Putting your printer back to work
A printer that has worked for three years and disappears from the list one morning is the great classic. The cause is nearly always the same, and it has nothing to do with the printer.
What is actually going on
On a home network the printer is given an address that changes when the router restarts. The Mac carries on looking for the old one. Hence a printer “offline” while it sits switched on two metres away.
The other common cause is the driver: after a macOS update, an old printer driver may stop working. Often the right answer is to stop using a driver at all and go through AirPrint, which is built into the system.
What we do
- Reconnect the printer to the networkWi-Fi or cable, with an address that will not move next time the router restarts.
- Reinstall it on the MacPreferring AirPrint where the printer allows: no driver to maintain, no surprise after an update.
- Set up double-sided printing and the traysThose options do not always come back on their own after a reinstall.
- Get the scanner workingScanning from the Mac, and from the iPhone where the printer allows it.
Before we arrive
What helps
- Note the exact make and model — it is written on the front or underneath.
- Switch the printer on and leave it connected during the visit.
What is better avoided
- Installing a driver downloaded from a third-party site: go to the manufacturer, or go without.
- Adding the printer three times hoping one will work — that creates phantom queues.
Your questions
Can I print from my iPhone?
If the printer supports AirPrint, yes, with nothing to install. If not there are workarounds, and we will look at what your model allows.
Do I need a new printer?
Rarely. Most printers under ten years old can be put back into service. We will tell you if yours is the exception.
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