How to Print a Test Page on Your Windows PC (Finally figured it out myself)
This took way longer than it should’ve, but if you’re trying to print a test page and nothing’s happening, I get it. It’s not always straightforward, especially with the way Windows arranges things differently across updates and brands. So here’s what finally worked for me, and hopefully it saves someone a few hours of messing around.
Getting into the settings—it’s not always obvious
I started by hitting Windows key + I to open Settings. Sometimes it’s fast, sometimes you have to click around, but that shortcut is generally reliable. If not, I’d right-click the Start button and pick Settings. Once you’re in, look for “Bluetooth & Devices”—which seems weird since printers aren’t Bluetooth-only anymore, but oddly enough, this is where Windows seems to list many connected devices including printers. (Note: this might be labeled differently depending on your Windows version—sometimes it’s under Devices > Printers & Scanners directly, especially on older versions.)
Navigating to the printers section
Next, click on Printers & Scanners. It’s usually right there in the sidebar or under Devices. If it’s missing, make sure your Windows is fully updated—sometimes these options are skimped out on outdated builds. Now, you should see a list of all printers installed. If your printer isn’t showing, double-check your connections or driver installation. Sometimes, it gets listed as “Offline” or under a weird name, so keep an eye out.
Selecting the right printer and how to find the print test page option
Click on your printer to see its details. On some setups, you’ll spot a Manage button. That’s where the magic often is. Clicking on Manage brings up a new menu—here, you might see options like Open queue or Printer Properties. If you’re lucky, there’s a Print Test Page button right in the menu. If not, you want to go into Printer Properties.
To get there, sometimes you right-click your printer in the list and choose Printer Properties. Or, after clicking Manage, there’s usually an option to open the Properties. Inside that window, go to the General tab and look for Print Test Page. Just click it, and if everything’s working, the printer will start, and soon, you should see a test page spit out. Easy, right?
Understanding the full process and the potential pitfalls
Here’s where I got caught up—sometimes, instead of a button, your driver might have the test print hidden inside driver-specific menus, or the printer might be grayed out if Windows is having a connectivity hiccup. Also, make sure your printer is not only powered on but connected properly—USB plugged in, Wi-Fi connected, etc. And check if the printer’s status icon shows “Ready.”
Another thing—some printers (especially network ones) may need you to disable Bidirectional Support in the Ports tab of Printer Properties. That’s a common fix if communication seems broken. I only figured that out after a lot of trial and error. It’s under Ports > Check or Uncheck “
Enable Bidirectional Support
in the driver settings, depending. That sometimes causes the printer not to respond to test page commands.
When it still doesn’t work — troubleshooting hack
If clicking Print Test Page just leaves you hanging or you get errors, check your driver version. Updating drivers via the manufacturer’s website helped in my case. Also, I found that rebooting the printer itself, then trying again, often fixed weird hiccups. And don’t forget, some OEM printers have custom driver menus, so the layout isn’t always the same, but the core idea is similar — find the printer, go to Properties, and hit the test page button.
Final notes and what to double-check
Basically, if it’s not printing—make sure:
- The printer is powered and connected properly
- It’s set as default (sometimes that fixes issues)
- The driver is up-to-date
- No error messages or blinking lights on the printer itself
- In Printer Properties, check Port and consider disabling Bidirectional Support
Honestly, once I pieced all that together, printing a test page felt like a small victory. Windows can be weird about it sometimes, but the process isn’t as complicated once you know where to look.
Hope this helps — it took me way too long to figure all this out. Just remember: power, connection, driver—check all those if it’s acting up after setup. And don’t forget to test the printer physically once it’s sent the command. Anyway, good luck, and I hope this saves someone else a weekend like it almost did for me.