Printers are devices that print out text and images onto papers using a special technology called “printing.” They are premium accessories due to their efficiency in producing high-quality prints at a fast speed. Nowadays, almost every household has one or more printers installed in their homes.
Many types of printers are available today, ranging from simple ones used mainly for personal purposes to complex multi-functional machines designed specifically for commercial usage. You can describe them as color printers, monochrome printers, inkjet printers, laser printers, etc.
Nevertheless, a printer can become unfunctional due to several factors like paper jamming, overheating, clogged nozzles, power failure, etc. In this article, we will discuss how to unpause a printer and possible reasons that cause them to pause;
Steps To Pause / Unpause Your Printer
There are multiple ways by which one can pause their printer, but the most common way is through clicking on the “Pause” button present on the top right corner of the screen. Doing this halts all the print jobs until the user clicks on the same again. If you have not paused the printer, then follows these steps;
1. Open Control Panel by clicking the Start button, then type the control panel into the search box. Click OK if prompted.
2. Expand Printers section under Hardware tab. You should see your current printer listed there with its Status highlighted in red, indicating that it is not working properly.
3. Right-click on the printer name and choose Properties. This action opens up a properties window to change settings such as Duplex mode, Print quality, Paper source, Port number, etc. Make sure that none of these options are checked unless they are required.
4. Select unpause option from the drop-down menu next to Status. Check-mark the checkbox beside Pause. The device resumes printing until prompted otherwise.
If the information mentioned above doesn’t match what’s displayed in the properties box, try restarting your PC. If everything goes well, then continue with the next step; If the Status shows Ready instead of Paused, click OK and close the window. Under the Options menu, choose Restart.
Note: You may also try restarting the computer itself and see whether it helps resolve the issue. If yes, go ahead and look into some of these reasons that may cause the problem;
Possible Reasons for The Pause-Error in a Printer
Overheated
When the temperature inside the printer reaches a critical level, the printer automatically stops processing the current job and waits till the internal temperature drops back down to normal range before resuming work. To resolve this, ensure that the printer runs at room temperature or cool place. Also, make sure that the fan is running properly.
Clogged Nozzle
Some older model printers use tiny metal tubes called nozzles to spray the ink onto the page. These nozzles get blocked over time, causing the nozzle to dry up, resulting in poor print quality. Ensure always to clean out the nozzles regularly using special cleaning tools like Epson Cleaning Tool Kit.
Power Failure
Sometimes, when the battery runs low, the printer halts working temporarily. There are two options here; either plug in the AC adapter or wait for a few minutes for the battery charge to fully recharge itself.
Paper Jamming
Most modern printers come equipped with rollers that help move the paper smoothly into the position where the print head sits. But sometimes, they fail to function properly and cause jams leading to the printer halting operation. Follow these steps to resolve this;
- Remove the jammed paper completely from the tray and place it somewhere safe.
- Open the lid of your printer and pull out the roller assembly.
- Take off the cover plate attached at the bottom of the roller assembly.
- Using tweezers, gently lift the spring-loaded pin holding the roller shaft in place.
- Once the spring pin is removed, carefully push the shaft upwards to release the trapped paper.
- After removing the stuck paper, replace the spring pin and close the cover plate.
- Now insert the paper into the feeder again and start printing.
- Repeat step 2 above as needed.
- Also, keep in mind that if the printer is connected to a network, it might take longer than usual to resume its operations. So, don’t panic just yet!
Software Error
Usually, software errors occur because of improper installation of driver files. So whenever you encounter issues while trying to install drivers manually, always download them directly from the manufacturer’s website instead of downloading from third-party websites. Also, ensure that you uninstall previous versions of the drivers first before installing new ones. Follow these steps to resolve this error;
- Click on Add/Remove Program under windows
- In the window that appears, locate the program name “EPSON” and click Uninstall.
- If prompted about uninstalling other applications along with EPSON, select Yes.
- Restart your computer after completing all the changes.
- Reinstall the latest version of the driver via the control panel.
Hardware Malfunction
This one happens rarely but is still possible. It could happen due to overheating, malfunctioning components, or even a damaged circuit board. For instance, some models have a built-in thermal sensor that monitors the temperatures within the printer. If the readings exceed certain limits, the printer will pause until the condition improves. Another example would be any component failure such as motor, power supply, etc. In case there is damage caused to the circuit board, replacing parts will certainly solve the problem. However, manufacturers often provide replacement parts free of cost, so check whether yours does too.
Printer Offline
A common scenario is that the printer gets disconnected from the Internet connection during heavy usage, resulting in offline Status. As soon as the connection resumes, the printer restarts immediately without waiting for further instructions. To avoid this situation, turn off Wi-Fi or Ethernet connections before starting long-term printing sessions.
How to Unpause Different Printer Models
Unpause HP Printer
- Press the Power button located on the top left corner of the printer.
- The display should show an option called Setup. Select it by pressing Enter key.
- Choose Language Settings, then Print Status, and unpause
Unpause Canon Printers
- Turn off the printer using the On/Off switch located near the front right side of the machine.
- Wait till the red light stops blinking.
Unpause Dell Printers
Dell machines usually come with two buttons – Reset & Clear Function Keys. These keys reset the settings of the device. When pressed together, both buttons will clear the function keys’ memory. Once cleared, press the OK button to exit the setup menu.
Unpause Lexmark Printers
Lexmark printers offer various options when it comes to fixing problems. Some of those include the following:
- Go into Setup Menu.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you’ll see a section titled PRINT STATUS.
- Check if the message says OFFLINE OR DOWNLOADING. If yes, wait for the system to finish loading.
Unpause Sharp Printers:
Sharp printers work like all other brands mentioned above, except that they don’t have a separate “Setup” mode. Instead, go directly to Device Maintenance Mode. Here, select Repair.
Unpause Samsung Printers
Samsung printers differ slightly from other brand names because they lack a dedicated ‘setup’ feature. Instead, you must access Device maintenance mode. From here, choose either Diagnostic Test or System Recovery. Both solutions aim at restoring your device to factory defaults.
Unpause Toshiba Printers
Toshiba printers have only three buttons – Start /Stop/Reset. While restarting the machine, hold the start button while turning the power knob clockwise. After completing the process, release the start button. Now turn the power knob counterclockwise until the word STOP appears on the screen. Then let go of the power knob completely. This action resets the entire unit.
Unpause Kyocera Printers:
Kyocera printers are similar to most other brands. However, there is one major difference between them that makes their recovery easier than others. Unlike many other devices, Kyocera printers keep track of how much ink was used up over time. So once the printer detects that the cartridge needs replacement, it automatically pauses the job so that the user doesn’t lose any data. To resume printing after replacing the cartridge, click “Continue Printing.”
Tips For Better Performance
- Avoid placing heavy objects near your printer while it is running. It may cause damage to internal components.
- Keep the nozzle clean so that it remains functional. Use cleaning solution recommended by the manufacturer.
- Do not use strong chemicals to clean the machine since they might harm delicate parts inside. For best results, always follow instructions given by manufacturers regarding maintenance of the equipment.
Conclusion
Unpause-error in printers can be confusing depending on the type and model of your machine. The above steps help you to resume a malfunctioning printer. However, if you find yourself unable to do so despite following all the tips mentioned above, you need to get professional assistance immediately. Printers require skilled technicians to diagnose and fix them effectively. However, chances of getting a technician are low since this issue is resolvable in the steps shared above.