Sharp Printer Printing Weird Symbols? Fix Gibberish Output (2026)

Is your Sharp printer printing weird symbols, random letters, or unreadable characters instead of your document? You may see pages filled with strange symbols, numbers, boxes, or gibberish rather than the text you expected. This problem can occur when printing PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, emails, or web pages.

Fortunately, this issue is usually software-related. In most cases, it’s caused by corrupted print jobs, outdated printer drivers, incorrect printer languages, damaged fonts, or communication problems between your computer and the printer.

This guide explains 10 proven solutions to fix a Sharp printer printing weird symbols or gibberish output.

Common Symptoms

You may notice:

• Random symbols
• Strange characters
• Pages of unreadable text
• Boxes instead of letters
• Endless pages printing
• Random numbers
• Garbled PDFs
• Missing fonts
• Incomplete documents

Fix 1: Cancel All Print Jobs

Corrupted print jobs often cause gibberish output.

To clear the queue:

1. Open Printers & Scanners.
2. Select your Sharp printer.
3. Open the print queue.
4. Cancel all pending jobs.
5. Restart the printer.

Related guide:

Sharp Printer Print Queue Stuck? Clear Jobs & Fix Spooler (Internal Link)

Fix 2: Restart the Printer and Computer

Temporary communication errors are often resolved with a restart.

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Wait one minute.
4. Turn the printer back on.
5. Print a test page.

Fix 3: Update or Reinstall the Printer Driver

Outdated or corrupted drivers are one of the leading causes of symbol printing.

Download the latest Sharp printer driver.

Then:

• Remove the old driver.
• Restart the computer.
• Install the latest version.
• Re-add the printer.

Related guide:

Sharp Printer Driver Unavailable? Fix Driver Problems Fast (Internal Link)

Fix 4: Check the Printer Language

Sharp printers typically support printer languages such as:

• PCL5
• PCL6
• PostScript (PS)

If the application sends a different language than the printer expects, random characters may print.

Verify the driver matches the printer’s supported language.

Fix 5: Print from Another Application

Try printing the same file using:

• Another PDF reader
• Another browser
• Microsoft Word
• Another computer

If the document prints correctly elsewhere, the original application may be causing the issue.

Fix 6: Save the Document Again

Damaged files may contain corrupted formatting.

Try:

• Saving the document under a new name.
• Exporting the PDF again.
• Recreating the document.

Then print the new version.

Fix 7: Check USB or Network Connections

Communication errors may corrupt print data.

For USB printers:

• Reconnect the cable.
• Try another USB port.
• Replace damaged cables.

For wireless printers:

• Confirm the printer is connected to the same network.
• Restart the router if necessary.

Related guide:

Sharp Printer WiFi Setup Guide (Windows, Mac & Mobile) (Internal Link)

Fix 8: Update Printer Firmware

Firmware updates improve:

• Document processing
• Driver compatibility
• Font handling
• Communication reliability

Install the latest firmware for your Sharp printer model.

Fix 9: Restart the Print Spooler

The Windows Print Spooler may become corrupted.

Restart it:

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type services.msc.
3. Locate Print Spooler.
4. Click Restart.

Try printing again afterwards.

Fix 10: Remove and Reinstall the Printer

If none of the previous fixes work:

1. Remove the Sharp printer.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Install the latest driver.
4. Add the printer again.
5. Print a test document.

This often resolves persistent communication and driver issues.

How to Prevent Sharp Printer Printing Weird Symbols

Keep Drivers Updated

Updated drivers reduce compatibility issues with modern software.

Install Firmware Updates

Firmware updates improve printer communication and document processing.

Use Compatible Fonts

Standard fonts are less likely to create printing errors.

Clear Failed Print Jobs

Remove corrupted print jobs before submitting new ones.

Use Reliable USB or WiFi Connections

Stable communication reduces data corruption during printing.

Keep Software Updated

Update Windows, macOS, PDF readers, and office applications regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Sharp printer printing random symbols?

Corrupted printer drivers, damaged print jobs, incorrect printer language settings, or communication problems are the most common causes.

Why do PDFs print as gibberish?

Some PDF files become corrupted or use fonts that are incompatible with the installed printer driver.

Can outdated drivers cause strange characters?

Yes. Old or damaged drivers frequently generate unreadable output.

Why does my printer keep printing endless pages of symbols?

This often happens when the printer receives data in the wrong printer language or encounters a corrupted print job.

Should I reinstall the printer?

Yes. Reinstalling the printer and installing the latest Sharp driver often resolves persistent gibberish printing issues.

Related Guides

Continue troubleshooting with these Sharp printer resources:

• Sharp Printer Not Printing?
• Sharp Printer Driver Unavailable?
• Sharp Printer Print Queue Stuck?
• Sharp Printer Connected But Not Printing?
• Sharp Printer Printing Half Page?
• Sharp Printer WiFi Setup Guide.
• Sharp Printer in Error State?

Final Thoughts

A Sharp printer printing weird symbols or gibberish output is usually caused by corrupted print jobs, outdated drivers, incorrect printer language settings, damaged files, or communication problems rather than a hardware fault. By clearing the print queue, restarting the printer, updating the driver, checking the printer language, and installing the latest firmware, you can resolve most symbol-printing issues quickly.

If your Sharp printer continues producing unreadable output, work through the related Sharp printer guides above for additional help with driver problems, print queue errors, WiFi connectivity, layout issues, and other common Sharp printer troubleshooting topics. Keeping your printer software updated and using compatible applications will help prevent future gibberish printing errors.