Printer Not Printing? A Step-by-Step Checklist

Overview

When nothing comes out, the problem is usually between the computer and the printer rather than inside the printer itself. Work through these checks in order. Each one rules out a whole category of causes, so you do not end up reinstalling software for a problem that is really a stuck job.

Step by step

1. Check the printer’s display

   Look for a message such as a paper, toner or door warning. A printer waiting for you to load paper or close a cover will hold every job.

2. Clear the print queue

   Open the printer queue on your computer, cancel stuck jobs, and try a short test page. A single damaged job can block everything behind it.

3. Confirm you are sending to the right printer

   Computers often keep several copies of the same printer, including offline ones. Choose the copy that shows as ready and set it as the default.

4. Restart in the right order

   Turn off the printer, restart the computer, then turn the printer back on and wait until it is fully ready before printing.

5. Check the connection

   For USB, try a different port and cable. For network printers, print a network configuration page from the printer menu and confirm it has an address on the same network as your computer.

6. Update or reinstall the driver

   Download the current driver from the manufacturer’s official support site, remove the old printer from your computer, and add it again.

Common causes

A stuck or corrupted job

One job that will not finish blocks every job after it.

The wrong printer copy selected

Jobs go to an offline duplicate that never prints.

A changed network address

After a router change or power cut the printer may receive a new address that the computer does not know.

Driver problems

Operating system updates can leave an older driver behaving unpredictably.

A printer-side fault

Errors that the printer reports itself, from empty trays to hardware faults.

When to ask for help

Stop and get help if any of these apply:

• The printer will not power on, or powers off by itself.
• A test page from the printer menu also fails.
• Several computers cannot print to the same printer after you have checked the network.
• The printer shows a service or hardware error that persists after a restart.

This guide is general information for common laser printers and multifunction devices. Always follow the instructions and safety warnings in your printer’s own user guide. See our Disclaimer.