[FIXED] Computer Restarts When Trying To Print

If your computer restarts when trying to print a document or a picture, it could be due to a faulty hardware connection or outdated firmware. You can power cycle the printer or follow other fixes in this guide.

Key Takeaways

• Your computer may restart when you hit the print command when initiating the printing process.
• It can occur due to multiple causes, such as corrupt or outdated firmware, unstable electrical supply, or third-party app hindrances.
• You can try running the printer troubleshooter, performing DISM and SFC scans, updating the printer drivers, and other troubleshooting steps.

Why Does Your Computer Restart When Trying To Print?

The computer may restart while printing for various reasons, including a faulty USB port or a connection cable. In addition, compatibility issues between the Operating System and the printer can also hinder its working.

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On the other hand, relying on outdated versions of Windows, Printer Drivers, and Printer Firmware will cause barriers when printing a document. The presence of viruses or malware, along with third-party app interruption, are other reasons your system may restart or shut down during printing.

What To Do If Your Computer Restarts When Trying To Printing?

The error is solvable through effective fixes, like updating the printer drivers, updating Windows, and more. Apart from this, read our guides on How To Restart A Router? and How To Play Steam Games On Nvidia Shield Via Steam Link.

Power Cycle The Printer

The basic troubleshooting step is to restart your printer to clear any temporary bugs and glitches in its connection with your PC. Press the Power button on your printer to turn it off and remove the power cables. Wait for about 10 minutes before resuming the power supply to your printer.

Remove Unnecessary Peripherals

Remove nonessential external devices connected to your PC, for instance, USB or headset mics. Disconnect any peripheral which does not aid the printing process. In addition, see if any idle flash drive is plugged into your printer and unplug it.

Plug Into Another USB Port

The printer may not work properly if the USB port on your PC has faults. Try connecting the printer to a different USB port on the computer to resolve this hindrance.

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Directly Plug The Printer Into The Power Socket

It may be possible that your printer is not receiving an adequate power supply if you have connected it to an electrical extension board. Moreover, power fluctuations can also hinder the printer’s functioning. Hence, connect the printer directly to the power outlet for the electrical supply.

Use Separate Power Circuits

A Reddit user mentioned that connecting the two devices on the same power circuit can cause an imbalance in the power share between the PC and the printer. They were able to fix the problem by using different power circuits to provide a steady power supply for each of the two devices.  

Replace The Connection Cable

A faulty USB cable used to connect the printer to the PC will hinder the proper communication between the two devices. Hence, get a new compatible connection cord and try printing.

Run Printer Troubleshooter

The Printer Troubleshooter can identify and resolve common printing problems, thus saving you time. Make sure the printer is actively connected to your PC before proceeding with this fix.

1. From the Settings page, go to Update And Security.
   

   

2. Select the Troubleshoot option and press Additional Troubleshooters.

   

3. Expand on Printer.
   

   

4. Hit Run The Troubleshooter.
   

   

5. Pick your Printer from the dialog box to detect problems within it.

   

6. The troubleshooter will resolve scanned issues or guide you on how to fix them.

Update The Drivers

Updating the printer drivers can increase its overall stability and performance. Additionally, you should update the driver if you have recently upgraded your Operating System (OS) to ensure its compatibility with the printer.

1. Head to Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button.

   

2. Expand Print Queues.
   

   

3. Right-click on the connected printer.
4. Select Update Driver.
   

   

5. Press Search Automatically For Drivers from the next dialog box.

   

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Update Your Windows

Your PC requires the latest update of Windows to run hassle-free. Updating Windows can fix abrupt system crashes during the printing process. 

1. Open the Settings menu on your PC.
2. Find and Select Update And Security.
   

   

3. Highlight the Windows Update section from the sidebar.
4. It will automatically start Checking For Updates.
   

   

5. You can also hit the Check For Updates button to perform the scan manually.
6. Hit the Download button if a new update is available.

   

Scan Your PC

The presence of malware or viruses on your system can cause restarting issues during the printing. The Virus And Threat Protection program will scan the system for viruses affecting its regular performance. 

1. Search Virus And Threat Protection via the PC’s search bar.

   

2. It will open a Windows Security menu.
3. Run a Quick Scan.
   

   

4. The system will initiate scanning for potential threats to your PC. Let it complete.

   

Uninstall Recently Installed Software

A third-party app or recently installed software may cause the printer to malfunction on your PC. If the printer was working fine before installing a certain app on your system, it is plausible that the issue resides within that particular app. Uninstall and then restart the printing process.

Remove Optional Updates

Installing optional updates on your system might interrupt its normal operation. Some Reddit users got rid of the printing problem by uninstalling certain Windows updates, for instance, KB4524147, KB5000802, KB5000808, and KB5000822. Before heading to the instructions, check out How To Reset PC: The Definitive Guide.

1. Go to Control Panel.
   

   

2. Pick Programs.
   

   

3. Choose Programs And Features from the next screen.

   

4. Select View Installed Updates from the left side.

   

5. It will initiate searching for installed updates.
6. Search KB4524147 and right-click on it.
7. Hit Uninstall.
   

   

8. Try to go through the printing process now. If the problem persists, repeat these steps with KB5000802, KB5000808, and KB5000822.

Run SFC and DISM Scans

If your computer restarts when trying to print, running SFC and DSM Scans on your PC will find and repair corrupt or missing files on your system. These built-in Windows utilities can fix reoccurring problems in your computer to prevent it from restarting while the printing is underway.

1. Type and Search cmd in the search bar.
2. You will see the Command Prompt app in the search results.
3. Press Run As Administrator.
   

