> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dishink.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Printing Troubleshooting

> Common printer failures and step-by-step fixes.

Printer issues cause the most day-to-day support tickets. This page walks through the top failures and their fixes.

## Overview

Common symptoms:

* Printer prints nothing
* Printer prints garbled characters
* Only some terminals can print
* Paper feeds but no ink appears
* Duplicate prints

## Diagnostic steps

<Frame caption="Printer diagnostics">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/dishink/images/printing/troubleshooting.png" alt="Diagnostics" />
</Frame>

<Note>
  Thermal printers use heat, not ink. "Paper feeds but no printing" usually means the paper is loaded upside down.
</Note>

## Tips & best practices

<Tip>
  Keep two rolls of paper at every printer and a spare printer for busy venues. Downtime is your enemy.
</Tip>

## Common mistakes

<Warning>
  Do not clean thermal print heads with alcohol wipes carelessly — damaged heads print with faint lines forever.
</Warning>

## Related pages

* [USB Printers](/printing/usb-printers)
* [Network Printers](/printing/network-printers)
* [Kitchen Printers](/printing/kitchen-printers)
* [Troubleshooting: Printer Problems](/troubleshooting/printer-problems)