Solved Can't Connect to Printer

MikeN707 · Jan 31, 2026

For the last couple of days I have not been able to connect to a printer from the print option in Power Point. My default printer disappeared. I added it back and it was gone again the next day. I wanted to use MS Print to PDF, but it went into a loop trying to connect to the printer. Has anyone else seen this? I can print from Word ok.

Win 11 26200.7623

Rollback_Jockey · Jan 31, 2026

I think it's relevant to mention the method you're using to connect to the printer, USB, Ethernet, WiFi?

MikeN707 · Jan 31, 2026

Sorry, I should have included that. I connect via WiFi. It is strange that I get the same dialog box for printing in Word, but it connects to the printer and to Print to PDF without a problem. In Powerpoint, it goes into a loop trying to find the default printer. When I am able to say to use Print to PDF, the same thing happens - a loop trying to connect.

glasskuter · Jan 31, 2026

MikeN707 said:
In Powerpoint, it goes into a loop trying to find the default printer.

IMO if you can print without issues in Word and Excel, but not in powerpoint, it would indicate some sort of corruption in your Powerpoint installation.
You do not mention what version of MSOffice you are using.I would first try to repair the Office installation. Dependent on the version, instructions are different.

I would first try to repair the Office installation.
To repair later versions of Office and Ofc365 see this Repair an Office application - Microsoft Support.
If a repair does not fix it, I would uninstall the current Office Installation, restart, and re-install. These instructions cover uninstalling OFC2016-OFC2024 and Office 365. There is a link at the bottom of the article on how to reinstall.

Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from a PC - Microsoft Support

Learn how to uninstall Office from a PC using the Control Panel or with the uninstall support tool.

support.microsoft.com

MisterEd · Jan 31, 2026

You didn't say which printer you have. Have you checked to see if there is an update to the printer driver?

I have an HP Printer. When I have printer problems the first thing I assume is that a Windows update broke the printer driver. Most times I will find I need to update the printer driver to solve the problem.

XxXxX · Feb 1, 2026

MikeN707 said:
For the last couple of days I have not been able to connect to a printer from the print option in Power Point. My default printer disappeared. I added it back and it was gone again the next day. I wanted to use MS Print to PDF, but it went into a loop trying to connect to the printer. Has anyone else seen this? I can print from Word ok.

Win 11 26200.7623

i have a Brother Multi Function Laser Printer and the way i found to solve that problem of not connecting on WiFi was

1. reserve the Printers WiFi IP address within the Router

2. set the Printers IP address within the Printer to match the Routers reserved IP address of the Printer
also setting the routers gateway IP address and routers subnet mask
example..
gateway IP 192.168.1.1
Printers IP 192.168.1.179 (using the IP from the reserved address within the router)
subnet 255.255.255.0

save the settings and then open ..

then in Windows settings > Bluetooth and devices > add device
use the same IP addresses and details to set up the printer within Windows

save the settings and then try your printer
best of luck Steve ..

idgat · Feb 1, 2026

MikeN707 said:
I wanted to use MS Print to PDF

Is it turned on? Start > Windows Tools > Control Panel > .... > Programs and Features > (LH column) Turn Windows Features on or off > Microsoft Print to PDF - should be ticked

If it is ticked, try (re)installing it from Microsoft Store (although I have tried that, and it was a miserable failure. Finished up using a 3rd party PDF printer)

MikeN707 · Feb 1, 2026

Thank you for all your suggestions. I have Office 365. I did a repair first, but that didn't make any difference. I did an uninstall and then a reinstall. Rebooted. I checked the features and Print to PDF is turned on. So far the problem persists.

joeandmarg0 · Feb 1, 2026

Look in Reliability History for any failures prior to ,or at,the time of the problem first occurring.
To access it,start typing ---reliability ---in the Search box.
Can you remember what actions you performed before the problem started?
Also ensure that Win 11 is not corrupted.
In Terminal [Admin] type in ---dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and run it.
When finished,type in ---sfc /scannow ---and continue to run it until a clean report is given.

MikeN707 · Feb 1, 2026

Things have gone from bad to worse. Now I have problems printing from Word, also. I use (an old version of) Quicken and that also is having problems connecting to a printer. My HP printer keeps disappearing from the list of printers. That would explain connection problems but even after adding it back, when I try to print from Word I get a box saying 'wait for connection'. I cancel that and the print control box appears, but it will not print.

Winuser · Feb 1, 2026

MikeN707 said:
Things have gone from bad to worse. Now I have problems printing from Word, also. I use (an old version of) Quicken and that also is having problems connecting to a printer. My HP printer keeps disappearing from the list of printers. That would explain connection problems but even after adding it back, when I try to print from Word I get a box saying 'wait for connection'. I cancel that and the print control box appears, but it will not print.

Can you test the printer with a different computer or try a different printer on the computer? The reason I ask is because it may be a problem with the printer.

MikeN707 · Feb 2, 2026

Thank you for your suggestions. I have Office 365. I did a repair first, but that didn't make any difference. I did an uninstall and thern a reinstall. So far no difference. I will see in the morning after I do a restart of the PC.

MikeN707 · Feb 2, 2026

This is the only printer I have. I tried sending something from the iPhone to the printer, but the printer was not found. I uninstalled and reinstalled the printer but when HP Smart tries to find the printer it can't find any printers. I have an image backup from November; I think it is time to restore from that.

idgat · Feb 2, 2026

MikeN707 said:
I tried sending something from the iPhone to the printer

MikeN707 said:
I wanted to use MS Print to PDF,

So you're saying you want to create a PDF from the iPhone using MS Print to PDF?

glasskuter · Feb 2, 2026

I'm beginning to lean to it may be a printer communication issue too. Does your printer have a usb (Or lan) connection you could test with.?
Have you tried assigning a static ip address to the printer? Just throwing out possible ways to test here.

MikeN707 · Feb 2, 2026

No, I was going to use a regular print, just sending a file from the phone. One of the other responders suggested trying to print from another computer on that printer. I have the printer connected to the network so I can reach it from the iPad or iPhone.

PenPusher · Feb 4, 2026

What make/model is the printer?

MikeN707 · Feb 4, 2026

HP 9120e - Finally I uninstalled/reinstalled the printer, rebooted it and rebooted the router and access was possible.

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