Why is my HP printer printing gibberish and random characters?

Many HP printers, especially those that use the HP Universal Print Driver (UPD), are experiencing printing issues. Here’s how to fix your printer in a few easy steps.

If your HP printer is randomly printing symbols and gibberish, the issue could be caused by a number of different things.

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Tashreef Shareef, Tashreef Shareef, Tashreef Sharee

Expert in Windows and Software

Tashreef Shareef is a former software engineer who now works as a tech journalist. He became interested in technology after inadvertently reading a tech magazine. He now covers everything from Windows to iOS to streaming services in his writing. .. Continue reading

14th of December, 2021

Originally published in March of 2021.

  • A typical driver-related problem is when your printer prints odd symbols.
  • The issue may be resolved by using the Windows 10 troubleshooter.
  • Another option for dealing with strange symbols on your printer is to update your drivers.
  • This unpleasant situation may be resolved by uninstalling and reinstalling the printer as detailed below.

 

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You may notice the printer producing gibberish instead of the source document if the data delivered to the printer is damaged or interrupted. So, you may be wondering why your printer is producing weird symbols.

According to multiple printer customers in the Microsoft Community Answers, this printing of random symbols is a typical driver-related problem that may affect any printer.

In fact, I’m planning to put an HP laserjet 5L printer in my laptop. And, of course, I installed the laserjet 5L driver using the windows update option in the Add a Printer menu. When I attempt to print a document, it looks to be filled with symbols and strange characters.

Follow the methods in this article to resolve the issue with your HP printer spewing nonsense.

What can I do if my printer prints symbols at random?

Run the Printer Troubleshooter first.

  1. Select Settings from the Start menu.
  2. Select Update and Security from the drop-down menu.
  3. To troubleshoot, go to the Troubleshoot tab.
  4. Select the Printer from the Group and Running menu.
  5. Now, choose Run the Troubleshooter from the drop-down menu. Why-is-my-HP-printer-printing-gibberish-and-random-characters
  6. Now Windows will run the printer troubleshooter and look for any problems.
  7. Reboot the system after applying any suggested repairs. Try printing again to see if anything has changed.

This is a simple approach that most people may apply to solve their issue. However, it does not work for everyone, so if you’re one of them, go on to the next option.

2. Install the most recent printer driver.

  1. To open Run, press Windows Key + R.
  2. To launch Device Manager, type devmgmg.msc and hit OK.
  3. Expand the Printer section in Device Manager.
  4. Select Update Driver from the context menu when you right-click on your printer. 1639500579_763_Why-is-my-HP-printer-printing-gibberish-and-random-characters
  5. Select Automatically search for updated drivers. 1639500579_904_Why-is-my-HP-printer-printing-gibberish-and-random-characters
  6. Windows will check for and install any outstanding driver updates. This may need the use of an internet connection in order to download fresh drivers.
  7. If the updates have been installed, restart the computer to see if anything has changed.

This seems to be a simple way to update the drivers, however it does not always work. Windows 10 will install a generic driver, which may or may not be the best option for your printer.

You may also go to the manufacturer’s website and get the correct driver for your printer, but this takes time and you’ll be back at square one if you don’t install the correct one.

The answer is to utilize third-party software that will automatically repair and update your drivers. The approach suggested here is simple, fast, and safe.

We recommend DriverFix if you want to upgrade your printer driver in minutes with no chance of losing functionality.

3. Get rid of the printer queue.

  1. Clearing the printer queue will assist you get rid of any unnecessary printing jobs that are causing problems with the printer data.
  2. To open Run, press Windows key + R.
  3. To open Control Panel, type control and hit OK.
  4. Select Printers and Devices from the Hardware and Sound menu. 1639500580_799_Why-is-my-HP-printer-printing-gibberish-and-random-characters
  5. Double-click your printer now.
  6. Cancel all print jobs that have been assigned to the printer.
  7. The print jobs should also be able to be cancelled from the taskbar.
  8. Now try printing again to see if anything has changed.

4. Reinstall your printer after uninstalling it.

  1. To open Run, press Windows Key + R.
  2. To open Control Panel, type control and hit OK.
  3. Select Devices and Printers from the Hardware and Sound menu.
  4. Remove Device by right-clicking on the printer you wish to get rid of. 1639500580_39_Why-is-my-HP-printer-printing-gibberish-and-random-characters
  5. To confirm the action, click Yes.
  6. You must reinstall the printer once it has been deleted.

That concludes our discussion. The HP laser printer spewing gibberish should be addressed by using these easy fixes. If not, you should seek technical assistance from your manufacturer.

Have you been able to resolve the issue using our solutions? Do you have any other suggestions for resolving this problem? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.

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The “epson printer printing gibberish” is a problem that many people experience. The issue can be fixed by turning off the printer, and then turning it back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my printer keep printing weird symbols?

A: The printer may be experiencing a paper jam. You can use this troubleshooting guide to help fix the issue.

Why is my printer printing gibberish?

A: The printer that you are using may be overheating. When this happens, the printer will use an alternate language as a safety measure to prevent damage from occurring and fires due to overheating.

Why is my printer printing garbled text?

A: This is usually a result of ink clogs in the printer. You might be able to clean it out using distilled water, or you can try running through with plain white paper for a few pages and see if that helps.

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