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When you send a print job but the printer doesn’t print, it can be very frustrating. However, the cause can usually be fixed quite quickly.
Printer not printing – Troubleshooting
First, stay calm and start troubleshooting. Proceed as follows:
- First, check that the printer is connected to your computer correctly. Try a different USB port and restart your computer. Wireless printers may have connection problems. Try resetting the wireless connection. Also, make sure that the wireless connection on the device itself is active—this is usually indicated by a blue wireless icon.
- Empty ink cartridges or a paper jam can also be a source of error. However, this is usually indicated by the printer. Also, make sure that the printer cover is closed properly.
- Check on your computer whether the print job is still active. To do this, go to Settings ☻ Bluetooth & Devices ☻ Printers & Scanners. Select the appropriate printer and click Open print queue. Check whether there are any old or blocked print jobs. If necessary, click Cancel all to clear the queue. Then restart the printing process.
- If your printer is not set as the default printer, print jobs may be sent to the wrong programs or printers. Set your default printer and then resend the print job.
- If you have not found a solution yet, you can also use the automatic troubleshooting feature in Windows. Open it by going to Settings ☻ System ☻ Troubleshoot ☻ Other troubleshooting. Search for Printer in the list and click Run. This will start the automatic error diagnosis.
Other sources of error
If the tips above have not helped, the following causes are possible:
- Printer manufacturers regularly release updates for the drivers and firmware of their devices to fix bugs, improve compatibility, or provide new features. Visit the manufacturer’s official website and search for the latest driver for your printer model. Download and install it according to the instructions.
- Don’t just uninstall the old driver from the Control Panel; also open the Device Manager. Look under Printers or Other Devices for any conflicting drivers, right-click on them and select Uninstall device.
- A common cause of printing problems is incompatibility between the printer and the operating system. Check the technical specifications of the printer to ensure that it is compatible with the current version of your operating system.
- Restarting the spooler service can resolve frozen jobs or communication problems. To do this, press WIN + R, enter services.msc, and confirm with Enter. Locate the Print Spooler service, right-click on it, and select Restart.
- If the previous steps do not help, it may be useful to reset to the factory settings. This will delete all individual configurations, such as network settings or saved user profiles.
- If all your attempts are unsuccessful, do not hesitate to contact the printer manufacturer’s customer support. Many manufacturers offer a hotline, live chat, or email support where trained professionals can help you troubleshoot the problem.
