Chromebook Won’t Print? Try These 12 Easy Fixes!

We’ve all been there—you need to print something important, and your Chromebook isn’t cooperating. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Printing issues with Chromebooks are common but usually easy to fix.

In this guide, we’ll take you through straightforward steps to get your Chromebook working with your printer again. Let’s tackle this together, one step at a time.

But before we get into the solutions, let’s identify some common causes of printing issues on Chromebooks.

• Printer Incompatibility: Chromebooks have built-in drivers that may not be compatible with all printer models. Older printers or those requiring specific drivers may not work.
• Network Connection Problems: Both the Chromebook and printer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for wireless printing to work. Issues with the network configuration can prevent successful connections.
• USB Connection Issues: Problems with the USB cable or the USB ports on either device can cause printing failures when using a USB cable.
• Outdated Chrome OS: Running an outdated version of Chrome OS can lead to compatibility issues with printers.
• Outdated Printer Firmware: Older printer firmware may not work well with the latest Chrome OS versions, causing printing problems.

Now that you know the probable causes, check out the solutions below to fix the issue:

1. Check Printer Compatibility

Before attempting any fixes, ensure your printer is compatible with Chrome OS. Visit your printer manufacturer’s website to find information about your specific printer model and its compatibility with Chrome OS or Chromebook.

You can also check the list of ‘Certified “Works with Chromebook” printers’ on the Chromebook Help forum by Google. If your printer is listed, proceed to the next step. If not, you might need a compatible printer.

How This Helps: Ensuring printer compatibility with Chrome OS is crucial, as not all printers work seamlessly with Chromebooks. If incompatible, consider purchasing a different model verified to work with Chrome OS.

2. Connect Both Devices to the Same Network

1. Turn on your printer and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. Refer to your printer’s manual for instructions.
   

   

2. On your Chromebook, click the time in the bottom right corner to open the quick settings menu.
   

   

3. Ensure your Chromebook is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your printer. If not, click the Wi-Fi icon and select your network.
   

   

How This Helps: Both devices need to be on the same network to communicate effectively. If they’re not, the Chromebook won’t find the printer, leading to printing failures.

3. Select Your Printer

1. Press Ctrl + P on your Chromebook to open the print dialog.
   

   

2. In the print dialog, click the “Destination” dropdown and find your printer in the list. Select it and proceed to print.
   

   

3. If your printer is not listed, click “See more” at the bottom.
   

   

How This Helps: Selecting the correct printer is essential for printing. If the wrong printer is selected, or if the printer is not visible, the print job won’t proceed. This step ensures the Chromebook recognizes and is set to use the correct printer.

READ MORE: How to Setup and Configure a Wireless Printer in Windows 11 ➜

4. Add Your Printer Manually

1. If your printer is not showing up, click on the time in the bottom right corner to open the quick settings menu.
   

   

2. Click the gear icon ⚙️ to open Settings.
   

   

3. Scroll down and click “Advanced” to expand advanced settings.
   

   

4. Under “Printing”, click “Printers”.
   

   

5. Click on Add Printer icon
   

   

6. Enter the following information about your printer:
   • Name: Give your printer a recognizable name.
   • Address: Enter your printer’s IP address. Print a network configuration page from your printer to find this.
   • Protocol: Select “Internet Printing Protocol (IPP)”.
     

     

7. Click “Add” to save the printer settings.
   

   

How This Helps: Manually adding your printer can resolve issues where automatic detection fails, allowing the Chromebook to communicate with the printer directly using its IP address.

5. Restart Devices

1. Turn off your printer and wait for about 30 seconds.
2. Turn your printer back on and wait for it to fully power up.
   

   

3. On your Chromebook, click the time in the bottom right corner and select “Sign out”.
   

   

4. Sign back in to your Chromebook and check if the printer is now recognized.

How This Helps: Restarting both devices can clear temporary glitches or connectivity issues. This simple step often resolves many common problems.

6. Check Printer Settings

1. Click the time in the bottom right corner and select the gear icon ⚙️ to open Settings.
   

   

2. Scroll down and click “Advanced” to expand advanced settings.
   

   

3. Under “Printing”, click “Printers”.
   

   

4. Ensure that your printer is listed correctly with the right name and IP address.
5. If necessary, remove the printer by clicking on the three-dot menu next to it and selecting “Remove”.
6. Add the printer again manually using the steps in Section 4.

How This Helps: Verifying and correcting printer settings ensures that the Chromebook is properly configured to communicate with the printer. Discrepancies in the printer name or IP address can lead to connection issues.

7. Update Chrome OS

1. Click the time in the bottom right corner and select the gear icon ⚙️ to open Settings.
   

   

2. Scroll down and click “About Chrome OS”.
   

   

3. Click “Check for updates”.
   

   

4. If an update is available, it will start downloading automatically. Once downloaded, click “Restart” to install the update.

How This Helps: Keeping Chrome OS updated ensures you have the latest features, bug fixes, and compatibility improvements. Updates can resolve issues affecting printing functionality.

READ MORE: How to Install Chrome OS Flex in Laptop or PC? ➜

8. Update Printer Firmware

1. Visit your printer manufacturer’s website and search for your specific printer model.
2. Look for a “Support” or “Downloads” section and find the latest firmware update for your printer.
3. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to download and install the firmware update on your printer.

How This Helps: Printer firmware updates can fix bugs and improve compatibility with newer operating systems, including Chrome OS. This is essential for ensuring that your printer functions correctly with your Chromebook.

9. Use a USB Connection (if applicable)

1. Ensure your printer is turned on and ready to print.
2. Connect your printer to your Chromebook using a USB cable.
3. A notification should appear on your Chromebook, asking if you want to set up the printer. Click “Set up” to proceed.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the USB printer setup.

How This Helps: Using a USB connection can bypass network issues entirely, allowing you to print directly from your Chromebook. This method is often more reliable when wireless connections fail.

10. Troubleshoot Wireless Connection

1. On your printer, ensure Wi-Fi is enabled and connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
2. Power cycle your printer by turning it off, waiting for 30 seconds, and then turning it back on.
3. Power cycle your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it from the power source, waiting for 30 seconds, and then plugging it back in.
4. Wait for the router to fully power up and reconnect your Chromebook and printer to the Wi-Fi network.

How This Helps: Troubleshooting the wireless connection ensures that both devices are properly connected to the network. This can resolve issues caused by network interruptions or misconfigurations.

11. Check for Print Quality Issues

1. Check the ink or toner levels in your printer. Replace any cartridges that are low or empty.
2. Clean the printer heads by following the instructions in your printer’s manual. This can help resolve issues with blurry or faded prints.
3. Run a test print from your printer to ensure that the print quality is satisfactory.

How This Helps: Addressing print quality issues ensures that your documents print clearly and correctly. Low ink or clogged print heads can lead to poor print results, which may be mistaken for connectivity problems.

12. Contact Support

If the steps above didn’t fix the printing issue on your Chromebook, don’t stress. You can always reach out to your printer’s customer support—they might have more specific tips based on your printer model. If you’re still stuck, try posting your problem on the Chromebook Help Forum or contact Google support for extra help.

Follow these solutions, and you should fix most printing problems on your Chromebook. Ensure your printer and Chromebook are compatible, double-check that everything’s connected to the same network, keep your software updated, and if all else fails, try connecting in a different way. You’ve got this!

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