   

4. Click Yes.
5. Type the code sfc/scannow and Enter.
6. It will initiate looking for system errors.
7. Once completed, enter deism/online/cleanup-image /checkhealth.
8. After completing the above, run the next code, dism/online/cleanup-image /scanhealth.
9. Finally, write and Enter dism/online/cleanup-image /restorehealth to complete this troubleshooting step.

Restart Print Spooler

The Print Spooler manages all print commands sent to the printer or printer server and drivers. The print commands are queued in the Print Spooler until they are ready to be printed. Restarting the service can eliminate corrupt print jobs and driver issues to allow a smooth printing process.

1. Access the Services app on your computer.
   

   

2. Navigate to the Print Spooler and highlight it.
3. Click on Restart The Service from the upper left corner.

   

Set Print Spooler Startup Type To Automatic

It will enable the Print Spooler service to initiate automatically when you start Windows. Therefore, leading to a hassle-free print job.

1. Double-click Print Spooler from the Services page.
   

   

2. Choose the Startup Type as Automatic.
   
3. Press Apply, followed by OK.
   

   

Restart Windows In Safe Mode

This step will help you narrow down the cause to either third-party apps or faulty drivers. Restarting the Windows in Safe Mode lets you use the computer with basic settings and necessary drivers. If the same error occurs in Safe Mode, it is plausible that your system is affected by viruses or malware.

1. Open the Run box with Windows+R keys.
   

   

2. Type and search msconfig.
   

   

3. Head to the Boot section.
4. Mark Safe Boot and then Minimal beneath it.
5. Click Apply and then OK to save the settings.
   

   

6. Hit Restart.
   

   

7. The computer will enter Safe Mode.
   

Create An Error Log

You can create an error log from the Event Viewer page for the persisting issue. Once the error is detected, you can analyze it and look for relevant solutions.

1. Type Event Viewer in the search box and hit Enter.
   
2. Open the Event Viewer app from the results.

   

3. Double-click the Windows Logs from the left panel to view a list of sub-options.

   

4. Select Applications.
   

   

5. Navigate and click the Clear Log button under the Actions section on your right.

   

6. Hit Clear.
   

   

7. Now, go back and Print Any Document.
8. The system might Restart again when you try to print.
9. Wait for the computer to Turn On.
10. Head to Event Viewer once again.
11. Highlight the recent Error Log. It will match the time and date of the restart.
12. You can toggle between the General and Details tabs to view information about the
    error your system is experiencing.

    

Also Read: Windows Could Not Prepare Computer To Boot Installation Error

Update Your Printer’s Firmware

Each manufacturer has different steps to update its printer’s firmware. If your computer restarts when trying to print, updating the firmware through the support website is among the quickest and easiest ways to get through the process. Furthermore, do not turn off the printer during the firmware update.

HP

1. Head to https://support.hp.com/us-en.
2. Click on the Software And Drivers section from the menu bar.
    

   

3. Pick Printer.
   

   

4. Enter your product’s name and Submit.
   

   

5. Scroll Down and Expand the section reading Printer Firmware.
   
6. You will see an update file if a recent firmware update is available for your printer.
7. Download the file.

   

8. Open the file once installed.
9. Select Your Printer and hit the Update button in the dialog box.

   

Canon

1. Access https://www.usa.canon.com/support through your computer’s browser.
2. Select Printers.
   

   

3. Choose your Printer Type.

   

4. Further, pick the Printer’s Series.
   

   

5. Scroll down and pick Software And Drivers.
   
    

   

6. The site will automatically detect your Operating System and Windows Version. Ensure the details are correct.

   

7. Next, find the latest update file and Download it.
    

   

8. Run the file after the installation.
9. Follow The On-screen Prompts to update the firmware successfully.

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Xerox

1. Open https://www.support.xerox.com/.
2. Scroll down on the page.
3. Press Printers.
   

   

4. Select the relevant Printer Series.
   

   

5. Choose the Printer Model.
   

   

6. Go to Drivers And Downloads. Check the Platform box for correct information regarding your PC.

   

7. Move toward the bottom until you see the Firmware heading.
8. Accept The Terms and Download the firmware update file on your PC.

   

9. Launch the installed file to update the Xerox printer’s firmware.

Epson

1. Launch https://epson.com/Support/Printers/sh/s1.
2. Select your Printer Type.
   
    

   

3. Pick the Applicable Series for your printer.

   

4. Next, click on your Printer’s Model.

   

5. Hit Firmware.
6. Download the latest firmware update file.
   

   

7. Lastly, update the printer firmware with this file on your PC.

Reinstall Printer Drivers

Another Reddit user solved the system issue by reinstalling printer drivers on their computer. This will install fresh, updated printer drivers on the PC to offer better compatibility and feature enhancements.

1. Double-Click Print Queues on the Device Manager page.
   

   

2. Select The Relevant Printer and Right-Click on it.
3. Pick Uninstall Device.
   

   

4. Go to the concerned Manufacturer’s Website and Download a new driver. (The steps for this are similar to those mentioned in the above section; updating the printer’s firmware. Find and download the latest driver file instead of the firmware update for installing the driver.)

Contact Your Printer’s Manufacturer

If nothing works, go to the support website or a Twitter handle for your printer’s manufacturer and take assistance from the support team. Explain the error and let them in on the solutions you have tried so far.

Take The Printer To A Repair Shop

There may be underlying technical issues within your printer if none of the discussed fixes eliminate the error. Let an expert technician assess your printer and resolve any possible problems with the device.

Final Words

Perform the troubleshooting mentioned above steps when your computer restarts when trying to print. You can also ask for a replacement if you recently purchased the printer if it fails to work according to your expectations. Do not forget to see how we fixed Activate Windows Before You Can Personalize Your PC and Intel WiFi 6 AX201 Not Working.