Technology
Technology
Why Is My Printer Not Printing? 6 Causes & Fixes
George Wright
A printer that won't print is caused by one of six things: an offline status in Windows or macOS, low or empty ink/toner, a stuck print queue, a connection problem (USB or Wi-Fi), an outdated or corrupt printer driver, or a physical paper jam.
Also Read: The fastest fix people try when their printer suddenly stops printing
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Printer failures are overwhelmingly software-side problems — offline status, stuck queues, and driver corruption — not hardware failures. The physical checks (paper, ink, cables) take under a minute and should always come first before any software troubleshooting.
A printer showing "offline" in Windows or macOS isn't necessarily turned off or disconnected — it means the computer can't communicate with the printer, which can happen even on a printer that's physically on and connected. The offline state is one of the most common and most confusing printer problems.
"If your printer shows as Offline, you can change its status to Online by clearing the print queue and restarting the print spooler service. Go to Settings, select Bluetooth & Devices, then Printers & Scanners, and click your printer." — Microsoft Support at Microsoft
Is the Printer Showing Offline?
On Windows: Go to Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Printers & Scanners → click your printer → Open Print Queue. If it says "Offline," right-click the printer and select "See what's printing" → Printer (menu) → uncheck "Use Printer Offline."
On Mac: System Settings → Printers & Scanners → right-click your printer → click "Resume."
Is the Print Queue Stuck?
A single failed or stuck print job blocks every job behind it. On Windows: Open Print Queue → select all jobs → Delete. On Mac: open the printer's queue → pause all jobs → delete the stuck job → resume. After clearing the queue, try printing again.
How to Fix a Printer That Won't Print
The universal printer fix sequence: check physical connections, restart the printer, clear the print queue, set the printer as default, and reinstall the driver. Work through these in order.
Step 1 — Physical checks (2 minutes).
- Is the printer powered on? Check the power light.
- Is there paper loaded in the tray?
- Are ink or toner levels low? Most printers display a low-ink warning on-screen or via the companion app.
- Is there a paper jam? Open all access doors and carefully remove any jammed paper.
- Is the USB cable securely plugged in at both ends (if wired)?
Step 2 — Restart both the printer and computer.
Turn the printer completely off (power button), wait 30 seconds, turn it back on. Restart your computer. Then try printing again before any software changes.
Step 3 — Clear the print queue.
Stuck jobs block all subsequent print requests. On Windows, search for "Services" in the Start menu → find Print Spooler → right-click → Stop. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files (not the folder). Return to Services and Start Print Spooler again.
Step 4 — Set the printer as the default printer.
On Windows: Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Printers & Scanners → click your printer → Set as Default. On Mac: System Settings → Printers & Scanners → set the Default Printer dropdown to your printer.
Step 5 — Update or reinstall the printer driver.
Go to your printer manufacturer's website (HP, Epson, Canon, Brother, Xerox) and download the latest driver for your exact model and Windows/macOS version. Uninstall the old driver first via Control Panel → Programs, then install the fresh driver.
"If your printer won't print after you've checked connections and cleared the queue, the issue is often a corrupted print driver. Uninstalling and reinstalling the driver from the manufacturer's website resolves most persistent printer problems." — HP Support at HP Inc.
Step 6 — For wireless printers: reconnect to Wi-Fi.
On the printer's control panel, go to Wireless Settings → Wireless Setup Wizard and reconnect to your home network. Wireless printers drop their network connection after power outages or router reboots and don't always reconnect automatically.
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Printer Problem Diagnostic Table
| Symptom | Most Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Printer offline | Driver or connection issue | Clear queue, restart both, check "Use Printer Offline" setting |
| Prints blank pages | Empty ink cartridge or clogged head | Replace cartridge, run head cleaning cycle |
| Print queue stuck | Previous job failed | Clear all jobs from queue, restart Print Spooler |
| Wi-Fi printer not found | Dropped network connection | Reconnect via wireless setup wizard |
| Prints very slowly | Eco or Draft mode off, high-DPI setting | Lower print quality in printer preferences |
| Lines or streaks | Clogged print head | Run print head cleaning from printer utility |
In Short
A printer that won't print is usually showing offline, has a stuck job in the queue, has empty ink, or has a driver problem. In that order: check ink, clear the queue, restart both devices, and reinstall the driver from the manufacturer's site. Hardware failures — clogged print heads, damaged feed rollers — are the last thing to check, not the first.
What You Also May Want To Know
Why is my printer printing blank pages?
Blank pages mean the ink cartridge is empty or dry, the print head is clogged, or the cartridge was installed with the protective tape still on. Try a print head cleaning cycle from the printer's utility software, and replace the cartridge if cleaning doesn't help.
Why does my printer say offline even when it's on?
The printer has lost communication with your computer — this is a software state, not a physical one. Restart both devices, clear the print queue, and uncheck "Use Printer Offline" in the Windows print queue menu or Resume in Mac's printer queue.
How do I fix a wireless printer that keeps going offline?
Assign your printer a static IP address on your router to prevent it from getting a new IP after each router restart, which breaks the Wi-Fi printing configuration. Consult your printer's manual for how to set a fixed IP, then reserve that IP in your router's DHCP settings.
Why is my printer printing slowly?
Slow printing is usually caused by a high-quality or photo print mode being active, a full queue of multiple jobs, or a wireless connection routing through a slow network path. Lower the print quality in the print dialog (Draft or Normal mode) and confirm the connection is direct — not routing through a print server.
Do I need to use the manufacturer's app for my printer?
No, but it helps. Apps like HP Smart, Epson Connect, Canon PRINT, and Brother iPrint&Scan provide real-time ink level monitoring, remote printing, and easier wireless setup. If your printer keeps going offline or disconnecting, the manufacturer app often includes a diagnostic tool that resolves configuration issues automatically.
Reviewed and Updated on July 3, 2026 by Adelinda Manna
