Another printer problem to solve from a third party website where I earn supplemental income answering computer and technology related questions. This one deals with a communication error on a printer. Here is the original initial request quoted verbatim.
Hi. I have an Epson printer WF-3640. I have issues scanning documents to my Apple MacBook, because repeatedly there is a message that appears on my Epson screen saying Communication error. Check if the computer is connected. Do you know how this can be fixed? Initially I thought it was the USB cable, but I changed that too and it didn’t fix the connectivity issue. Please advise.
This individual owned an Apple Macintosh computer with Apple Macintosh operating system Sierra version 10.12 operating system installed. You will want to remove all instances of your printer software from Applications. Then you will want to remove all instances of your printer from Printers & Scanners.
Now you can download and install the Epson WF-3640 printer software. When it comes to troubleshooting printers, one of the first questions I ask or try to answer is where is the printer error appearing on. Is the error displayed on the printer itself, your computer or both.
In this instance the Communication error. Check if the computer is connected error message appeared on the liquid crystal display on the actual printer. This individual tried some troubleshooting of their own, by disconnecting and reconnecting the universal serial bus cable.
One additional tip is to disconnect the universal serial bus cable from both the printer and your computer. Sometimes just disconnecting the printer cable in this manner will fix printing problems. Also, as an added bonus tip, you can follow these instructions below.
You will want to power off your Epson printer. Then you need to disconnect the power cable from the wall outlet. Now disconnect the universal serial bus printer cable from both your Epson printer and computer system.
You can then press and hold the power button on your printer for up to thirty to sixty seconds. Now you will want to leave your Epson printer disconnected from any power source for five to ten minutes. Then you can connect the universal serial bus cable and power cable to your printer.
Now you will want to power on your printer and see if it will now print successfully. Printers can be real finicky and a pain in the derriere at times. However, these three tips I gave you often times fixes printer problems.
Also, paying attention to where the actual error, if any is given appears can be a hint in your printer troubleshooting. One additional bonus tip is on Apple Macintosh operating systems, is that you can just drag the printer folder in this case, Epson, to the trash can in order to remove the software from Applications. Some times printer software installs do not include a removal tool or when you run them they do not properly remove the printer software.
Also, you may want to empty the trash can after dragging the Epson folder into it. I have noticed on at least one occasion where emptying the trash can fixed a problem, where each time I went to install that printer software again, the same old problem occurred. What fixed this endless loop, was emptying the Apple Macintosh operating system trash can.
Computers can be real finicky and weird at times. Hopefully, you were able to fix your Epson communication error problem. These instructions were written for an Apple Macintosh computer with Macintosh operating system Sierra version 10.12 installed with an Epson WF-3640 printer connected.
However, you can use these instructions and tips as a basis point for troubleshooting the same or similar error on different brand and model printers, even on Linux and Microsoft operating systems. The exact steps will be different depending on the operating system you have installed. Also, the exact steps may be different depending on what actual printer brand and model you possess.