Lexmark Printer Printing Slow — Speed It Up
By Ryan Green · Updated August 2026 · Independent guide · PrinterCare USA LLC (not affiliated with any printer manufacturer)
When your Lexmark printer suddenly starts taking minutes to complete each page, it disrupts your entire workflow and wastes valuable time. This frustrating issue affects both home offices and small businesses, and the good news is that the cause is almost always fixable with systematic troubleshooting.
Following these steps in order will get your printer back to normal speed without expensive service calls.
How to fix it — step by step
- Restart your printer and clear the print queue. Power off your Lexmark printer completely and unplug it from the electrical outlet for at least 60 seconds. While the printer is off, go to your computer's print queue and delete any pending print jobs by opening Settings, navigating to Devices, then Printers and Scanners on Windows 11, or System Settings then Printers and Scanners on macOS. Plug the printer back in and allow it to fully restart before sending a new test print job.
- Update your printer drivers to the latest version. Visit the Lexmark support website on your computer and search for your specific printer model number. Download the latest driver package for your operating system and run the installation file, following all prompts until the installation is complete. Restart your computer after the driver installation finishes to ensure the new drivers load properly with your system.
- Run the printer's automatic cleaning cycle. Access your Lexmark printer's control panel or touchscreen menu and look for the Maintenance, Tools, or Setup option depending on your model. Select Cleaning Cycle or Print Head Cleaning and choose the deep clean or full cleaning option if available. Allow the cycle to complete fully, which typically takes five to ten minutes, and do not interrupt the process even though you may hear unusual sounds.
- Check your network connection and bandwidth. If your Lexmark is a network printer, verify that it has a strong and stable connection by checking the network status on the printer's display or control panel. Move your printer closer to your router or use a wired Ethernet connection if possible, as weak wireless signals can cause data transmission delays that feel like printing is slow. Restart your router by unplugging it for thirty seconds if you have made any network changes recently.
- Clear the printer's memory and reset to factory defaults. Access the Settings or Administration menu on your printer's control panel and look for a Reset option, Factory Reset, or Restore Defaults setting. Select this option and confirm that you want to reset the printer to its original factory settings, which will erase any corrupted print settings or stuck print jobs stored in the printer's memory. After the reset completes, reconfigure your basic settings like paper size and network connection.
- Inspect the paper path and remove obstructions. Open all access panels on your Lexmark printer and carefully look inside for torn pieces of paper, dust buildup, or debris in the paper path. Gently remove any obstructions you find using a flashlight to see better into dark areas. Pay special attention to the areas around the pickup rollers and the paper feed mechanism, as these are common places where debris accumulates and causes page-by-page slowdowns.
- Check for firmware updates and install them. Return to the Lexmark support website and check if there is a firmware update available for your specific printer model. Download the firmware file and follow Lexmark's instructions to install it, which usually involves copying the file to a USB drive and inserting it into the printer's USB port. Your printer will restart automatically during the firmware installation process, so do not turn it off or interrupt the update.
- Verify printer settings are optimized for speed. Open your printer preferences on your computer by going to Devices and Printers in Windows 11 or Printers and Scanners in macOS, then right-clicking your Lexmark printer and selecting Preferences or Properties. Check that you are not printing in highest quality mode for every document, as this setting significantly slows down print speed. Switch to Normal or Draft quality for everyday documents and reserve the highest quality settings only for photographs or color graphics.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does my Lexmark printer print so slowly when other printers work fine?
Your Lexmark printer may print slowly due to a clogged print head, outdated drivers specific to your Lexmark model, or corrupt data stored in the printer's memory. It could also be caused by a weak network connection if you have a networked model, or by print quality settings that are set too high for routine documents. Each of these issues is fixable through the troubleshooting steps above.
Will a cleaning cycle actually make my Lexmark printer faster?
Yes, a cleaning cycle removes dried ink buildup and clears nozzles in the print head, which often restores normal printing speed if the slowness is caused by partial clogs. However, if your slowness is due to driver issues or network problems, a cleaning cycle alone will not help and you will need to follow the other steps as well. Running a cleaning cycle takes only a few minutes and is always worth trying as one of the first solutions.
Should I replace my Lexmark printer if it is printing slowly?
No, you should not replace your printer immediately because slow printing is almost always a software or maintenance issue rather than a hardware failure. Replacing a printer is expensive and unnecessary when driver updates, cleaning cycles, and print queue resets solve the problem in the vast majority of cases. Only consider replacement if you have completed all the steps above and a professional technician confirms that a hardware component is failing.
How much does it cost to have a technician fix my slow Lexmark printer?
A remote technician can diagnose and fix your slow Lexmark printer for $49, which is much less expensive than purchasing a new printer or paying for in-person service. Remote support allows a technician to access your printer settings, update drivers, and run diagnostics from their office while you watch the screen, making the process transparent and efficient. If you have completed all the steps above and the problem persists, remote support is a cost-effective next step before considering replacement.