No color printing in Windows 11? 6 simple fixes to choose from

Printers are important equipment in most offices and some homes. Although many offices are transitioning to paperless workspaces, printers must work effectively until then. But some users have reported that Windows 11 is not printing color copies.

Whenever you upgrade your operating system, there is a high chance that you will encounter compatibility issues. The printer driver or related application you may have installed is incompatible with Windows 11.

In addition, some critical services must be running for the printer to work effectively. Apart from this, it could be a conflicting background process or a cartridge issue behind the issue.

Now that you have a basic understanding of why, it’s time to find out what to do if Windows 11 isn’t printing in color.

What should I do if Windows 11 is not printing in color?

1. Restart the computer and printer

Before delving into complex troubleshooting methods, you must first restart the computer and printer. Also, make sure to turn off the printer by disconnecting the power source rather than pressing the dedicated button.

This method works for many users, especially if the problem lies in a background process or some glitch in the printer. Once completed, check if the printer is now printing color copies in Windows 11.

2. Run the Printer Troubleshooter

1. Press Windows ILaunch the Settings application and click the System option "Troubleshooting" on the right side of the card.
2. Next, click Additional Troubleshooters.
3. Find the Printer entry here and click the Run button next to it.
4. Now, follow the on-screen instructions and choose the appropriate response when prompted to complete the process.

Another quick way to fix the problem of Windows 11 not printing in color is to run the dedicated printer troubleshooter. It will automatically identify the cause of the problem and remove it.

3. Update the printer driver

1. Press Windows S to launch the search menu and enter Device Manager in the text field and click on the relevant search results that appear.
2. Double-click the Print Queue entry here to expand and view the available printing devices.
3. Locate the printer in question, right-click it and select Update Driver from the context menu.
4. Next, select Automatically search for drivers from the two options here.

#Windows will now scan for the best driver available on your system and install it for your printer. While this method is simple and quick, one major drawback here is that it only scans drivers available on your computer, not online sources.

If you can't find a better driver, try other methods of updating drivers in Windows 11. Or you can check out our dedicated tutorial that explains how to install printer drivers in Windows 11.

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If these methods sound like too much trouble, you can always use a reliable third-party application. We recommend DriverFix, a dedicated tool that automatically installs the latest versions of all drivers installed on your computer, thus keeping them up to date.

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4. Run the print spooler service

1. Press Windows R to launch the Run Command dialog box, type services in the text field .msc and click OK or Enter to start the Service application.
2. Locate the Print Spooler service, right-click it and select Properties from the context menu.
3. Now, click on the Startup type drop-down menu and select Automatic from the list of options.
4. If the service is not running, click the "Start" button under "Service Status".
5. Click OK at the bottom to save changes.
6. Finally, restart your computer for these to fully take effect.

The Print Spooler service is critical to the efficient operation of connected printers. It stores tasks in system memory until the printer is ready to execute them. Additionally, if the service is not running, you may not be able to access or view your printer.

5. Uninstall recent Windows updates

1. Press Windows I to launch the Settings app and then select Select Windows Update from the tabs listed.
2. Click on the right to update history.
3. Next, click Uninstall updates under the relevant settings.
4. Find the most recent operating system update, select it, and click Uninstall.
5. Click Yes in the pop-up confirmation prompt.

If you start experiencing Windows 11 not printing in color issue after installing a specific update, there may be a bug in that specific version that causes the issue.

To fix it, uninstall the update and wait for the next version to be released. Microsoft will most likely release a patch for this bug in a subsequent update, and you shouldn't run into any more trouble.

6. Reinstall the printer

1. Press Windows I to launch Setup and select Bluetooth and Devices from the left navigation pane Tab.
2. Click Printers and Scanners on the right.
3. Select the printer in question from the list.
4. Click the Delete button.
5. Click Yes on the confirmation prompt that appears.
6. Now, press Windows R to launch the Run command and enter appwiz.cpl in the text field, Then click OK to launch the Programs and Features window.
7. Find all printer-related programs, select them, and click Uninstall at the top.
8. If UAC (User Account Control) pops up, click Yes and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

#After removing the printer and uninstalling all related programs and drivers, reinstall it like last time. Once set up, you can print color copies in Windows 11.

For most users, the first two methods should help solve the problem. While for everyone else, if there are no hardware issues, the last method will definitely get you up and running. These fixes should also work if Windows 11 isn't printing two-sided copies.

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