Full Fix: Printer needs user intervention
- Are you getting a Printer needs user intervention error message?
- Probably there's a corrupted print job, the spooler isn't running, or it could have something to do with the printer's driver.
- The first thing you have to try is restarting the Print Spooler service to bring it back to its original state.
- Learn how to do that and more in our step-by-step guide below.
Are you getting a printer needs user intervention error message when printing documents?
The error might appear on the printer’s top panel display as well as within a dialog window. This is a fairly common error on various brands of laser printers.
That might mean there’s a corrupted print job, the spooler isn’t running, or could have something to do with the printer‘s driver. let’s take a closer look at some scenarios reported by other users.
Where and when can this issue appear?
- HP tops the inventory (User intervention printer HP: OfficeJet 3830, DeskJet 3700, and HP Envy are commonly impacted)
- But most major brands are impacted (printer needs user intervention Epson, Brother, Xerox, Canon, Ricoh, Toshiba, Lexmark, and more)
- Printer action/attention required (Another variation of this error states that the printer requires your attention. Don’t worry, we have covered all the scenarios below).
- Several Windows versions (Printer needs user intervention in Windows 10, 7, and even 11)
These are a few potential fixes for the printer needs user intervention error. So, read on to see how to deal with it promptly and carry on with your tasks unhindered.
How to fix Printer needs user intervention error in Windows 10?
- Restart the Print service
- Update the Printer Driver
- Run the Printer Troubleshooter
- Run the Hardware Troubleshooter
- Reinstall the Printer’s Driver
- Install Windows updates
- Uninstall the latest updates
How can I fix Printer needs user intervention?
1. Restart the Print service
The first thing we’re going to try is restarting the Print Spooler service to bring it back to its original state. Here’s what you need to do:
- Press Windows Key + R and enter services.msc. Now press Enter or click OK.
- When the Services window opens, locate the Print Spooler service.
- Now choose Restart from the menu.
2. Update the Printer Driver
2.1. Update drivers manually
- Right-click the Start and select Device Manager.
- Navigate to Printers queues and expand this section.
- Right-click your graphics device and open Properties.
- Select the Details tab.
- From the drop-down menu, open HardwareIds.
- Copy the first row and paste it into your browser’s address bar.
- The search results should show you the exact drivers you’ll need to install.
If reinstalling the printer driver didn’t help, you can check for additional driver updates for your printer. And you can update the printer drivers as shown above or go for a simpler and quicker solution. Check it out!
2.2. Update drivers automatically
If you don’t want the hassle of searching for drivers on your own, you can use a tool that will do this for you automatically.
A professional driver updater tool will help you keep all your drivers up to date so that it won’t be time-consuming updating them on your own.
Most of the time, the generic drivers for your PC’s hardware and peripherals are not properly updated by the system.There are key differences between a generic driver and a manufacturer’s driver.Searching for the right driver version for each of your hardware components can become tedious. That’s why an automated assistant can help you find and update your system with the correct drivers every time, and we strongly recommend DriverFix. Here’s how to do it:
- Download and install DriverFix.
- Launch the software.
- Wait for the detection of all your faulty drivers.
- DriverFix will now show you all the drivers that have issues, and you just need to select the ones you’d liked fixed.
- Wait for the app to download and install the newest drivers.
- Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
DriverFix
Keep your PC components drivers working perfectly without putting your PC at risk.
Disclaimer: this program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions.
3. Run the Printer Troubleshooter
If resetting the Printer service didn’t get the job done, we’ll try with Windows 10’s universal troubleshooting tool.
To run Windows 10’s troubleshooter for resolving printer problems, follow these instructions:
- Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
- Select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left. Select Printer from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.
4. Run the Hardware Troubleshooter
We can also do the same thing with the hardware troubleshooter:
- Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
- Select BSOD from the menu on the left.
- Select Hardware & devices from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.
5. Reinstall the Printer’s Driver
Maybe there’s something wrong with the printer driver. To see if that’s indeed the case, we’re going to reinstall it. Here’s how:
- First, uninstall the driver via Device Manager. Open Cortana and enter Device Manager in the search box.
- Select Device Manager to open its window.
- Click Printers and then right-click your printer. Select Uninstall on the context menu, and click the OK button to confirm.
- Now when you restart your desktop or laptop, Windows will usually automatically reinstall an updated driver for the printer.
- Alternatively, you can manually install the latest driver by downloading it from the manufacturer’s website. For that, you’ll need to note down your printer model number details to find the correct driver, download it from a website and then run through its setup wizard.
6. Install Windows updates
Microsoft usually delivers printer drivers for Windows 10 through Windows Update. So, it’s possible that the very next driver update will resolve the issue.
That’s why you should go and check for new updates.
To do that, go to Settings > Updates & Security, and check for updates.
7. Uninstall the latest updates
On the contrary to the previous solution, it’s also possible that one of the recent updates you’ve installed actually causes the problem.
If you suspect that might be the case, go on and uninstall the troublesome update. Here’s how to do that:
- Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
- Once the Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & security section.
- Go to Windows Update tab and click on Update history.
- Click on Uninstall updates.
- List of installed updates will now appear. Select the problematic update that you want to remove and click the Uninstall button.
- After removing the update, restart your PC.
Those are some of the best fixes for the printer needs user intervention issue.
You might also be able to fix the error with printer manufacturer troubleshooting software, such as HP Print and Scan Doctor if the manufacturer provides any utilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When the User intervention required message displays on the computer, that means that you need to take action in solving an issue that cannot be resolved automatically. Learn how to fix this problem quickly.
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The Printer spooler is a software program in Windows responsible for managing all print jobs sent to the printer or print server. It is often responsible for the printer not responding. Fix this problem with our expert guide.
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That depends on every manufacturer and printer model, but usually, you will find the settings reset option in the Device settings or Printer settings in the dedicated printer software.
