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    Essential Skills
    Beginner
    4 min read 5 stepsApril 21, 2026Verified April 2026

    What to Do When Your Printer Won't Print

    Step-by-step troubleshooting for when your printer says it's connected but nothing comes out — from clearing the print queue to reinstalling the driver.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Essential Skills
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    4 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    printer
    troubleshooting
    Windows
    Mac
    print queue
    drivers

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Restart the printer and the computer
    2. 2.Make sure the right printer is selected
    3. 3.Clear the print queue
    4. 4.Check the printer's physical status
    5. 5.Reinstall or update the printer driver
    1

    Restart the printer and the computer

    ~20s
    Turn the printer completely off using its power button — not just sleep mode, actually off. Turn off your computer as well. Wait 30 seconds, then turn the printer back on first (let it fully initialize), then start the computer. Once both are fully booted, try printing again. This single step resolves the majority of printer problems.
    2

    Make sure the right printer is selected

    ~22s
    When you click Print in any app, a dialog box appears. In the Printer field (usually at the top of the dialog), check that the correct printer is shown. It's common for computers to default to "Microsoft Print to PDF" or a previously connected printer instead of your current one. Click the dropdown arrow to see all available printers and select the correct one.
    3

    Clear the print queue

    ~28s
    On Windows: click the Start button, search for "Printers & Scanners," click your printer, then click "Open print queue." If there are any jobs listed (they may show as "Error" or "Deleting"), right-click each one and select "Cancel." After clearing all jobs, right-click the printer in the queue and select "See what's printing," then "Printer > Pause Printing" — then click it again to unpause. On Mac: go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click your printer, click "Open Print Queue," and delete all pending jobs.
    4

    Check the printer's physical status

    ~23s
    Check for basic physical issues: Is there paper in the tray? Are there any error lights flashing (check the printer's display or indicator lights)? Is the ink or toner low (most printers show this on their display)? Is there a paper jam? Open all the printer's access panels and check for any stuck paper. Even a tiny scrap of paper can block printing and trigger a jam error.
    5

    Reinstall or update the printer driver

    ~29s
    If none of the above works, the printer's software driver may be corrupted or outdated. On Windows: go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners. Click your printer, then "Remove device." Then visit the printer manufacturer's website (HP.com, Canon.com, Epson.com, Brother.com), search for your printer model, and download the latest driver. Run the installer and follow the steps to reinstall. On Mac: go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click the minus button to remove the printer, then click the plus button to re-add it.

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    Few tech frustrations match the experience of clicking Print, watching the printer supposedly receive the job, and then nothing happening. Printer problems are among the most common issues computer users face — and they're usually caused by one of a small set of fixable issues: a stuck print queue, a connection problem, the wrong printer being selected, or an outdated driver.

    Before calling for help or buying a new printer, work through these steps in order. The vast majority of "printer won't print" problems are solved by Steps 1 through 4 and require no technical expertise.

    The single most effective fix — one that solves roughly 60% of printer problems — is turning both the printer and the computer completely off and back on. This clears whatever stuck state is preventing printing. It sounds too simple, but it works so often that it should always be your first move.

    If your printer is connected wirelessly over Wi-Fi, connection problems are especially common. Wi-Fi printers can lose their connection to the network after the router restarts, when the printer sits idle for a long time, or when there's network interference. The solution is almost always to restart the printer so it reconnects.

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    printer
    troubleshooting
    Windows
    Mac
    print queue
    drivers

    Official Resources

    GCFGlobal — Free Digital SkillsAARP Technology TipsSenior Planet

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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