Why is the Epson XP-342 not Printing Text from PCs?

Printers are inseparable from our lifestyle, especially when related to paperwork. If your printer refuses to print, it would be quite annoying.

Users have claimed that Epson XP-342 keeps not printing text from the PC repeatedly. If you have an Epson XP-342 printer and suffer from the ‘Epson XP-342 not printing text from PC’ issue, this guide will help you.

There are several reasons why the Epson printer can stop printing. Glitches in printer connection, outdated printer driver, blocks in the print spooler service, etc., can lead to such consequences.

Here are the tried and tested solutions to eradicate the Epson XP-342 not printing text from PC issues.

Verify your Printer Connection

If you own an Epson XP-342 printer, you have to mostly rely on a wireless setup. You can use this as a network printer.

When you have connected the printer to the internet, then you have to check the following terms:

• Observe the network status on your router and modem.
• Check the network connection status of your Epson XP-342 printer.
• If nothing works, reconnect your Epson printer to the network components, such as the router and modem.

In case you have connected the printer to your computer or any other device via USB cable, then you have to follow the below checkpoints:

• Try connecting your printer directly to the computer; omit the hub if there’s any.
• Check whether you have connected the USB cable properly to the computer and the printer.
• You might have to replace the connecting cable if you think that the cable is faulty.
• Don’t forget to try another USB port or your computer if the connection is not working.

In addition to this, make sure that you keep your printer close enough to your computer when you deploy a Bluetooth connection. If everything fails, you have to reconnect the printer to the computer and check if it starts printing texts again.

Set Epson XP-342 as Default Printer

Perhaps, your Epson XP-342 printer might not be assigned as your computer’s default printer. That’s why you might be facing the Epson XP-342 not printing texts from PC errors.

Here’s how you can set the Epson XP-342 printer as the default printer on your Windows computer:

1. Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.
2. Go to Devices from the main window followed by the Printers & Scanners option from the window’s left pane.
3. Choose your Epson XP-342 printer from the list of available printers.
4. Click on the Manage option and set the printer as default.

Ensure that you uncheck the box next to the ‘Let Windows manage my default printer’ option. This will prevent your computer from choosing the default printer automatically.

Observe the Print Spooler Service

All the print jobs accumulate in the Print Spooler service on your Windows device. The print spooler service is the communication bridge between the computer and printer.

If the Print Spooler service isn’t turned on, then the Epson XP-342 printer can’t print. Follow the guidelines to check if the Print Spooler is running currently or not:

1. Invoke the Run utility by pressing the Windows+R key shortcut.
2. In the box next to Open, type ‘service.msc’ and click the OK button.
3. Locate and double-click on the Print Spooler service when the Services window appears.
4. Inside the Properties window of Print Spooler, check the Service Status. It should be marked as Running.
5. Additionally, you have to keep the Startup type Automatic.
6. If you find that the Service Status is Stopped, click the Start button.

Finally, you can save your changes using the OK button. After that, you can try printing on your Epson XP-342 printer.

If you face the Epson XP-342 not printing text from PC issues, try the next solutions.

Update your Printer’s Drivers

Printer repair experts have suggested that updating your printer’s driver can be beneficial in this case. If your printer is dealing with outdated drivers, it might fail to cope with the latest changes with other connected devices.

Here’s what you can do to update your printer’s drivers using your Windows 10 PC:

1. Click the Search icon from the Taskbar and start typing ‘device’.
2. Select the Device Manager option from the results.
3. Once you explore the Device Manager, locate the printer driver.
4. Right-click on your printer driver.
5. Choose the Update Driver option from the pop-up menu.

Now, you have to go through the on-screen instructions and wait for the procedure to complete. Don’t forget to restart your Windows computer. If this method doesn’t update your printer’s driver, you should go to the printer driver’s manufacturer’s website.

Check out the latest printer driver for Epson XP-342 and install it accordingly. This should eradicate the Epson XP-342 not printing text from PCs if a faulty driver was behind that.

Have a Look at the Ink Cartridges….

When your Epson XP-342 is running out of ink, it can’t print anything. Therefore, you should check the status of the ink cartridges inside the printer.

Here’s how you can get verified status about the ink cartridges without inspecting them manually:

1. Press the Windows Logo Button and the I key at the same time. This will open up the System Settings.
2. Click the Devices option from the Settings menu.
3. Next, select the Printers & Scanners option from the left pane.
4. Locate your Epson XP-342 printer and right-click on it. Hit the Printing Preferences option.
5. Go to the Maintenance tab and click the option that says Epson Status Monitor 3.

This window tells you if any of the ink cartridges require a replacement. If you have been using the existing ink cartridges for a longer period, you should also change them with new and branded ink cartridges.

Anything Else?

Clearing all the existing print jobs can work like magic for you. Bring the Services window using the Run utility. Locate the Print Spooler and right-click it. Hit the Stop button and press the Windows+E shortcut key to open File Explorer.

Type ‘%windir%System32spoolPRINTERS’ in the address bar and erase all content from that folder. Now, head back to the Print Spooler and start the service. Additionally, make its startup type automatic. Observe if the Epson XP-342 not printing from PCs persists.