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Fix Slow Printing – Printer Troubleshooting Guide | TroubleshootMyPrinter




How to Fix: Slow Printing

The printer operates significantly slower than expected, taking an unusually long time to complete print jobs. Slow printing can be caused by high-quality print settings, network bottlenecks, memory limitations, or aging hardware components. This guide walks you through the most common causes and step-by-step solutions to fix slow printing on any printer, regardless of brand or model.

Common Causes

This problem is most often caused by one or more of the following:

  • Print quality set to ‘Best’ or ‘High Quality’ instead of ‘Normal’ or ‘Draft’
  • Large or complex documents with high-resolution images overwhelming printer memory
  • Wireless connection with weak signal causing slow data transfer
  • Outdated firmware causing performance inefficiencies
  • Print spooler processing large jobs inefficiently

Step-by-Step Solution

Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue. Test your printer after each step.

  1. Step 1: Change print quality from ‘Best’ to ‘Normal’ or ‘Draft’ in the printer driver preferences
  2. Step 2: If printing complex documents, reduce image resolution or simplify graphics before printing
  3. Step 3: Switch from wireless to USB or Ethernet connection for faster data transfer
  4. Step 4: Update the printer’s firmware to the latest version from the manufacturer’s website
  5. Step 5: Increase the printer’s memory if supported, or reduce the number of pages per job
  6. Step 6: Clear the print spooler cache and restart the spooler service
  7. Step 7: Disable bidirectional communication in the printer port settings if not needed

Brand-Specific Troubleshooting

Some printer brands require slightly different troubleshooting approaches. See the brand-specific guidance below.

Hp Printers

HP printers may slow down significantly when printing in ‘Best’ quality mode. In HP driver settings, select ‘EconoMode’ for faster draft printing. HP Smart app users should check that ‘Quiet Mode’ is disabled, as this intentionally slows printing to reduce noise.

For more Hp-specific troubleshooting, visit our Hp Printer Troubleshooting hub.

Epson Printers

Epson inkjet printers slow down considerably during high-quality photo printing. Disable ‘High Speed’ in advanced driver settings if quality issues appear at faster speeds. EcoTank printers may also slow down during automatic print head cleaning cycles.

For more Epson-specific troubleshooting, visit our Epson Printer Troubleshooting hub.

Brother Printers

Brother laser printers may slow down when processing complex graphics or when the toner cartridge is nearly empty. The ‘Quiet Mode’ setting on Brother printers significantly reduces print speed. Disable it in printer properties for normal-speed operation.

For more Brother-specific troubleshooting, visit our Brother Printer Troubleshooting hub.

Xerox Printers

Xerox enterprise printers may slow down when processing PostScript files. Switch to PCL driver for faster processing of standard documents. Check the Xerox CentreWare web interface for memory usage and ensure adequate free memory.

For more Xerox-specific troubleshooting, visit our Xerox Printer Troubleshooting hub.

Related Problems

Users experiencing slow printing often encounter these related issues:

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my printer suddenly printing very slowly?

A sudden decrease in print speed often indicates a connectivity issue (especially on wireless printers), a recent driver or firmware update changing settings, or the printer entering a degraded mode due to low consumables. Check your WiFi signal strength, verify print quality settings have not changed, and check ink or toner levels.

How can I speed up my printer without losing quality?

Use ‘Normal’ quality instead of ‘Best’ — the difference is often imperceptible for text documents. Connect via Ethernet or USB instead of WiFi. Print in grayscale when color is not needed. Ensure the printer firmware is up to date. For large documents, send them in smaller batches.

Does wireless printing slow down my printer?

Yes, wireless connections are generally slower than USB or Ethernet connections for printing. WiFi signal strength, network congestion, and distance from the router all affect transfer speed. For the fastest performance, use a USB cable or Ethernet connection, especially when printing large or complex documents.

Need brand-specific help?

This guide covers the general fix. For model-specific instructions, find your printer brand below and navigate to your exact model for tailored troubleshooting steps.