How to Fix a Printer That Suddenly Stops Connecting via USB

Customer Question:

My printer suddenly stopped connecting to my computer. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi, so I use a USB cable. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the printer, but I think I’ve made the problem worse. How can I fix this?

Answer:

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. Check the USB Cable and Port

Start with the most basic, but often overlooked, step: inspect your USB cable. Try using it with another device or swap it for a different cable if available. Also, try switching to another USB port on your computer—preferably a USB 2.0 port, as many older printers don’t behave well with newer USB 3.0 or 3.1 ports. Avoid USB hubs or extension cables—connect the printer directly to the computer’s rear ports for best results.

2. Fully Remove the Printer Driver and Device Instances

Partial uninstalls can confuse your operating system and lead to communication failures. Here’s how to cleanly remove the printer:

• Control Panel > Devices and Printers
  Right-click your printer and select “Remove device.”

• Settings > Apps
  Uninstall any printer-related software (like Epson Setup Utility, HP Smart, or Canon Toolbox).

• Device Manager
  Open it (Right-click Start > Device Manager). Under “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” and “Print Queues,” look for any entries that resemble your printer. Right-click and Uninstall the Device for all those instances.

This ensures you're clearing out all "ghost" connections or corrupt device entries that may have remained after your initial reinstall.

3. Optional but Useful: Clear the Print Spooler

Corrupt print jobs can block new connections:

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

• Scroll down to Print Spooler, right-click, and click Stop.

• Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete any files in that folder.

• Go back and restart the Print Spooler service.

4. Download the Latest Driver from the Manufacturer’s Website

Don’t rely on Windows auto-installing a generic driver. Visit the official website for your printer’s brand and model, and download the complete driver package that matches your operating system version (e.g., Windows 10 64-bit).

Important: Do not plug in the printer until prompted by the installer. This avoids premature detection that can confuse the setup process.

5. Ensure Correct USB Port Mapping

Once installed:

• Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers

• Right-click on your printer and choose Printer Properties

• Navigate to the Ports tab

• Ensure it's set to a port like USB001, USB002, or DOT4_001—not LPT or COM.

Sometimes the installer assigns the wrong port during a botched reinstall. Manually selecting the correct port often resolves communication issues.

6. Power Cycle and Test

Finally, turn off both your printer and computer. Wait 30 seconds—power the computer on first, then the printer. From Printer Properties, click “Print Test Page” to confirm the connection is now working.

What Might Have Gone Wrong?

In many cases, attempting to reinstall the printer manually—especially without entirely removing all prior software and drivers—can lead to ghost entries, broken port assignments, or OS confusion. Windows may try to use a generic driver or assign a bad USB port (like LPT1), which prevents honest communication. The steps above are designed to reset everything and let your system treat it as a new device.

Additional Support Options

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks before we can arrange for your printer to be dropped off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out our YouTube channel’s homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to the “About” tab and enter keywords like “USB not detected” or your printer’s model number. YouTube’s algorithm may also surface relevant videos from other creators.

Thanks again for reaching out and being a part of our growing community. Your patience and continued support mean the world to us. We hope this guide helps you get back up and printing in no time!