Printer Taking Forever? Speed Things Up Easily
You hit print—and then wait. And wait some more. What should have been a 10-second task turns into a test of patience. Whether it’s taking ages to start or crawling through every page, slow printing is a common issue that can really interrupt your workflow.
The good news? There are several reasons this might be happening, and most of them are completely fixable with a few adjustments.
What Slows Down a Printer?
Several things can affect your printer’s speed, some on the device itself, others from the document or settings. Here are a few of the most common reasons:
- High-resolution settings or large print jobs
- Print queue is overloaded or stuck
- Outdated printer drivers or software conflicts
- Using the wrong print mode for your task
- Weak Wi-Fi signal in wireless setups
- Printer is processing too many graphics-heavy files
- Sleep mode delays or system lag after idle time
Sometimes, the issue isn’t even with the printer—it could be your computer or connection sending the job slowly.
What You Can Check and Do
If your printer feels like it’s dragging its feet, try these steps to speed things up:
- Switch to Draft or Standard Mode
High-resolution or “Best Quality” print settings take more time to process and print. If you're printing a simple document, go to your printer settings and select "Draft" or "Standard" mode for faster performance. - Clear the Print Queue
Multiple pending jobs or one large document stuck in the queue can delay new prints.
On your device, open the print queue window, cancel any stuck jobs, and restart the print process. This often solves the delay immediately. - Restart Your Printer and Device
Restarting clears background tasks and memory that may be causing delays. Power off the printer, shut down your computer (or phone), and turn them back on after a short pause. - Check for Software or Driver Updates
If you haven’t updated your printer driver or software in a while, the device may struggle with newer file types or settings. Check your printer settings or control panel for available updates. - Reduce File Size or Graphics
Large image-heavy files take longer to process. If you’re printing presentations or photos, try converting them to PDF or reducing the resolution slightly before printing. - Avoid Printing Over Weak Wi-Fi
If you're using wireless printing and the signal is weak, your printer may pause or lag during the transfer. Try placing your printer closer to the router or switching to a wired connection if possible. - Keep the Printer Active
Printers that haven’t been used for a while may take longer to wake up or run checks before printing. Try printing a test page every few days to keep it in ready mode and prevent long startup delays.
Final Words
No one likes waiting for a page that should have printed instantly. Luckily, slow printing is usually tied to a few small things that are easy to fix—once you know what to look for.
If your printer still feels unusually slow after trying these tips, don’t worry. You can contact us anytime, and we’ll help guide you through your setup with easy steps that make sense.