Why won't my HP printer print emails?

HP printers are widely known for their reliability and ease of use, but even the best technology can sometimes encounter issues. One common frustration among HP printer users is the inability to print emails. If you’ve been trying to print emails from your inbox but your HP printer won’t cooperate, you’re not alone. In this blog, we’ll explore the common reasons why this issue occurs and provide you with troubleshooting steps to resolve it.

Common Reasons Why HP Printers Won’t Print Emails

There are several reasons why your HP printer might be refusing to print emails, and many of them are relatively easy to fix. Below are the most common causes:

1. Connection Issues

For your printer to receive and print emails, it must be properly connected to the device from which you’re printing. Whether you are printing wirelessly or via a USB cable, any interruption in the connection between your printer and computer could prevent the print job from being completed.

2. Email Formatting Problems

Emails are often formatted differently than standard documents, especially if they include embedded media, images, or special fonts. If the formatting is too complex, your printer might not be able to process the document properly, resulting in failed print jobs.

3. Incorrect Printer Settings

Your printer settings may be incorrectly configured for printing emails. For example, if the print job is set to “print to file” instead of the printer, or if the wrong paper size is selected, your printer may not complete the task.

4. Outdated Printer Driver

Your printer driver acts as the bridge between your printer and the computer. If your printer driver is outdated or corrupted, it may cause issues with printing specific types of documents like emails.

5. Browser or Email Client Issues

If you’re trying to print an email directly from your browser or email client, the problem might lie in the software. Some browsers or email clients may not properly communicate with your printer, or they might not be configured correctly for printing.

6. Paper or Ink Problems

Lastly, it’s worth checking whether your printer has enough paper or ink. Sometimes the simplest issues — like low ink levels or a paper jam — can stop your printer from working properly.

Troubleshooting Steps for Fixing HP Printer Not Printing Emails

Now that we’ve covered some common reasons behind this issue, let’s explore the solutions. Follow these troubleshooting steps to get your HP printer back to printing emails smoothly.

Step 1: Check Your Printer’s Connection

For Wireless Printers: Make sure your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your device. You can usually check the Wi-Fi connection by looking at the printer’s display panel. If the connection is unstable, restart your router and reconnect your printer to the network.

For Wired Printers: Ensure the USB cable is properly connected to both the printer and your computer. Try unplugging and plugging the cable back in, or try a different USB port.

Step 2: Print a Test Page

Before diving deeper, check if the printer is able to print other types of documents. Printing a test page will help you determine if the issue is isolated to printing emails or if it’s a broader problem.

On Windows, go to “Devices and Printers” > right-click on your HP printer > “Printer Properties” > “Print Test Page.”

On Mac, go to “System Preferences” > “Printers & Scanners” > select your HP printer > “Options & Supplies” > “Print Test Page.”

If the test page prints successfully, the issue is likely specific to printing emails.

Step 3: Update Your Printer Driver

An outdated or corrupted printer driver can lead to issues printing emails. To fix this, you can download and install the latest driver from the official HP website.

Visit the HP Support website.

Search for your printer model.

Download the latest printer driver compatible with your operating system.

Install the driver and restart your computer.

Step 4: Check Printer Settings

Make sure the correct printer is selected as the default printer in your print settings. In some cases, your device might default to printing to a virtual printer or save the print job as a PDF instead of sending it to the HP printer.

Check the paper size and orientation settings, and ensure they match the format of the email.

Turn off “Print to File” if enabled.

Step 5: Clear Print Queue

If multiple jobs are stuck in the print queue, new print jobs may not process, including your emails. Here’s how to clear the print queue:

On Windows: Open “Devices and Printers” > right-click your HP printer > select “See what’s printing” > right-click on any pending print jobs and select “Cancel.”

On Mac: Open “System Preferences” > “Printers & Scanners” > select your printer > click “Open Print Queue” > select and delete pending jobs.

Step 6: Check Browser or Email Client Settings

If you’re printing emails directly from your web browser or email client, ensure the print settings are correctly configured. If possible, try printing the email from a different browser or download the email as a PDF and print it from a PDF viewer like Adobe Acrobat.

Step 7: Simplify Email Formatting

If the email contains a lot of images, tables, or special formatting, try simplifying it:

Copy and paste the email content into a Word document or Notepad.

Adjust the formatting as needed.

Print the newly created document instead of the email.

Step 8: Ensure Sufficient Ink and Paper

Sometimes, it’s the simple things we overlook. Ensure that your printer has enough ink or toner and that the paper tray is loaded correctly. Check for any paper jams and clear them if necessary.

Step 9: Restart Devices

Restart both your printer and computer. Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve connectivity and software issues preventing email printing.

FAQs

Q1: Can I print an email directly from my phone?

Yes, you can print an email from your phone if your printer supports mobile printing. Make sure your HP printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone, and use the HP Smart app or AirPrint (for iOS) to print directly from your mobile device.

Q2: Why is my HP printer printing other documents but not emails?

This issue may be related to the email’s formatting or the browser/email client you’re using. Try printing the email from a different browser or download the email as a PDF and print from a PDF viewer.

Q3: How do I update my HP printer driver?

Visit the HP Support website, search for your printer model, and download the latest driver compatible with your operating system.

Q4: Why is my email only printing blank pages?

If your email is printing blank pages, it might be due to an issue with the formatting or the printer driver. Update the driver and ensure that the correct printer settings are selected.

Q5: How do I clear the print queue on my HP printer?

On Windows, go to “Devices and Printers,” right-click on your HP printer, and select “See what’s printing.” Right-click on any pending jobs and cancel them. On Mac, go to “Printers & Scanners,” select your printer, and clear the print queue.

Conclusion

Printing emails should be a simple task, but occasional issues with formatting, connectivity, or printer settings can complicate the process. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this blog, you should be able to resolve most common issues and get your HP printer working smoothly again. Always ensure your printer driver is up to date, and don’t hesitate to reach out to HP support if you continue experiencing problems.