How to Fix Printer Icon Not Showing in Devices and Printers?

The problem of the printer icon not showing in the devices and printers is remarkably frequent, and a multitude of factors can influence it. As a result, this article will cover the most effective methods for resolving this problem. However, it is dependent on the type of operation necessary to fix this. These methods will vary depending on the operating system but will be helpful for the majority of devices.

all control panel items
All control panel items

What Does the “Printer Icon Not Showing In Devices and Printers” Indicate?

There is a multitude of reasons why the “printer icon” goes missing from devices and Printers. Problems with a corrupted system, obsolete drivers, and other malfunctioning software are among them. The absence of the printer icon could also indicate that the application was incorrectly loaded, corrupted, or removed.

The following are the primary causes of the missing printer icon from devices and Printers Panel:

  • Corrupted Printer Driver
  • Multi Functioning device
  • No Bluetooth Support

You can use any of the ways given below to resolve the “printer icon not showing in devices and Printers” problem.

Visit if Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer to fix this issue

Run Printer Troubleshooting

Try the Printer Troubleshooter if the Printer Icon is not showing on the Devices & Printers screen. You may use your device to do basic troubleshooting that will assist you in resolving the problem. Depending on your printer model, specific troubleshooting methods will differ. However, after you have figured out a few typical issues, you will be able to search for and locate solutions tailored to your unit rapidly.

  1.  Right-click the printer icon in the Control Panel, Devices & Printers, and select Troubleshoot.

run printer troubleshooting

    Run Printer Troubleshooting

Furthermore, you must follow onscreen instructions when running printer troubleshooting and completing the troubleshooting procedure.

That’s all there is to it; after you have run the troubleshooter, it will resolve the issue with the printer icon not showing in the devices and printers area. It isn’t always practical, but it is worth a go.

Create a Shortcut

Create desktop shortcuts for your printers as the next best thing.

  1. To do so, go to Start, Control Panel, and then Printer Control Panel. Click on it to open it. 
  2. Then, right-click on the icon for your printer and select Create Shortcut from the menu that displays.
  3. This will create a shortcut on your desktop that you can use to access the printer settings whenever you want. 
  4. The Printer Icon should now be accessible on your computer’s desktop.
create a shortcut
Create a Shortcut

Update the Printer’s Driver

Users have noticed that the Printer Icon is missing from the desktop and does not appear on the Devices and Printers page. This issue is most commonly reported after updating the device from a prior version and applying a system update.

A printer driver is a software that converts data from your computer into a format that your printer can comprehend. Drivers, like other software, can become outdated or incompatible with your operating system after an update.

 

update the printer's driver
Update the printer’s driver

The problem of the printer icon not displaying in devices & Printers is frequently resolved by downloading and installing the most recent printer driver. If your printer drivers are out of sync, they may not function until you download and install the latest update. If you have had power outages, computer infections, or other issues, your driver might be harmed. As a result, you must install the most recent updates to ensure that any driver updates are implemented.

Visit this to Fix: Windows cannot locate a suitable printer driver

Create a New Registry Key

If the Printer icon does not appear on your Desktop, Control Panel, Devices, and Printers, you may need to make changes to the Windows Registry. 

  1. Back up the Registry or build a System Restore Point before you begin. 
  2. After that, launch the Registry Editor by typing Regedit into Start Search and pressing Enter.
    create a new registry key
    Create a new registry key
  3. Navigate to the following key:

     HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace
  4. Then select NameSpace > New Key with a right-click. You must name the key as: 2227a280-3aea-1069-a2de-08002b30309d. If you are curious about the name of the key, it’s the CLSID for the Printers folder. 
  5. Then, change the value of ‘Default’ to ‘Printers’ in the right pane. Finally, exit Regedit and restart your computer to see if it has made any difference.

Check Bluetooth Support Service

If the printer icon does not show up in Devices and Printers, try enabling the Bluetooth Support service. 

  1. To begin, right-click on the Start button and select Run. Furthermore, type Services. msc in the Run Command window and click OK. 
  2. Right-click Bluetooth Support Service and select Start on the next screen. 
  3. After that, restart your computer and look at the Devices & Printers window. If this is the case, it may resolve the issue with the printer icon not showing up.
check bluetooth support service
Check Bluetooth support service

Reinstall the Printer

You can try reinstalling the printer if the printer icon does not appear in Devices and Printers. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps. 

  1. Open the search menu and type “printers and scanners” into the search box. To begin, turn on the printers and scanners.
    reinstall the printer

      Reinstall the printer
  2. Select and click on the printer with which you are having trouble.
  3.  Then click Remove, Yes, and your printer will be completely uninstalled and removed from your Windows computer. 
  4. Correspondingly, restart your Windows computer, and then go ahead and add and install a printer on your computer.

We have outlined all of the options for resolving the issue of the printer icon not showing up in devices and printers in this article. First and foremost, you must install the printer’s drivers. 

If all else fails, you can use the Windows troubleshooter to attempt to resolve the most common printer setup issues. If you are still having trouble setting up and using your printer, try uninstalling it and reinstalling the driver. We hope that our solutions have assisted you in resolving this problem.

Visit to know more on Setup MG6820/MG6821 Wirelessly using the Printer’s Control Panel

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hamza Mohammad Anwar


Hamza Mohammad Anwar is an intermediate JavaScript web developer with a focus on developing high-performance applications using MERN technologies. His skill set includes expertise in ReactJS, MongoDB, Express NodeJS, and other related technologies. Hamza is also a Google IT Certified professional, which highlights his competence in IT support. As an avid problem-solver, he recreates errors on his computer to troubleshoot and find solutions to various technical issues.