Printer switches off repeatedly? 8 ways to fix it
Is your printer switching off repeatedly? We’ve got solutions.
If you’re trying to use your printer but it keeps switching on and off, or it turns off unexpectedly, and/or repeatedly, you need to fix it before it gets worse.
Most times your printer may suddenly turn off with no warning whatsoever, then you’re unable to print, copy, scan or even fax because of low power, or the printer is off. It just won’t respond.
If it is connected to a power outlet with a low power supply problem, then your printer may turn off repeatedly.
Here are some solutions you can use to troubleshoot and fix the issue.
What to do if your printer switches off by itself
Solution 1: Change Energy settings
Your printer is usually designed to reduce on power consumption when it is inactive.
This function is enabled by the automatic Power Off or Schedule On and Off feature, which makes your printer turn off after 2 hours of inactivity, then when you’re ready to use it again you just press the power button to turn it back on.
Check on the automatic Power Off or Schedule On and Off feature on your printer’s control panel. Depending on the printer model, you can also check this through the software.
Here’s how to change energy settings from control panel:
- Go to the set up menu
- Check Energy settings
- Open set up menu
- Click Preferences
- Click Schedule off
- Click Auto Power off
- Click Auto off
Change any settings where necessary.
How to check the auto Power off or Schedule off feature from software:
- Open your printer’s software
- Check energy settings
- Check the Auto Power off or Schedule Off feature
- Search Windows for your printer model
- Select your printer from the list
- Double click Maintain your printer, which opens a toolbox
- Click Advanced settings and make necessary changes to the settings
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process
If you cannot check the power settings for your printer, or the switching off issue persists, go to the next solution.
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Solution 2: Restart the printer
Restarting your printer may fix any connectivity errors that may be lurking. Follow the steps below to do this:
- Turn on your printer
- Wait till it is idle and silent
- While the printer is on, disconnect the power cord from the back of the printer
- Unplug the power cable from the power socket on the wall
- Wait for about a minute or two before plugging back the power cable to the wall socket
- Reconnect the power cord to the printer
- Turn on the printer if it doesn’t come on automatically, then let it warm up
- Wait till the printer is idle and silent
Check if the issue persists. If so, go to the next solution.
Solution 3: Update the printer’s firmware
Your manufacturer may release regular printer updates, so you need to be online constantly for it to update, and also check on these and update the firmware to fix the problem.
Here’s how to update the printer firmware on Windows:
- Turn on the printer and ensure it is connected to your computer through your local network or USB cable
- Go to your manufacturer’s support site and enter the model number for your printer
- Select the operating system
- Click Firmware (if none is listed, then there’s no currently available update for your printer)
- Click Download
- Click to use the download and install assistant
- Click Next
- Click Install now
- When the printer update window opens, check the serial number displays then select the checkbox next to it
- Click Update
- If the serial number displays but the not applicable status is grayed out, click Cancel
- If serial number doesn’t display and your printer uses network connection, plug in a USB cable to the printer, and to the computer, wait about half a minute then click Refresh. If the serial number displays, select the checkbox next to it then click Update
- Once the update is complete, click Ok
- Remove the USB cable you used to update your printer
- Right click Start
- Select Control Panel
- Click Hardware and Sound
- Click Devices and Printers
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- Right click the USB printer device for your model
- Select Remove device
- Disconnect the USB cable from both your printer and computer
- Restart your computer
Does this fix the issue? If not, try the next solution.
Solution 4: Plug directly into a power outlet
If your printer is plugged into a power surge protector, or power strip, it may not be getting enough power to function at its best.
Turn off the printer, then unplug it from the power surge protector, or power strip, and inspect the cord for any damage, wear or tear. If it has damage or is worn out, replace the cord.
Wait for a minute then plug the power cord directly into a power socket without the power strip or surge protector.
Turn on the printer if it doesn’t turn on automatically.
Solution 5: Check if other devices are causing the printer to keep switching off
When there are multiple devices plugged into your printer, it may lose power and turn off.
Check whether the USB cable runs directly from your PC to the printer, or try a different cable if available.
If the printer is connected to a USB hub, disconnect the hub then connect directly to the computer and printer.
Remove memory cards and/or USB drives from the printer, then turn it off, and back on again.
Use the next solution if the printer is still switching off.
Solution 6: Plug into a different power outlet
Sometimes a power outlet may not supply enough power for the printer, so you can change the power outlet and connect your printer to it using these steps:
- Turn off the printer
- Disconnect any USB cable from your PC to the printer
- Disconnect the power cord from the printer
- Unplug the power cable from the power outlet
- Move your printer to a different power outlet
- Reconnect the USB cable, then power the cord from the printer and plug in the power cable to the new power outlet
- Turn on the printer if it doesn’t come on automatically, then let it warm up
If this didn’t work, go to the next solution.
Solution 7: Replace power module
Depending on the printer model you have, the power supply may come with a power module inside it, or outside the printer.
For an external power module, check if the indicator light is off, or if there’s no light at all after trying the six solutions above. If this is the case, replace the power module.
For an internal power module, if the indicator light is off, or there’s no light at all after trying the six solutions above, go to the next solution.
Solution 8: Service the printer to
As a final resort, you can service the printer to see whether it resolves the issue.
Let us know in the comments section whether any of these solutions worked to fix the printer switching off repeatedly issue.
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