Printer Printing Random Symbols? Fix Garbled Pages in Windows 10 and 11

Allow about 15 minutes. You’ll need the printer powered on, connected to the PC or network, and loaded with paper. If it’s a workplace printer managed by IT, contact your administrator before changing its configuration.

1. Print a Windows test page​

The test page helps separate a problem affecting Windows printing generally from one confined to a particular app or document.

In Windows 11:

1. Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select your printer, then select Printer properties.
3. On the General tab, select Print Test Page.

In Windows 10:

1. Open Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select your printer, then select Manage > Printer properties.
3. On the General tab, select Print Test Page.

Microsoft recommends this test when diagnosing printing problems in apps such as Word and Excel.

What the result means​

• The test page is readable: Windows can print that page through the selected queue. Try another document or app; the original file or application may be involved.
• The test page contains garbled characters: The problem is not limited to your original document. Check the port and driver below.
• Nothing prints: Check the printer’s power, connection and print queue. A missing page points to a different symptom, so it does not by itself identify the driver as the cause.

If the printer keeps producing unwanted pages, cancel the job from its print queue before continuing. On the printer itself, cancel the job too if it keeps printing after the Windows queue is clear.

2. Check the printer port​

A printer port tells Windows where to send a job. An incorrect port can send it to the wrong destination or prevent it from arriving. A port problem is worth checking, but it isn’t proof that the driver is faulty.

1. Return to Printer properties using the steps above.
2. Open the Ports tab.
3. Note the checked port and its description before changing anything.
4. Compare it with how the printer is connected.

For a USB printer, look for a USB port associated with the device. If the expected port is missing, make sure the printer is on and the cable is connected; Microsoft also suggests trying another physical USB port when a printer is not recognized.

For a network printer, the port may use an IP address, a device name, or a discovery method such as WSD. If a standard TCP/IP port is selected, compare its configured address with the address shown in the printer’s network settings or configuration page. Port names alone are not always reliable evidence of the current address.

Select a different port only if you can identify it as the correct one. Choose Apply, then print another test page. If you are unsure—or the printer is shared through an organization’s print server—leave the setting alone and ask the administrator. Changing a working shared configuration can affect more than your own print job.

3. Install the correct printer driver​

A printer driver helps Windows prepare a job for the device. A mismatched or incompatible driver is one possible explanation for unreadable output, although it isn’t the only one.

1. Find the exact printer model on its label or in its settings. Similar model names can require different software.
2. On the PC, open Settings > System > About and note your Windows version and System type.
3. Visit the printer manufacturer’s official support site and search for the exact model.
4. Choose a print driver intended for your Windows version and system architecture. If the manufacturer offers several driver types, follow its guidance for your model rather than guessing.
5. Run the downloaded installer and follow its connection instructions. Restart if prompted.
6. Return to Printer properties and print another test page.

Microsoft recommends Windows Update as a way to obtain printer drivers and also documents downloading them directly from the manufacturer. Avoid third-party “driver fixer” downloads when an official source is available.

Two exceptions are worth checking:

• Windows on Arm: Microsoft says some Arm PCs cannot add a printer using a manufacturer’s installer. In that case, try Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device, unless the manufacturer provides specific Arm guidance.
• Windows protected print mode: Microsoft says this mode uses the modern Windows print stack and does not allow manufacturer print drivers while it is active. If your compatible printer is already using that mode, don’t disable it casually just to install a driver—particularly on a managed PC.

4. If the page is still garbled​

If the correct port and driver don’t resolve the issue, try these checks:

• Print the printer’s own diagnostic or configuration page, if the model supports one. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. This is separate from the Windows test page and can help determine whether the printer itself can produce readable output.
• Remove and re-add the printer through Printers & scanners, then test again. Removing the printer can change its local settings, and adding it back may require permission.
• Compare another PC, if available. If one computer prints correctly and another does not, focus on the affected PC’s queue, driver and settings. If both fail, investigate the printer or shared setup.
• Run the printer troubleshooter in the Windows Get Help app, which Microsoft recommends as a starting point for printer problems.

The goal is a readable Windows test page and a successful print from your original application. If the test page is clean but one file still prints incorrectly, investigate that file or app rather than repeatedly changing printer ports.

Finally, Windows 10 still runs, but Microsoft ended its free security updates and technical support on October 14, 2025. Consider the security implications of continuing to use it, including whether an applicable extended security update option is available.