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Fix a printer that will not print

We'll check power, paper, ink, connection, and driver—or tell you when to call a pro.

Troubleshooting · Home electronics
10–20 min
What you'll need
  • Paper (if low)
  • Ink or toner (if low)
  • Printer manual (for test page and error codes)
Step 1 of 9

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Steps

Goal: Confirm the symptom, check power and supplies, then rule out jam, connection, and driver.

  • Confirm the printer does not print—jobs sit in the queue, nothing comes out, or the printer is offline.
  • Good: You have confirmed the symptom. Proceed to Check printer ready.
  • Bad: Printer prints but quality is poor—may be ink or paper.

Check printer ready

Goal: Rule out power, paper, and ink.

  • Check the power LED. Confirm paper is loaded and ink or toner levels are adequate.
  • Good: Printer ready. Proceed to Check paper jam.
  • Bad: Add paper or ink, confirm power, then retry.

Check paper jam

Goal: Clear any jammed paper.

  • Open doors and look for stuck paper. Remove gently in the direction of paper flow. Clear torn scraps.
  • Good: No jam or jam cleared. Proceed to Check connection.
  • Bad: Jam cleared but printer still will not print—check connection and driver.

Check connection

Goal: Confirm the computer can reach the printer.

  • USB: Check the cable. Wi-Fi: Confirm same network. In the print dialog, confirm the correct printer is selected and not offline or paused.
  • Good: Connected and selected. Proceed to Clear queue and driver.
  • Bad: Fix connection or selection, then retry.

Clear queue and driver

Goal: Clear stuck jobs and fix driver issues.

  • Clear the print queue. Cancel all documents. Reinstall the driver from the manufacturer website.
  • Print a test page from the printer control panel. If it prints, the printer works—the issue was computer-side.
  • Good: Printing works. Done.
  • Bad: Test page does not print—printer has a hardware fault. Call a pro.

When to get help

Call a pro when:

  • The printer has persistent error lights (check the manual for codes).
  • The printer makes grinding or clicking noises.
  • Paper jams repeatedly after clearing.
  • The test page will not print from the printer control panel.

Verification

  • The printer produces output when you send a job.
  • The correct printer is selected and not offline.
  • The print queue is clear.
  • No error lights on the printer.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Power, paper, ink Confirm printer is on with paper and ink.
  2. Paper jam Clear any jammed paper.
  3. Connection Check USB or Wi-Fi; same network for Wi-Fi.
  4. Driver and queue Clear queue; reinstall driver if needed.
  5. Call a pro Error lights, grinding, or repeated jams—call a pro.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Printer model
  • Connection type (USB or Wi-Fi)
  • Whether test page prints
  • Steps already tried

Is the printer on with paper and ink?

Power, paper, and ink are required.

Check power LED, paper tray, and ink levels. Yes: check for paper jam. No: add paper or ink, confirm power.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Add supplies and retry

Add paper. Replace ink or toner if low. Confirm power. Retry printing.

Done

Is there a paper jam?

Jams block printing.

Open doors. Look for stuck paper. Remove gently in direction of paper flow. No jam: check connection. Jam: clear it, then retry.

No jam Jam found

You can change your answer later.

Clear jam and retry

Remove stuck paper. Clear torn scraps. Close doors. Retry. If jams repeat, call a technician.

Done

Is the printer connected and selected?

USB or Wi-Fi must be working.

USB: check cable. Wi-Fi: same network. Confirm correct printer selected; not offline or paused. Connected: clear queue and retry. Not connected: fix connection first.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Fix connection and retry

USB: plug cable firmly. Wi-Fi: connect printer and computer to same network. Select correct printer. Retry.

Done

Does clearing the queue and reinstalling the driver fix it?

Stuck queue or bad driver can block printing.

Clear the print queue. Reinstall the driver from manufacturer website. Retry. Works: done. Fails: print test page from printer. If test page fails, call a technician.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Printing works

The printer is working. Confirm a test print from the computer.

Done

Test page and call pro if needed

Print test page from printer control panel. If test page prints, the issue is computer or driver—reinstall driver. If test page fails, the printer has a hardware fault—call a technician.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would a printer not print?
Power off, no paper or ink, wrong printer selected, offline or paused, driver issue, or a paper jam. Network printers: wrong Wi-Fi or IP.
Can I fix a printer that will not print myself?
Yes. Check power, paper, ink, connection, and driver. Clear the queue and reinstall the driver if needed. Paper jams and hardware faults may need a pro.
When should I call a technician?
If the printer has persistent error lights, makes grinding noises, or jams repeatedly after clearing. Hardware faults need a pro.

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