Printer is not recognized: How to remedy

If your printer is not recognized, this can have various causes. Mostly it is due to a problem with the cable or a wrong connection. However, the cause of the problem can also be found on the software side. Regardless of the operating system, the procedure is similar.

Printer is not recognized: Find causes in Windows

• First you should check the cabling if your printer is not recognized by the PC.
• Many printers can be set up via WLAN. In this case, check if you have entered the WLAN key correctly at the printer or if there are other problems with your WLAN. Restart your router under certain circumstances.
• Alternatively, connect your printer via a USB cable. Check that this and the corresponding USB port are functional.

How to update the printer drivers

If the printer is connected correctly and is still not recognized, check whether the drivers are up to date.

1. Connect the printer via USB and install the latest driver. This can be found on the official site of the device manufacturer.
2. Download it and run the file. Then restart your PC.
3. Then open the Control Panel via the search box. In the "Hardware and Sound" menu item, select "Devices and Printers".
4. If your printer is shown here as offline, even though it is turned on, right-click and run the troubleshooter.
5. If this also did not work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer.

If your printer is still not detected after these steps, contact the manufacturer's customer service.