Why can't my computer see the HP printer and what should I do?

A computer and a printer have long become faithful assistants not only in the activities of office workers, but also in the daily life of any person who needs to use the functions of these two devices.

Unfortunately, the technique tends to fail periodically. The printer and computer are no exception. Sometimes the well-coordinated work of these devices is interrupted, and sometimes it does not even start, although both of them are serviceable. There can be many problems, but one of the most common is a situation when the computer does not see the printer. In this article, we will talk about the problems with the HP printer.

To establish the operation of two devices, you need to figure out what the essence of such a failure is. There are many reasons why a Windows computer cannot see the HP LaserJet printer via USB. Among them:

• incorrect connection;
• defective USB connector or cable;
• lack of updates or the drivers themselves;
• incorrect device definition;
• lack of connection to the print service;
• failure of the computer operating system.

Having correctly identified the reason why the operation of the two devices failed, you can begin to eliminate the problem that has arisen.

In each case, it is necessary to perform a certain order of sequential actions.

This is the most common problem due to which the computer may not see the printer via USB. In this case, it will be appropriate to try disconnecting and reconnecting the printing device. Make sure the printer is on (the power button is pressed and the control panel light is on).

You should carefully inspect the USB cable and connectors for defects or damage. In this situation, if there are no external signs of damage to the cable, it is recommended to turn off and then turn on the devices in the appropriate connectors. To check if the connector itself is working, it is enough to disconnect the mouse and keyboard, and alternately plug the printer cable into the vacated slots. If in one of them the connection is restored, then the situation will be resolved.

Sometimes users forget about installing drivers and updating them in a timely manner, which can also adversely affect the operation of the printer and computer. To remedy this situation, you should find the installation disc, which is usually included with the printer. By inserting the disc into your computer, and then performing a series of simple sequential manipulations, you will install the drivers. Then the computer will see the additional device.

If there is no such disk in the set, you need to independently find the website of the printer manufacturer on the Internet, download the appropriate drivers and install them on the PC. At the end of the installation, you should restart your computer, and only then start working.

If there is a problem with the visibility of the printer on the computer, you need to check if there are other connected devices. If in the control panel there is no check mark next to the desired device, you just need to find it in the list of suggested connection options and set the use of this printer by default. The checkmark will move to it and the connection with the computer will be restored again.

A disabled print service can also make the printer invisible to the computer. The elimination of the problem is made in the print settings, where the automatic start type is used.

If the above troubleshooting methods did not work, it makes sense to contact the service center for help, where a full Windows diagnostics will be performed. If, when connecting the printer to another computer, the problems with seeing the printer disappeared, then it can be argued that the problem lies directly in the PC. This is due to the fact that there was some kind of serious failure in the operating system of the computer itself. The following reasons could cause it:

• viruses;
• protective action of the antivirus (device blocking);
• incorrect BIOS settings.

There are a number of recommendations, the observance of which will allow you to prevent possible problems in the operation of two devices:

• When the computer does not see the printer, you should not rush to perform any actions with these two devices. If possible, it is worth trying to connect the printer to another computer: this way it will be possible to understand whether the problem is in the printer or in the computer.
• Before working with equipment, you must always check all cables for mechanical damage (twists, kinks).
• Before using the printer and computer, check the USB ports for dust and deformation.
• You should pay attention to how the printer is connected to the computer: are adapters used to implement their connection. You can try connecting the devices to each other directly.
• It is recommended to replace a long USB cable with a short one.

Why the computer does not see the printer and what to do, see the video.