- Printers show Symbols strangers frequently due to communication failures, drivers or coding.
- Checking connections, updating drivers, and trying different viewers or programs usually eliminates the problem.
- The error may appear when printing from certain programs or with PDF files and is solved by checking compatibility and configuration.
Finding a printer that starts printing strange symbols, unintelligible characters, or even pages full of strange characters can turn a routine task into a real nightmare. This problem is more common than you think and can affect both home users and businesses.Although at first glance it seems like a serious error, the truth is that in most cases it can be solved and does not require advanced computer knowledge.
In this complete guide we are going to tell you in detail why printers usually print strange or illegible symbols, what the most frequent causes are, what steps you should follow to solve it both in Windows as in MacWhat happens if the error appears only with files? PDF and of course we will give you all solutions possible, from the simplest to those that require a little more attention. This way, you can return your computer to normal and forget about printed hieroglyphics.
Why does my printer print strange or illegible symbols?
Before you jump into trying out solutions, it is essential to understand What causes your printer to print strange characters?, such as strings of symbols, stars, squares or other signs that have nothing to do with your original document. This problem is usually more due to communication, software or configuration, than to the device itself. hardware from the printer. Among the most common causes are:
- Connection failures between computer and printer (faulty cables, loose or incorrect connections).
- Corrupted, outdated, or inappropriate printer drivers.
- Incorrect character encoding settings, especially if printing from older systems or certain applications.
- Compatibility issues between the document and the program you print from (example: PDF files opened in different viewers).
- Corrupt files or unsupported fonts in the document.
- Misconfiguration in older applications (such as DOS).
- Damp, damaged, or unsuitable paper, although this is less common.
These are the main reasons, and in most of them There are simple and quick solutions that you can apply yourself. Let's look at each one in detail.
Getting Started: Review the Basics
When you're first faced with printing awkward or illegible symbols, your best bet is to start with the basics. Many times the cause is as simple as a connection failure or a stuck print order.. Follow these first steps:
- Turn the printer off and on: Press the power button and leave the printer unplugged for 15 minutes. Plugging it back in and turning it back on resolves many minor issues.
- Restart the computer: A simple system reboot may resolve temporary conflicts.
- check the wires: Make sure all cables (USB, power, etc.) are correctly connected to both the printer and the computer. A loose or damaged cable can corrupt the information sent..
- Change the cable if possibleIf you suspect the cable is defective, try another one with the same characteristics as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Check the condition of the paper: Damp, bent, or low-quality paper may affect printing. Use paper recommended by the manufacturer and store it in a dry place.
If after these initial steps the problem persists, it is time to delve into more specific solutions. depending on the operating system and file type.
Fix strange symbols printing in Windows
Most of these types of incidents occur on Windows systems They have to do with drivers, the print queue, or communication with the printer.Here's a detailed solution guide:
1. Remove documents stuck in the print queue
- Go to “Settings” > “Devices” > “Printers & scanners.”
- Select your printer and click “Manage” > “Open Print Queue.”
- Right-click on any stopped print job and choose “Cancel.”
- Repeat the process until the queue is empty.
This is essential if the printer started printing strange symbols after a previous printing error.
2. Update or reinstall printer drivers
- Visit the official website of your printer manufacturer.
- Find your specific model and download the latest driver for your version of Windows.
- Uninstall the previous driver from "Programs and Features" (or from "Devices and Printers" by uninstalling the device).
- Install the newly downloaded driver and restart your computer.
Corrupted or outdated drivers are one of the main reasons for incorrect character printing..
3. Check the printer settings in the application you print from
- Verify that the selected printer is the correct one.
- Check your printing preferences and make sure no unsupported printing modes are enabled.
- For very old applications (such as MS-DOS programs), make sure you have configured the printer properly according to the manual.
4. Problems printing binary files (PostScript or EPS)
When printing from PostScript software, The binary format may not be compatible with some USB connections. Change the format to ASCII or TBCP in the advanced options of your printer properties, or save the file in ASCII format if possible.
5. If you use a USB hub, connect the printer directly to the computer
USB hubs can cause communication issues. Try connecting your printer directly.
Solutions if the problem occurs on Mac OS
If you're using a Mac and your printer is printing strange characters, follow these steps tailored for Apple environments:
- Check the USB connection or if you use AirPrint, try connecting the printer via cable to your computer and print again.
- Open “System Preferences” > “Printers & Scanners”, select your printer and check its status. If it's on standby or offline, remove the printer and add it again.
- Change the print format from the printer settingsOn some models, you can access the settings panel to select a standard encoding or change the printer language.
- Reset the printer by unplugging it from the power supply. a few minutes and then plug it back in.
- Contact technical support If the problem persists, please describe the error and provide the exact model and any messages displayed.
Check the character encoding and language on the printer
One of the most common reasons for improper printing of symbols is an incorrect character encoding settingThis is especially common on printers used in international environments or configured from the front panel:
- Access the printer's configuration menu (physically or from the management software on the computer).
- Look for the “Language” or “Character Encoding” section.
- Select a standard option, such as UTF-8, or your document language (Spanish, English, etc.), and save your changes.
- Make a test print.
Troubleshoot printing PDF files with symbols or illegible text
PDF files can be a common source of this problem. If PDFs look good on screen but print poorly or show strange symbols, follow these specific solutions:
- Update the PDF viewer: Download the latest version of the reader (Adobe Acrobat or other).
- Reinstall the PDF reader: Uninstall the program and reinstall it to rule out internal errors.
- Try opening the PDF file in another reader (for example Microsoft Edge)If you print correctly from Edge but not from Acrobat, the problem is in your Acrobat settings.
- Check if PDF fonts are embeddedIf the font used in the PDF isn't embedded or installed on your system, boxes or symbols may appear. In this case, ask the document creator to generate a new PDF with the fonts embedded.
- Repair the PDF file: Use tools like EaseUS Fixo Document Repair or an online service to fix corrupt PDF files.
- Restore a previous version of the PDFIf you have automatic backups, look for the “Previous Versions” tab in the file properties and restore a valid version.
What if the problem only occurs in certain programs?
Often, strange symbols only appear when printing from a specific application, while everything works fine from other applications. This may be due to incompatibilities in the program itself or how it sends the information to the printer.. Here are some recommendations:
- Try to print the same document from another program (example: pass the file Word to PDF and try printing the PDF).
- Update the program you use to print, as outdated versions may contain errors.
- Check for specific patches or updates for your software and printer.
- In older word processors (WordPerfect, Lotus, etc.) it may be necessary to manually configure the print driver.
If the error disappears when printing with another application, it is clear that the original program caused the confusion in the encoding or data sending format..
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