Printing paperwork and pictures is important for a lot of customers. Nonetheless, some customers’ printers don’t print due to a Home windows error message that claims, “One other laptop is utilizing the printer.” Customers have reported this error message seems once they choose to print in Home windows software program packages.
This error message suggests the printer can’t print as a result of it’s already in use by one other laptop. Nonetheless, the error additionally arises for house customers who aren’t sharing their printers with different computer systems on group networks. That is how one can repair the “One other laptop is utilizing the printer” error on Home windows 10 & 11.
1. Restart the Printer
Restarting the printer is a straightforward doable repair that’s price a strive. The printer could possibly be caught with a previous request, which making use of this answer may resolve. So, energy off your printer for a couple of minutes after which flip it again on to see if that makes a distinction.
2. Deselect the “Permit Home windows to Handle My Default Printer” Choice
The Permit Home windows to handle my default printer choice units probably the most lately used printer to be the default one when enabled. This may trigger points if the printer with which you’re making an attempt to print isn’t set as default. You possibly can flip off that setting as follows:
- Proper-click the button for opening the Begin menu to pick out Search.
- Kind printers & scanners contained in the search utility.
- Choose Printers & scanners to open that Settings part.
- Flip off the Permit Home windows to handle my default printer setting by clicking that choice’s toggle change.
- Then choose your printer in Setting to click on its Set as default button.
You may see another WS printer listed in Settings (most sometimes for Canon fashions). The WS stands for internet providers, and that printer shouldn’t be your default one. Be certain your normal printer is ready as default.
3. Make the most of the Print Troubleshooter
Home windows has a Printer troubleshooter that’s there to detect and resolve all method of printing points. So, that troubleshooter might feasibly provide an answer for the “One other laptop is utilizing the printer” error. This the way to run any troubleshooter submit explains how one can entry that troubleshooter within the Home windows 11/10 Settings app.
Be certain the printer’s cable is linked to your PC earlier than working the Printer troubleshooter if it’s a non-wireless one. Then choose your printer mannequin throughout the troubleshooter and apply the potential fixes advised.
4. Begin or Restart the Print Spooler
Print spooler is a service for dealing with print jobs. Some customers say they’ve been capable of repair the “One other laptop is utilizing the printer” error by restarting that service. You possibly can apply that decision by following the step-by-step directions in our how-to restart the printer spooler article. If the service isn’t already working, click on its Begin choice.
5. Clear the Printers Folder
The Printers folder is a spooler listing that shops print jobs within the queue. Deleting information in that folder is a possible answer for the “One other laptop is utilizing the printer” error as that can clear the print queue. That is how one can clear the Printers folder on Home windows 11/10:
- To open Companies, press the Home windows brand + R key mixture, sort providers.msc into Run, and choose OK.
- Proper-click the Print spooler service and choose Cease.
- Press the Home windows + E keyboard keys to activate the file supervisor software.
- Go to this folder path:
C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS - Choose all the pieces within the Printers folder by urgent Ctrl + A.
- Press the Del keyboard button to erase the chosen information.
- Return to the Companies app, right-click Print spooler, and choose Begin.
6. Disconnect Earlier Customers
If you happen to share your PC with different customers, the “One other laptop is utilizing the printer” error could possibly be resulting from a earlier consumer who hasn’t been fully logged off. You possibly can treatment that by disconnecting earlier customers with Process Supervisor like this:
- Proper-click any house on the taskbar to pick out the Process Supervisor shortcut.
- Click on the Customers tab.
- Proper-click a earlier consumer proven on the Customers tab and choose Disconnect.
- Repeat the earlier step to disconnect all customers aside from your self proven inside Process Supervisor.
7. Replace the Printer’s Driver
Antiquated printer drivers may cause a number of printing points. So, chances are you’ll must replace your printer’s driver to resolve the “One other laptop is utilizing the printer” error if different potential options aren’t efficient.
You possibly can replace a printer’s driver by manually downloading it from the producer’s web site. The Epson, HP, Cannon, Brother, and Xerox websites embrace driver obtain sections for his or her respective printer fashions. While you’ve downloaded the motive force to your printer, you may double-click on the motive force setup bundle to put in it. This text about discovering and changing outdated drivers on Home windows offers additional particulars for updating system drivers.
Print, Print, and Print Once more on Home windows
Getting the “One other laptop is utilizing the printer” error fastened is important for the numerous customers who can’t afford to lose printing performance. Luckily, a number of customers have resolved that printing difficulty with the potential Home windows 11/10 fixes lined right here. So, making use of them will most likely get that difficulty sorted in your Home windows PC, after which you may print to your coronary heart’s content material once more.