Printer Goes Missing Regularly

rockdaddy666 wrote:

I bought an Epson multi-function printer about six months ago and have had a number of problems with the drivers. I've used both Airprint and the Epson driver. I've used wifi and the USB connection. I've completely uninstalled the Epson software and reinstalled. I've reinstalled the OS (for something else( and it still has the problems. Whatever I use, it regularly goes missing. Sometimes the printer works and the scanner doesn't. Sometimes the scanner works and the printer doesn't. The only way to fix it is to uninstall and reinstall everything. Currently it is working but see the image for an oddity.

I doubt it's the printer, it works fine for my wife using Airprint on an old Macbook Air. It works fine from my phone.

One thing that consistently happens is shown in the image here. This is very strange - when it is able to print, it says that the printer is not connected but correctly says it is printing.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/9e3fdf45-8e48-4eb8-b5f5-8a8cefcb647e

If it is listed as AirPrint printer, delete the existing printer in

> System Preferences> Printers & Scanners, and add it again, select AirPrint.

Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201900

about AirPrint

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201311

you can also try reset print system if necessary:

If you can't print from your Mac or iOS device - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203343

You may need to see IF your printer has two near identical names listed

in the Printer list; sometimes one of these may be 'default' for awhile and

be seen. Then for whatever cause, the setting seems to not work.

One would be for the wireless print and other for usb print.

I'd found with some Macs and my Epson printers (AIO and photo) to look

careful to see which connects to what; & subtly change one of two names.

There are other things I've contrived to use in order to force the printer(s)

to work, and also access the Epson utilities. To launch and open menu

to clean heads, among other useful 'harder to reach' tools. Use an alias.

The printer drivers for some products are OK for awhile; then after an OS

update, the maker's drivers seem to be undefined and more features fail.

Helps in addition, to have older mac that has no recent updates, to handle

these tasks; you can almost always make something print, as 'workaround.'

Older software in another Mac can extend useful third-party hardware.