper jams in printers –
- Use the correct paper size and type.
- Place the paper in the tray properly for smooth movement.
- Keep your printhead clean and tidy
- Go for one print at a time and never try to rush the printing process.
Paper Out
- Epson Printer – Out of Paper
- HP Printer – Error Code 11
- Lexmark Printer – Error Codes (20, 21, 22, 23, 200, etc.)
This error means your printer has run out of paper and is unable to detect any paper in the tray. However, it is not always that your printer will indicate this error when there is no paper in the tray, even misalignment and improper paper loading will indicate the same ‘paper out’ message.
Some tips to avoid paper-out indication –
- Always make sure that you load the paper correctly.
- Use the right paper type that is specified for your printer model otherwise, you will definitely face this issue.
- Clean the paper tray regularly to avoid any dust or debris leading to the paper-out error code (it can happen).
Connectivity Error
- Epson Printer – Error Codes (E-01, E-12, I-22, I-23, etc.)
- HP Printer – Error (0x0000000A), Error 79, etc.
- Lexmark Printer – Error 200, Error 250, Error 900, etc.
Basically, a connectivity error means the printer is lacking a connection via cable or wifi. It could be because of various reasons like the printer being offline, network issues, or no print job.
Damaged cables and internal hardware malfunctions can also lead to connectivity errors in your printer. Obviously, everything related to printers is physical in nature and therefore can face damage due to any reason.
Tips to avoid connectivity errors in your printer –
- The first step you should consider in such a situation is restarting your printer. Sometimes temporary glitches can cause connectivity problems.
- If restarting does not solve the problem, check that all the cables and connected properly and also are in mint condition.
- If there is a Wi-Fi connection that you are using, make sure there is no network problem and your printer is connected to the correct WiFi network.
- If there is any update that you have missed to go for, then you could face connectivity issues. Therefore, it is best to keep your drivers and firmware updated from time to time.
Low Ink or Toner Error
- Epson Printer – W-11, 0xf1, Ink Light On
- HP Printer – Error Code 0xC19A0003, Ink Level Warning
- Lexmark Printers – Error Code 900, Low Toner Warning
This is an error that indicates that there is no or low ink in your printer ink cartridge and it basically is an alert for users. You might get this signal a little before the ink actually finishes up therefore having time to mend things and get back to the printer’s normal functioning.
However, users can adjust these settings so that is do not interrupt them from time to time and the ink can be used to its last working day.
Tips to avoid low ink or toner errors –
- Using good quality ink cartridges has several benefits because they not only give great print outputs but also last for a longer period of time.
- You can shake ink cartridges when there is a low ink error indicated on your printer display screen. This way, you might buy more time until the ink actually finishes.
- Simply go to your printer settings and disable the low ink error. You can use your printer’s manual diary to do that easily.
- You can get this error if your ink cartridge is not properly placed and the printer is unable to recognize it. Therefore, you must always carefully place the ink cartridges to avoid seeing this error.
Overall Troubleshooting Guide For Common Code In Printers
Recognize The Error Code
Whether you use the printer manual or the internet, the first step is to recognize the actual problem so that it can be solved.
The printer manual has all the necessary things that you need to rectify any printer error code without any trouble. Also, you can find easy ways to sort out the problem by using the internet.
Check out Printer Repair Dubai if you have any trouble and are not able to find a solution for your problem.
Go For Basic Troubleshooting
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- Check All Connections – Make sure that all the cables are plugged in properly and also are not damaged in any way. Wifi users must make sure that the network is okay and that the printer is connected to the correct network.
- Clean Your Printer – Get rid of any dust or debris from your printer because that seriously affects the normal functioning and therefore leads to error code indication.
- Check Ink Levels And Paper Quantity – It is important to see that your ink levels are not down and there are enough papers in the paper tray to ensure the smooth and proper functioning of your printer. Also, make sure you use the correct size of the paper that is specified for your device, otherwise, there will be a problem.
- Restart Your Printer – If there is any issue (hardware or software), you should consider restarting your printer once and see whether things sort out or not. Sometimes a simple restart does wonders.
Update Your Printer Drivers
You must stay up-to-date with your printer drivers and software because being out-of-date can anytime create a problem for you. You can check out updates on the official website of your printer’s brand.
Also, sometimes files get corrupted, and in that situation, you should delete and reinstall an update to see whether things are neat and clean this time or not.
Keep Your Printer Well-Maintained
All electronic devices, including printers, should be kept in mint condition so that they can work properly without creating a mess of any kind. For maintenance, you must clean them from time to time and also avoid using them for a very very long period of time because that could lead to overheating.
Also, it is beneficial if you place your printer in an air-conditioned room so that even after hefty usage, there are minimum chances of overheating.
Bottom Line
Be it any printer brand, errors are a common thing and they can be solved by following simple steps carefully. However, to avoid these errors, users must keep things neat and clean and follow all the basic steps that we have mentioned here.
We hope the information we have given here helped all readers and they know the basic troubleshooting guide and also how to avoid any such error.
And so with that, we end our blog. Thanks for reading!