Having trouble printing Smartsource coupons? Here's how!

Are you having problems printing coupons from Smartsource.com or from Facebook or other sites that use Smartsource to deliver their coupons?

(If you just want the solution, scroll down to the blue box below)

I have been, and it's so frustrating!  When there's a great deal and a printable coupon is available, but you can't get it to print - what a big problem!

The problem has to do with Java.  When version 1.7 of Java came out, it was declared to be insecure by no less than the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Coupon Network and Smartsource both decided to move away from Java, but RedPlum continues to use it.

But here's the problem I've had with Smartsource:  I upgraded my Java to version 1.7.  When I go to print a coupon, I get a warning that says that only the previous version, version 1.6, was allowed.

So I tried to uninstall 1.7 and reinstall 1.6, but that didn't seem to do the trick all by itself.  I tried disabling Java but that didn't work, either.

As a workaround, I found that printing with the Chrome browser used to work.  What would happen is that when I went to print, I would get the warning screen, but then there was a yellow warning bar at the top of the screen, saying Java is out of date: Update plug in or Run this time?  I found that if I clicked Run this time, the coupon would print.

But then, I started having that warning bar appear and disappear really quickly, before I could click it.  So what to do now?

I did a little research... well, a lot of research, and came up with the following workaround to get a Smartsource coupon to print in Chrome on a Windows computer:

• Install Java version 1.6 on your machine.
• Go to Control Panel, then click on Programs and Features and uninstall Java version 1.7.
• Close all Chrome browser windows you have open.
• Click on the Windows icon at the bottom left corner.
• In the bar at the bottom left, type: Run
• Choose Run from the Programs list.
• In the bar next to Open:, type:
  chrome --allow-outdated-plugins
• The Chrome browser should start up.
• Go to Smartsource.com and select the coupons you want to print.
• Click Print Now.
• Click Print again.
• The coupons should print!

I tried this on the computers in my house and it worked on three different machines, but I haven't tried it on every type of computer.  Let me know if it works for you!

(This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)