If you have ever experienced a paper jam with your Lexmark printer, you are familiar with the hassle of clearing it. It can be frustrating when you print something only to find that the document didn’t print properly, or that the printer is not printing at all.

Clean and clear your Lexmark printer when it’s not printing properly

  • Sometimes your computer won’t recognize your printer, or it will not print despite numerous attempts.

  • If your Lexmark printer has stopped printing, it’s possible that the problem could be with the printer itself.

  • You can try with another printer to rule out this possibility then proceed to our troubleshooting guide.

  • Download DriverFix (verified download file).

  • Click Start Scan to find all problematic drivers.

  • Click Update Drivers to get new versions and avoid system malfunctionings.

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When you first set up a new Lexmark printer, chances are it will work just fine. But if you’ve had the printer for a while and its performance has been declining, something could be wrong with your printer.

Over time, your Lexmark printer’s drivers may become outdated and you will need to install the latest printer drivers to ensure your printer continues to perform efficiently.

Why does my Lexmark printer says ready but won’t print?

If your Lexmark printer is showing that it’s ready to print but won’t start, there are a few reasons why this could be happening. Below are some possible causes:

  • Connectivity problem – The most common cause is the USB cord being out of place or not plugged in at all. Try making sure everything is plugged in and the USB cord is connected to both the printer and your computer. If that doesn’t work, restart both your computer and your printer.
  • Out of paper – Check the paper tray to make sure that it’s not empty. If it isn’t, remove any jammed paper or dirt from the rollers and try printing again. The printer may not recognize that there’s paper present and hence won’t print.
  • The printer doesn’t recognize your computer – The first thing you should do is check to make sure your computer and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network (if they’re connected by Ethernet cables).
  • Not enough toner – It’s not uncommon for your printer to stop printing because it doesn’t recognize the toner cartridge. This often happens when you replace an empty cartridge with a new one or one almost empty. Your printer will think the new cartridge is faulty and so it will stop working, or print blank pages even though the new cartridge works just fine everywhere else.

How can I fix my Lexmark printer if it’s not printing?

1. Clean debris from inside the printer 

If you suspect there may be dirt on your printer, unplug it and remove any paper that you still have inside of it. Use a vacuum cleaner or another type of cleaning device to get rid of any dust or other items in there.

You may also want to remove any cartridges that are in your printer at this time as well. Even if they’re empty and you think there’s nothing wrong with them, it never hurts to give them a good cleaning as well.

2. Clear print queue

When your Lexmark printer stops working the way it should, you should clear the print queue. This will clear out any temporary files that might be jamming up your printer, and it could even solve your problem right away. 

If too many documents are queued up for printing, the printer’s memory might be full. Try clearing out the documents in the queue to create more space.

4. Check the ink cartridge

Ink should be visible at least halfway up the window on each side of the cartridge, but if it’s low or missing, it can cause a variety of issues. Your printouts may be lighter or darker than usual because of the lack of ink for that colour, and lines or streaks may appear on your paper. Also, when you have an empty cartridge, most printers will show an error message to let you know it’s time to replace it.

3. Update printer drivers 

  • Hit the Windows key, type Device Manager in the search bar and click Open.
  • Locate and Expand the Print queues section, then right-click on the Brother printer, and select Update Driver Software.
  • Click on Search automatically for drivers.

Doing this process manually can be tricky sometimes. Another option that we recommend is using a specialized software. DriverFix is a program that helps you find outdated drivers automatically.

It scans your whole device and then offers you a list of drivers that are slowing down your PC. Then, it replaces the old ones with the latest version from its database.

Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.Click here to download and start repairing.

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If your printer continues to give you issues after checking the ink levels, try cleaning the contacts with a cotton swab or soft cloth to get rid of any dust or debris that may be blocking them. You may also want to try unplugging and re-plugging your printer.

5. Make Lexmark the default printer

If you have multiple printers installed on the same computer, Windows will often default to a different printer than the one you want to use. This can cause problems with trying to print from your computer.

You can disable other printers or make Lexmark the default printer to avoid such problems.

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6.  Restart Print Spooler

  • Hit the Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run command.
  • Type in services.msc then hit Enter.
  • Locate Print Spooler, right-click and select Restart.

7. Run the Printer troubleshooter

  • Press the Windows key and select Settings.
  • Click on System, then select Troubleshoot.
  • Select Other troubleshooters.
  • Navigate to the Printer section, then click on the Run button.

Why is my printer connected but not printing?

We’ve all been there: you’re printing out a document for work, only to find that your printer isn’t working. You do some troubleshooting and realize that the printer is actually on. What gives?

While it’s quite easy to get your printer set up and producing great-looking documents, there are a few things that can go wrong that leave the printer connected but not printing such as:

  • It’s not the default printer – It’s easy to forget to switch your default printer when you have multiple printers connected. Disable other printers you are not using or set it as your default printer.
  • A faulty USB cable/port – When you’ve got a printer that’s connected to your computer via USB cable, but it still isn’t printing, the problem could lie with either the cable or a damaged USB port. The first thing to do is check both ends of the cable to make sure they’re securely plugged into their respective devices.
  • Wi-Fi signal is poor – If your computer is on a wireless network, make sure it can see your printer – if it’s not showing up, restarting both the computer and the printer will usually fix this problem. Also, if your computer is too far away from the printer, or if there is any form of physical barrier interfering with the signal, it might be necessary to move the printer closer. You’ll find that your Lexmark printer starts to print and then stops.

You can also take the initiative to boost your Wi-Fi speeds and improve its performance if it is giving your problems.

If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to contact Lexmark support as the issue could be with your specific printer model.

Let us know what solution was able to fix this issue in the comments section below.

If the advices above haven’t solved your issue, your PC may experience deeper Windows problems. We recommend downloading this PC Repair tool (rated Great on TrustPilot.com) to easily address them. After installation, simply click the Start Scan button and then press on Repair All.

Still having issues? Fix them with this tool:

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