Printer Won't Print — A Step-by-Step Fix Guide
When your printer ignores your print job or shows an error, these steps will help you get it working again without calling a repair person.
3 min read · 7 steps · Checked May 2026
Step 1. Check that the printer is on and has paper
It sounds basic, but confirm that the printer's power button is on (usually a green or blue light), the paper tray has paper loaded correctly, and the paper tray is fully seated (pushed all the way in). A printer with an empty paper tray or a partially inserted tray will silently refuse to print.
Step 2. Check for paper jams
Open every door, tray, and access panel on the printer. Gently pull out any piece of paper that is stuck — always pull in the direction of paper travel (straight out or forward), never backwards. Even a small torn piece of paper left inside can cause repeated errors. Check the back access door as well, not only the front.
Warning
Do not reach into a laser printer's fuser area (the part that gets hot) without letting the printer cool for 10 minutes after turning it off.
Step 3. Clear the print queue
On Windows, look for a printer icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen (in the system tray). Double-click it to open the print queue. If you see any print jobs listed, select them all and delete them. Then try printing again. On Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click your printer, and click 'Open Print Queue' to clear it.
Step 4. Turn the printer off and back on
Press the printer's power button to turn it off. Wait 30 seconds. Turn it back on. Then turn your computer off and back on as well. This clears any communication errors between the computer and the printer.
Step 5. Check the ink or toner levels
Low ink or toner doesn't always cause obvious warnings. On Windows: go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and look for ink level information. Alternatively, check the printer's own display screen if it has one. Some printers stop printing entirely when ink reaches a certain low level, even if there is technically still some left.
Step 6. For wireless printers — reconnect to WiFi
If the printer is wireless (no USB cable to the computer), it may have lost its connection. On the printer's display screen, go to the WiFi or Network settings and reconnect it to your home network. You will need your WiFi network name and password.
Quick Tip
Most wireless printers have a WiFi Setup Wizard in their settings menu that walks you through the reconnection process step by step.
Step 7. Reinstall or update the printer driver
If nothing above works, the software your computer uses to communicate with the printer (called a driver) may be outdated or corrupted. Go to the printer manufacturer's website (hp.com, epson.com, canon.com, or brother.com), search for your printer model, and download the latest driver. Installing the updated driver often resolves persistent printing issues.
Printers are notoriously stubborn, but most printing problems come down to a handful of causes: the printer is offline, there is a stuck print job, the cables are loose, or ink is low. Working through these in order will resolve most problems.
Wireless printers add another layer of complexity because they depend on a steady WiFi connection. If your router was recently restarted or your WiFi password was changed, your printer may have lost its connection and need to be reconnected.
Before calling anyone or buying a new printer, work through the steps below. Plan for 15–20 minutes.
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