printer Archives

Dad’s new favorite toys

🧑‍💻 This year, skip the tired tie and upgrade his gear.

Save big on this Samsung Galaxy Watch (39% off) bundle.
Apple friends, score the latest Apple Watch (23% off).
This charging station (25% off) folds up for easy storage.
A Kodak instant printer (16% off) brings memories to life.
He’ll look sharp using this beard trimmer (10% off).
These light-up gloves (33% off) = DIY hero after dark.
He’d love new earbuds that deliver amazing sound, long battery life and sleek design (15% off).*

📅 One week till Father’s Day: Shop my ultimate gift list now for more great picks he’ll brag about.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

🖨️ Printer secret: Most printers have a “Draft mode” that uses less ink when you don’t need anything fancy. (Some call it “Economy mode” or “Fast mode.”) To try it, open a document or file, hit Print, then go to Properties or Preferences, and look for Draft mode.

Your printer tracks you

Open/download audio

Doesn’t matter if it’s a dinner recipe or a confidential agreement. Every document you print contains a hidden code that traces back to you.

🖨️ Oh, Brother! Millions of Brother printers have default passwords that hackers can reverse-engineer using the serial number. Brother can’t fully fix it via firmware. For the love of toner, change the admin password so your printer doesn’t get hacked.

Over $44 million

That’s how much has been pledged for a new UV printer, making it the most funded Kickstarter ever. The eufyMake E1 prints colorful designs on 300+ materials, including good ol’ fashioned rocks (yes, seriously). Here’s the link.

🖨️ Restart everything: If your printer’s acting weird, turn it off and unplug it for 30 seconds before powering it back on. Restart your computer, too. This clears temporary glitches in the printer’s memory and often fixes those annoying “processing” loops.

Print for free at libraries: Why drop cash on a printer you’ll use twice a year? Many local libraries let you print 10-20 pages a day for free. Search libraries.org to find one near you, then call to confirm. Perfect for last-minute forms or that “oops” school project.

📄 Delete PDF pages for free: Using the basic version of Acrobat? You can’t remove pages directly, but there’s a loophole. Go to Menu > Print, set the Printer to Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows) or Save as PDF (Mac). Under Pages to Print, choose the range you want (like 5–12), then hit Print and save your new file.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Paper jammed in your printer? Open the back panel and gently pull the paper in the same direction it feeds. Pulling backward can damage the rollers.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Printer acting weird? Unplug it, hold the power button for 15 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears its memory and often fixes common errors. Ink-credible.

🖨️ Save your printer’s cartridge: Arial might look clean, but it eats through ink faster than you think. A better option: Try Times New Roman. Tests show it can use up to 27% less ink over time. To make the switch, tap the Font drop-down menu at the top in Google Docs or Microsoft Office.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need to print something fast from your phone? Email it to your printer. Many HP and Epson printers have their own email address.

✂️ Snip that PDF: Using the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader? You can’t pull specific pages, but there’s a workaround. Go to Menu > Print, set the printer to Microsoft Print to PDF (PC) or Save as PDF (Mac). Choose Pages and type the page numbers you want (like 2 to 5). Click Print, then Save the file.

🖨️ Printer in a jam? Let’s fix that. Turn off your printer and unplug it to stay safe. Open the back panel and peek inside. See the stuck paper? Gently pull it out in the direction of the arrows (no yanking). Once it’s clear, plug the printer back in and power it on. You’re good as new.

Easy printer cleanup: Soak a piece of paper with rubbing alcohol (not too much — leave the edges dry), and run it through your printer’s roller to clean off the junk.

It’s a goldmine: Your printer stores copies of docs you’ve printed. If yours is spitting out random documents or your settings are funky, reset it to factory defaults. Unplug the printer, then press and hold the Reset button (on the back or bottom). While holding, plug the printer back in and turn it on. In about 20 seconds, lights will flash to tell you it’s done.

🖨️ Ink outside the box: Dust can cause unexpected problems with your printer. Open the paper trays, remove any paper and use a handheld vac to suck up the dust. You can also blow it out with compressed air.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Worst and best fonts to save money on printer ink

Open/download audio

Do you prefer Times New Roman, Arial, or even Comic Sans? Here’s a surprise: The font you choose could actually affect your wallet.

Gen Z cash stuffing, doorbell cam data sold & AI malware

Open/download audio

Plus, is your printer really private? I’ll explain why the answer might worry you. I also offer advice to Ruth from New York on making the perfect family reunion slideshow. Why closed captioning is now a must-use feature, and how to know if someone is snooping on your PC.

Are printers storing your secrets?

Open/download audio

What you’re printing isn’t necessarily between you and your printer. Here’s the scoop, in 60 seconds.