Fix Printer Not Working After Upgrading to Ubuntu 22.04.2.0

So, if you are a big fan of Ubuntu Linux security, reliability, and performance, then you must be using the latest Ubuntu operating software on your system. But, if you have recently updated to Ubuntu 22.04.2.0 and your printer driver isn’t working anymore, then no need to panic as you are not the only one facing this problem. Yep, numerous cases have been recorded where users have complaints that their printer not working after upgrading to Ubuntu 22.04.2.0.

This is a common problem where your operating system fails to perform certain tasks or establish a connection with hardware drives after the update. There are different reasons behind this issue, but you can try the following methods in a general context to make sure that your printer can easily get configured with your Ubuntu operating system after the upgrade.

Printer Not Working Ubuntu

If you are not able to connect your printer with your newly updated Ubuntu 22.04.2.0, then you can try the following solutions to fix your problem.

USB Printer

  • Foremost, you need to ensure that the printer is connected to your computer system and it is powered on.
  • Next, you need to open a terminal and examine whether the USB kernel modules are uploaded finely – $ lsmod | grep usb
  • You should now unplug the USB printer cable from your device and enter this command line – $ tail -f /var/log/syslog
  • Again, you should connect the USB printer cable and here you will see a message appear on your screen.
  • Press the Ctrl key along with the C key on your keyboard to stop the logging.
  • You need to make sure that whether the printer has been correctly detected by the USB subsystem and recognize its product vendor and the USB bus and address of the computer – $ lsusb. However, you need to remember that the USB bus and device addresses will change if you turn off the printer so please rerun the command.
  • Now, you have to check if the device files for the printer get created and the ownerships (“root lp”) and permissions (non-HP: “crw-rw-r–“, HP: “crw-rw-r–+”) correctly set – $ ls -l /dev/usb/lp* /dev/bus/usb/*/*.
  • Next, you have to determine the printer ID Strings as –

$ sudo usb_printerid /dev/usb/lp0

$ sudo usb_printerid /dev/usb/lp1

Now, you have to check whether your printer gets detected by CUPS – $ lpinfo -v. This will easily fix bugs present in your USB Printer.

Parallel Port Printer

  • First of all, connect your printer with your computer and power on it.

Open a terminal and make sure that lp, ppdev, and parport_pc kernel modules are loaded –

$ lsmod | grep lp

$ lsmod | grep ppdev

$ lsmod | grep parport_pc

  • Check if the kernel is detected by the parallel port during bootup – $ does | grep par
  • Now, you need to ensure the device files of the parallel port and their correct permissions or ownership – $ ls -l /dev/lp* /dev/parport*
  • Next, examine whether the printer auto-detection result appear in the kernel virtual file system –

$ ls -l /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*

$ sudo cat /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*

  • Make sure that the printer is detected by CUPS.
  • You have to run the parallel port CUPS separately with the standard user privileges and root –

$ /usr/lib/cups/backend/parallel

$ sudo /usr/lib/cups/backend/parallel

Network Printer

  • After turning on the printer, connect it to your network. However, you have a WLAN printer, then it needs to be configured to use a wireless network.
  • Next, the printer’s configuration by printing a configuration page through the printer’s front panel menus. This will give you information about the IP address and network supported by the printer.
  • The printer’s IP address can be also configured by using the web interface of your router.
  • To alter the printer configuration, you can use the front panel menus or the web configuration interface. For the web interface, you can enter the IP address of the printer into the web browser.
  • If your printer is supposed to connect WLAN, then it will not work with the IP address. That’s why to keep your WLAN on with the correct network names and password.
  • You can now set up a printer using system configuration and wait for 15 seconds for network scan completion.
  • Here, open a command terminal and run the following command –

$ ping <IP of the printer>

$ nmap <IP of the printer>

  • Then, run the command to check whether CUPS got found –

$ /usr/lib/cups/backend/snmp

$ sudo /usr/lib/cups/backend/dnssd

  • If printer doesn’t find CUPS, then run this command – $ /usr/lib/cups/backend/snmp <IP of the printer>
  • Search if printer get detected by CUPS – $ lpinfo -v
  • Run this command to check whether your printer is visible by DNS-SD, mDNS, BonJour –

$ avahi-browse -a -v -t -r

$ avahi-browse -a -v -c -r

  • Then, finally, run to check general network health –

$ ifconfig

$ route

Well, that is the ultimate guide to fix the printer not working after upgrading to Ubuntu 22.04.2.0. So, if you are facing a problem with your USB, network and parallel printer after updating the Ubuntu, then you just need to follow the simple steps carefully and fix your problem.

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