Some printer manufacturers have their own proprietary and closed-source drivers.
You can go to the printer manufacturer’s official website to find and download the appropriate driver based on the model number.Įach printer’s brand installation will vary so be sure to follow the directions carefully. So, what can you do? Download Your Driver Some older printers were not designed to work with the open-source operating system or the latest version of Ubuntu.Īlternatively, if your printer is very new, it might not have been added yet to Ubuntu’s database. Check both ends of the USB cable to make sure the connection is secure. If you have an older printer or have moved it from one location to another, you could have a loose connection. Did you properly connect the power cables and USB (if the printer is not using wireless)? One of the simplest things to check is the connection. You can either look at the printer manufacturer documentation or follow the steps below. There are various reasons for this that range from simple to complex. There will be times when your Ubuntu OS won’t find a connected printer. When you don’t need a color copy, you can change that option to Black and White or Grayscale.
If you are looking to save money because print cartridges can be expensive, you might want to only use Color when necessary.
Pay attention to the Output Mode in the image above. However, the main principles are the same across all printers. Keep in mind that every printer is going to be slightly different.