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Printer Not Printing? Here's How to Fix It

6 min read  ·  Works with HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and most common printers

Your printer says it's ready, but nothing comes out. Or it shows as "offline" even though it's clearly on. Printer problems are maddeningly common, but they almost always come down to a few specific issues — a stuck print queue, an outdated driver, or a connection problem. Here's how to fix them.

Step-by-Step Fix

1

Check the basics first

Make sure the printer is turned on (the power light should be solid, not blinking). Check that the paper tray has paper and that the ink or toner cartridges aren't empty — most printers show a warning light when ink is low. Also confirm the USB cable is firmly plugged in on both ends, or that the printer is on the same WiFi network as your computer.

2

Restart both the printer and your computer

Turn the printer completely off using its power button, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Do the same with your computer. This clears temporary errors that prevent printing and resolves the problem about 30% of the time on its own.

3

Clear the print queue

Windows: Click the Start menu and search for Printers & scanners. Click your printer, then Open print queue. Select all documents and click Cancel. Mac: Go to System Settings › Printers & Scanners, click your printer, then Open Print Queue and delete all jobs. A stuck job at the top of the queue often blocks everything behind it.

4

Set your printer as the default

Windows: Go to Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners, click your printer, and select Set as default. Mac: Go to System Settings › Printers & Scanners and set the default printer in the dropdown. Sometimes documents silently send to an old or virtual printer instead of yours.

5

Update or reinstall the printer driver

Visit your printer manufacturer's website (hp.com, canon.com, epson.com, etc.), search for your printer model, and download the latest driver. Uninstall the old driver first through Settings › Apps, then install the new one. Outdated drivers are a very common cause of printers suddenly stopping.

6

Run the printer troubleshooter (Windows only)

Go to Settings › System › Troubleshoot › Other troubleshooters and run the Printer troubleshooter. It automatically detects and fixes common driver and spooler issues that would otherwise require manual steps.

WiFi printer tip: If your printer connects via WiFi, make sure it's on the same network as your computer — not a separate "guest" network. Print a network configuration page from the printer's menu to confirm its IP address.

If Nothing Works

If you've been through all six steps and the printer still isn't working, try removing the printer entirely from your computer and adding it back fresh. On Windows, go to Printers & scanners, click your printer, and select Remove device. Then click Add a printer or scanner to reinstall it. This gives your computer a completely clean connection to the printer.

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