What to Do When Your Printer Won't Print

Quick answer

When your printer is not printing, the cause is usually simple: a stuck job in the queue, the wrong printer selected, or a small error on the printer itself, such as low paper or an open cover. Clearing the queue, restarting the printer and computer, and checking which printer you sent the job to fixes most cases. This guide is for anyone printing from a Windows or Mac computer at home, school or a small office.

Before you start

Run through these quick checks first. They take a minute and often solve the problem on their own:

• Is the printer on and showing “Ready,” or does its screen or lights show an error? Fix any error first, such as a paper jam, an open door or a missing cartridge.
• Is there paper in the tray, and is the tray pushed all the way in?
• Is the ink or toner empty? Many printers refuse to print when one cartridge is empty, even if you only print in black.
• Is the USB cable firmly connected, or is the wireless printer on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer?
• Can you make a copy or print a test page from the printer’s own control panel? If yes, the printer itself works, and the problem is between the computer and the printer.

Find out where the job is getting stuck

Check that you chose the right printer

It’s easy to send a document to the wrong printer, especially on a laptop that has been used at school or work. Some entries, such as “Microsoft Print to PDF” on Windows or “Save as PDF” on a Mac, don’t print on paper at all.

1. Open the document and choose Print.
2. Look at the printer name at the top of the print window.
3. Pick your actual printer from the list and try again.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners.
2. Select your printer and look at its status. If it says Offline or Error, see our guide on how to fix a printer that says it’s offline.
3. Open the print queue (the list of documents waiting to print). Cancel any jobs that show an error or that have been stuck for a long time.
4. In most versions, check that “Pause printing” is not selected in the queue window’s Printer menu (or “...” menu).
5. Choose Print test page from the printer’s settings page to check the connection.

If jobs won’t cancel, restart the Print Spooler, the Windows service that sends documents to the printer:

1. Press the Windows key, type “Services” and open the Services app.
2. Find Print Spooler, right-click it and choose Restart.

Our guide on how to clear a stuck print queue explains this step in more detail.

macOS

1. Open System Settings, then Printers & Scanners.
2. Select your printer and open its print queue.
3. If the queue is paused, click Resume.
4. Select any stuck jobs and delete them.
5. Try printing a short document from a simple app, such as TextEdit.

Restart and reconnect

If the queue looks clear but nothing comes out, a clean restart often resets whatever got confused:

1. Cancel all jobs in the queue.
2. Turn off the printer with its power button and wait about a minute.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Turn the printer back on and wait until it shows Ready.
5. Print one page from a simple app.

Still nothing? Remove the printer from your computer and add it again. On Windows 11, select the printer in Printers & scanners and choose Remove, then use Add device. On a Mac, select it in Printers & Scanners, remove it, then click Add Printer, Scanner or Fax. This replaces any broken settings with a fresh connection.

Reinstall or update the printer driver

A driver is the small program that lets your computer talk to the printer. If it is damaged or out of date, jobs may disappear without printing, or print as strange symbols.

1. Remove the printer from your computer as described above.
2. Get the driver only from a safe source: Windows Update, macOS software updates, or the printer manufacturer’s official support site. Search the support site for your exact model number, which is printed on the printer’s label.
3. Install the driver or software package and follow the setup steps.
4. Add the printer again and print a test page.

Avoid third-party driver download sites and tools that promise to update all your drivers automatically, which can install the wrong software or unwanted programs. Our guide on how to install or update a printer driver safely goes through this step by step.

If this does not work

Try these next steps, in order:

• Print from a different app or a different document. If only one file fails, the file itself may be the problem. Try saving it as a PDF and printing that.
• Print from another device, such as a phone or a second computer. If that works, the problem is on the first computer.
• Try a different USB cable or port, or connect by USB for a test if the printer is normally wireless.
• Install the latest updates for Windows or macOS.
• Check the printer’s firmware (the built-in software inside the printer). Many printers can update it from the control panel or the manufacturer’s app. Menus vary by model, so follow the manual.
• Restore the printer’s settings to default, following the steps in its manual, then set it up again.

When to get professional help

Contact the printer manufacturer’s support, or a qualified technician, if:

• The printer shows the same error code after every restart. Look up the code only on the manufacturer’s official site, not on random forums.
• You hear grinding or clicking noises, or the printer smells of burning.
• Paper feeds through but comes out completely blank after you have checked the ink or toner.
• The printer won’t print a test page from its own control panel.
• The printer is under warranty, which may cover repairs.

If someone calls you unexpectedly offering to fix your printer, hang up. Real companies don’t cold-call, and you should never share passwords or allow remote access for someone you don’t know.

FAQ

Why does my printer say Ready but nothing prints?

Usually the job went to a different printer, or it is stuck in the computer’s queue. Check the printer name in the print window and clear the queue. Restarting the Print Spooler on Windows also helps.

Why won’t my printer print black when the color ink is empty?

Many inkjet printers stop printing when any cartridge is empty, even for black-only pages. Some models allow printing with one cartridge for a short time. Check your manual to see what your model supports.

Can a Windows update stop my printer from printing?

Sometimes an update changes a driver or setting. Removing and re-adding the printer, then installing the latest driver from Windows Update or the manufacturer’s support site, usually sorts it out.

Why does only one document refuse to print?

The file may be very large, damaged or use an unusual font. Try saving it as a PDF, printing fewer pages at a time, or printing from a different app.

Is it bad to keep turning the printer off at the wall?

It’s better to switch off with the printer’s own power button. That lets an inkjet printer park and cap its print head, which helps stop the ink from drying out.