One of the most popular ways to 3D print anything is printing it via USB using Cura, but many users have experienced issues when trying to do so. That’s why I wrote this article, to teach people how to fix Cura USB printing not working.
To fix Cura USB printing not working you will need to check the USB cable, disconnect and reconnect it and make sure that the USB printing plugin is enabled on Cura. Updating Cura to the latest version and checking if the USB drivers are updated on the computer are other possible solutions.
This is the basic answer, but keep reading to find out more information about how to fix Cura USB printing not working.
How to Fix Cura USB Printing Not Working
These are the main ways to fix Cura USB printing not working:
Check the USB cable
Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable
Make sure USB printing plugin is enabled
Update Cura to the latest version
Check the USB drivers
1. Check the USB Cable
One of the most popular ways to fix Cura USB printing not working is to check the USB cable.
That’s an important step to take, especially before diving into software-related troubleshooting, so make sure that the USB cable and connections are functioning correctly.
Faulty cables or loose connections can prevent proper communication between the computer and the 3D printer, leading to USB printing issues.
Follow these steps to check your cable:
Disconnect the USB cable from both the computer and the 3D printer.
Inspect the USB cable for any visible damage or fraying. If you find any issues, replace the cable with a new one.
Reconnect the USB cable securely to both the computer and the 3D printer.
One user suggests checking if you got the right USB cable as there are USB cables that support data and others that are only made for charging.
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One reviewer from Amazon stated that he uses this cable to 3D print with his computer all the time and it works great.
Another user also recommends trying a different cable if you are experiencing problems with Cura not printing via USB.
Check out the video below for more information that may be useful to you.
2. Disconnect and Reconnect the USB Cable
Another fix you can try in order to solve the issue of USB printing not working on Cura is to disconnect and reconnect your USB cable.
That happens because a specific USB port on your computer may occasionally have issues, or the current USB cable may not be fully compatible.
To rule out these possibilities, try disconnecting and reconnecting your USB cable and then test Cura’s USB printing functionality after making these changes to see if the issue is still there.
One user suggests disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable while Cura is open to see if the issue is resolved. He also recommends giving it a few minutes between tries.
Another user recommends unplugging the cable, closing Cura, restarting the printer, and then reconnecting and opening Cura again.
He stated that sometimes he needs to do this over five times but it always works for him.
3. Make Sure USB Printing Plugin is Enabled
Another possible fix is making sure that the USB Printing Plugin is enabled in Cura.
That’s because Cura’s USB printing functionality might not work because the USB printing plugin is not enabled.
Cura supports various plugins that extend its capabilities, and the USB printing plugin is essential for establishing communication between the software and your 3D printer via USB.
Follow these steps to ensure that the USB printing plugin is enabled in Cura:
Launch Cura on your computer.
Click on the “Marketplace” icon in the top-right corner of the Cura interface.
In the Marketplace search bar, type “USB Printing” or “USB Printing Plugin” and hit Enter.
Look for the USB printing plugin in the list of plugins, if it’s installed but not enabled, it might have a toggle switch next to it.
If the switch is in the “Off” position, click on it to enable the plugin.
If the USB printing plugin is not installed, you will see an “Install” button next to it, click on it to add the plugin to Cura.
After enabling or installing the USB printing plugin, close and reopen Cura for the changes to take effect.
One user suggests checking if the USB Printing plugin is enabled or not as a solution when Cura is having problems printing via USB.
Another user recommends checking the “Installed” tab of the Marketplace in Cura to make sure that you have the plugin installed and enabled. He also stated that you will need to restart Cura after changing it.
Check out the video below for more information about 3D printing via USB on Cura.
4. Update Cura to the Latest Version
Updating Cura to the latest version is another possible fix for Cura USB printing not working.
Software developers continuously release updates to address bugs and improve the overall performance of their applications.
An outdated version of Cura might have compatibility issues with your 3D printer, leading to USB printing issues.
You can find the latest version of Cura to be downloaded on its official website.
One user suggests flashing the firmware with an updated version and making sure your Cura is up-to-date as ways to solve USB printing not working.
Check out the video below for information on how to install the latest Cura version.
5. Check the USB Drivers
Checking your USB drivers is another way to fix Cura USB printing not working.
That’s because these drivers play an important role in facilitating communication between the computer’s USB ports and the connected 3D printer.
If there are issues with the USB drivers, it can result in Cura being unable to recognize the 3D printer, leading to USB printing problems.
Follow these steps to check and update USB drivers:
Right-click on the “Start” button and select “Device Manager” from the menu that appears.
In the Device Manager window, look for the 3D printer under the “Ports (COM & LPT)” or “USB devices” section.
Check for any yellow exclamation marks or other indications of driver issues next to the 3D printer’s entry.
Right-click on the 3D printer’s entry and select “Update driver” from the context menu.
Follow the prompts to update the drivers. Windows will search for the latest drivers online and install them if available.
One user suggests checking if the USB drivers are up-to-date on Windows.
He stated that these drivers are not installed by Cura and if they are not in your system it may cause problems when trying to 3D print via USB.
Another user said that there is a specific driver that you need to install when using a Mac computer to 3D print via USB. This driver can be downloaded for free here.
One 3D printing hobbyist stated that checking if the drivers are up-to-date is a great way to fix Cura USB printing not working.
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