If your Windows computer shuts down or restarts when printing, the solutions provided in this article will help. Power issues usually cause this type of problem. However, other hardware and software issues may also be responsible for it.
Computer shuts down or restarts when printing
Use the following suggestions if your Windows computer shuts down or restarts when printing:
- Check for power supply issues
- Run the Printer Troubleshooter
- Reinstall the printer driver
- Clear print queue
- Uninstall your security software
- Repair your system image files
- Uninstall and reinstall the printer
- Test your RAM
All these fixes are explained in detail below:
1] Check for power supply issues
Power supply issues are the main cause of this problem. If your computer or printer is not directly connected to the main power source, say they are connected through a UPS, the UPS might be faulty.
This problem may also occur if you have connected your computer and printer to the same UPS. In this case, it is possible that your printer is drawing more power from the UPS, which is causing this issue. Connect both printers directly to the main wall socket and print a test page.
2] Run the Printer Troubleshooter
Printer Troubleshooter is an automated tool in Windows 11/10 that helps you resolve printing-related problems. Run the Printer Troubleshooter and see if it helps. In Windows 11, you can run it through the Get Help app.
3] Reinstall the printer driver
Corrupt printer drivers are also one possible cause of this problem. If this is the case with you, reinstalling the printer driver can help.
Follow the steps provided below:
- Visit your printer manufacturer’s official website and download your printer driver’s latest version.
- Open the Device Manager.
- Expand the Print queues branch, right-click on your printer driver, and select Uninstall device.
- Now, run the installer file to reinstall the printer driver.
4] Clear print queue
Clear the print queue and see if you can print your document. For this, open Windows Services Manager and locate the Print Spooler service. Right-click on the Print Spooler service and select Stop. After that, go to the following location in File Explorer:
C:\Windows\System32\Spool
Open the PRINTERS folder and delete all files inside it. Now, open the Services Manager again, right-click on the Print Spooler service, and select Start.
5] Uninstall your security software
Your security software might be responsible for this problem. Uninstalling it will confirm this. Before uninstalling the security software, make sure that you have its product activation key, as it will be required to activate your security software again.
After uninstalling the security software, restart your computer, and print a test page. If the issue does not occur this time, you need to contact the support of your security software provider for further assistance and troubleshooting.
6] Repair your system image files
Repair the corrupted system image files and see if it helps. Use the System File Checker and DISM tools for this purpose. Do not interrupt the scan.
7] Uninstall and reinstall the printer
If the issue still persists, uninstalling and reinstalling the printer can help. To do this, follow the steps provided below:
- Open Windows 11/10 Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select your printer and click on the Remove button.
- Now, open the Device Manager and expand the Print queues branch.
- Right-click on the printer driver (if available) and select Uninstall device.
- Restart your computer and add your printer again.
Now, check if you can print your document.
8] Test your RAM
One possible cause of this problem is faulty memory or RAM. A faulty RAM shows some symptoms, such as decreased computer performance, random restarts, frequent BSOD errors, etc. If you experience these symptoms, your RAM may be faulty. However, these symptoms do not confirm this statement because a computer can also show these symptoms due to another hardware failure.
To confirm whether your RAM is faulty, test your RAM with the help of the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
That’s it. I hope this helps.
Why does my computer shut off when I print?
Hardware or software issues can be responsible for this problem. One possible cause is a security software conflict. Other causes include corrupted driver or system image files. Additionally, if your computer’s memory is faulty, you may also experience this problem. Power supply issues are the most common cause of this problem. To confirm this, connect your printer and computer directly to the wall socket.
What causes a computer to shut down and restart?
Hardware fault, such as bad RAM is the most common cause of a random computer restart or shut down. You should also monitor your computer’s temperature because overheating also causes the computer to crash and shut down unexpectedly. Driver problems and malware infection can also be the possible causes of this problem.
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