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Printer Troubleshooting

Follow these steps to get labels to print correctly

Team_Directory_Gallery_View_2021-04-12_at_10.55.42_AM-1618239363-Jan-03-2025-01-43-52-9926-PM
Written by Jonathan Conda

Overview

If the labels are printing but not printing correctly, then there is an issue with your printer, labels, or printer settings. This article outlines some basic troubleshooting steps for these scenarios.

 

If your labels are not printing and you are receiving error messages about Lister Connect, please click here

Table of Contents

General Troubleshooting Steps

The steps below can be used to resolve the vast majority of issues. It is important to try these steps in order.

  1. Perform periodic cleaning and maintenance of printers as per manufacturers' recommendations found in user manuals

  2. Confirm you are using supported printers and labels

  3. Restart your computer and printer. It seems silly, but just humor us

  4. Download and (re)install a supported printer driver for Zebra or Dymo

    • Zebra instructions for Mac users can be found here

    • Please note Regular Zebra (ZDesigner) drivers will not work

  5. If you adjusted the printer properties, please reset them. Lister Connect is designed to work with no printer properties set (default)

    • The best way to reset all settings is to uninstall and reinstall the drivers

Zebra-Specific Troubleshooting Steps

Label Recalibration

Sometimes the ink on the label is cut off as if the label printer does not know the size of the label. In these cases, try a label recalibration:

  1. Press and hold the Feed button until the green status light flashes once, then twice

  2. Release the Feed button

    • The roll will automatically feed until a label is positioned.

  3. Press the Feed button. One blank label will print

Here is a video to demonstrate. This should reset the size of the label so the printer prints properly.

Printer Factory Reset

To completely start fresh, you can perform a printer factory reset:

  1. Press and hold the Feed button until the green status light flashes once, then twice, and then continue until the flash groups reach the group of four flashes

  2. Release the Feed button

    • The roll will automatically feed until a label is positioned

  3. Press the Feed button. One blank label will print

  4. After a factory reset, always do a label recalibration as described above

Printing Blank Labels: Full Calibration

Very rarely, a printer may print blank labels between print jobs. To fully recalibrate the printer, perform a full calibration:

  1. Press and hold the Feed button until the green status light flashes once, then twice, and then continue until the flash groups reach the group of seven flashes
  2. Release the Feed button
    1. The roll will automatically feed until a label is positioned
    2. A profile of the media sensor settings will print
  3. Press the Feed button. One blank label will print
 

Reset Printer Configuration

Sometimes the above methods don't resolve the issue.  In that case, you can reset the printer’s settings:

  1. Turn off the printer
  2. While turning the printer back on, press and hold the Pause and Feed buttons together
  3. Keep holding these buttons until only the status indicator light is on

This process will reset the printer’s configuration to factory defaults. No labels will be printed during this reset. 

Zebra Printer Labels Too Dark/Bold/Blurry

If your labels are printing out too dark/bold and the barcode is not scannable, follow these steps:

  1. Press and hold the Feed button until the green status light flashes once, then twice, and then continue until the flash groups reach the group of six flashes

  2. Release the Feed button

    • The printer will print out labels with the various darkness settings

  3. Once the label with your preferred setting prints out, press the feed button again

Dymo-Specific Troubleshooting Steps

Dymo Printer Labels Too Dark/Bold/Blurry

If Dymo is printing out blurry barcodes, it could mean you need to adjust your print settings locally on your computer.

The following setup is for Windows 10. On a Mac? Try this similar article.

Step 1

Open up your print settings in Windows, and click "Manage" on your Dymo printer

Step 2

Open up the printing preferences, then click "Advanced"

Step 3

  • Set the graphic print quality to "300x600 dots per inch"

  • Set the print quality to "Barcodes and Graphics" under "printer features"

Step 4

You're all set and your printer should print higher-quality graphics!

 

Printer Manuals

As a last resort, you can always refer to the manual for your specific printer model as many of the issues encountered are documented thoroughly in those manuals. Here are a few manuals for common printers:

Next Steps

If none of the troubleshooting steps above work or you need help, reach out ASAP via chat (9am-6pm ET Monday to Friday) or email support@uprightlabs.com with the printer model, description of the problem, and screenshots if applicable.

Related Guides

Troubleshooting Lister Connect Issues on Windows

How to Run a Test Print With Lister Connect

Shipping Rate Errors Troubleshooting

Have questions? Reach out to us at support@uprightlabs.com or via chat anytime between 9am-6pm ET, Monday to Friday.