The most common reason your printer won't print is that it has lost connection to your computer, either because the cable came loose, the network dropped, or the printer driver needs updating
A printer that won't respond usually sits somewhere between three problems: the computer can't find the printer, the printer can't talk back to the computer, or the print job is stuck in the queue. Before you unplug anything, check whether the printer itself is on, has paper, and shows no error lights. Then work through the connection and driver steps below in order—most people find the answer in the first two.
The good news is that you do not need to understand how printers work to fix this. You just need to follow a few straightforward checks, and if those do not work, you will know whether to call the printer maker's support line or ask your IT person at work.
Key Takeaways
- Check that the printer is powered on, has paper, and shows no error lights before troubleshooting the computer connection.
- For USB printers, unplug the cable from both the computer and printer, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in—this fixes most connection problems.
- For wireless printers, make sure the printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer and that the network name appears in the printer's menu.
- Update or reinstall the printer driver through Device Manager (Windows) or System Settings (Mac), because an outdated driver is the second most common cause of print failures.
- If a print job is stuck, clear the print queue by restarting the printer and computer, which clears jobs that are blocking new ones from processing.
Check the physical connection for USB printers
If your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable, the first step is to reseat the connection. Unplug the USB cable from the back of the printer, then unplug it from your computer. Wait 30 seconds, then plug it back into the computer first, then into the printer. This resets the connection and fixes the problem in about half of all USB printer cases.
While the cable is unplugged, look at both ends for bent pins, frayed wires, or damage. If the cable looks damaged, try a different USB cable if you have one. If the printer still does not appear after you plug it back in, move to the driver section below.
Verify the wireless connection for network printers
Wireless printers lose connection to your Wi-Fi network more often than USB printers lose their cable connection. Check the printer's built-in menu—usually accessed through buttons on the printer itself or a small screen—and look for the network name (called the SSID) that it is currently connected to. It should match the Wi-Fi network your computer is using.
If the printer shows no network, or a different network name, you will need to reconnect it. Most printers have a Wi-Fi setup button or a menu option called "Network Settings" or "Wireless Setup." Select your network name from the list, enter your Wi-Fi password, and wait for the printer to confirm the connection. Once the printer shows it is connected, try printing again.
If your printer is connected but your computer still cannot find it, restart both the printer and your computer. Turn off the printer, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your computer. This clears temporary connection problems that prevent the devices from recognizing each other.
Update or reinstall the printer driver
A printer driver is the software that tells your computer how to talk to your printer. If the driver is outdated, missing, or corrupted, your computer will not be able to send print jobs to the printer, even if the physical connection is fine.
On Windows: Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager." Look for "Printers" or "Print queues" in the list, then expand it. Right-click your printer and select "Update driver." Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." Windows will read and install the latest version. If that does not work, right-click the printer again, select "Uninstall device," restart your computer, and Windows will reinstall the driver automatically when it detects the printer.
On Mac: Open System Settings, go to "Printers & Scanners," find your printer in the list, and click it. If you see an "Update" or "Reset" button, click it. If the printer does not appear in the list at all, click the "+" button, select your printer from the list that appears, and click "Add." Mac will read and install the driver automatically.
After updating or reinstalling the driver, restart your computer before trying to print again. This ensures the new driver is fully loaded.
Clear a stuck print queue
Sometimes a print job gets stuck in the queue—the list of jobs waiting to print—and blocks all new jobs from processing. You will know this is happening if you try to print and nothing happens, even though the printer is on and connected.
On Windows: Open Settings, go to "Devices," then "Printers & scanners." Find your printer, click it, and select "Open queue." If you see jobs listed, right-click each one and select "Cancel." If the queue window is empty but jobs are still stuck, restart your printer and computer. Turn off the printer, wait 10 seconds, turn it back on, then restart your computer.
On Mac: Open System Preferences, go to "Printers & Scanners," find your printer, and click "Open Print Queue." Right-click any job and select "Delete." If the queue is empty but printing still will not work, restart the printer and your Mac.
Check for error messages on the printer itself
Look at the printer's screen or control panel for any error messages or warning lights. Common messages include "Paper Jam," "Out of Paper," "Toner Low," or "Offline." If you see any of these, address the specific problem: load paper, clear the jam, or replace the toner cartridge. Some printers also show an error code—a number like "E202" or "0x800706B9"—which you can search for on the printer maker's website along with your printer model number.
If the printer shows "Offline" but is actually powered on and connected, try turning it off and back on. If it stays offline, the connection between the printer and computer has been lost, and you should go back to the wireless or USB steps above.
When to contact the printer maker or your IT department
If you have worked through all the steps above and the printer still will not print, the problem is likely a hardware failure inside the printer, a driver that is corrupted beyond what reinstalling can fix, or a network issue that is beyond your control. At this point, contact the printer maker's support line—you will need your printer's model number, which is usually on a sticker on the back or bottom of the printer. If this is a work printer, contact your IT department instead.
Before you call, have ready the model number, the operating system your computer uses (Windows 10, Windows 11, Mac with Big Sur, etc.), and a description of what you have already tried. This helps the support person narrow down the problem faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer print but the colors look wrong?
Color problems usually mean the toner or ink cartridges are low, the wrong paper type is loaded, or the printer settings do not match the paper you are using. Check the cartridge levels in the printer menu, load the correct paper type, and in your computer's print dialog, make sure the paper type setting matches what is actually in the printer.
Can I print from my phone to the same printer as my computer?
Yes, if the printer is wireless. Your phone and computer both need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Most modern printers support a feature called AirPrint (Apple) or Google Cloud Print (Android), which lets you print directly from your phone without installing a driver. Check your printer's manual or the maker's website to see if your model supports this.
My printer worked yesterday but not today—what changed?
The most likely cause is that your Wi-Fi network restarted and the printer did not reconnect, or a Windows or Mac update installed a new driver that conflicts with your printer. Try restarting both the printer and your computer. If that does not work, go back to the driver update section and reinstall the driver.
Is it safe to restart my printer while it is printing?
No. Always wait for the printer to finish the current job or cancel the job through your computer's print queue before restarting the printer. Restarting during a print job can damage the printer's internal components or leave it in a confused state.
What if my printer is not showing up in the list of available printers on my computer?
The printer is either not connected to the network, the driver is not installed, or the computer cannot see it for some reason. Start by restarting both devices. Then reinstall the driver using the steps in the driver section above. If the printer still does not appear, check that it is on the same Wi-Fi network by looking at the printer's menu, and make sure the printer is powered on and not showing an error light.