Printers
Printer won't print or shows offline
Offline printer, stuck queue or blank pages. Separate the printer from the computer first, then fix the side that is broken.
Read before you start
Unplug the printer before clearing a jam, and never pull paper backwards through the feed — the rollers and the fuser are the parts that break.
This guide is for you if
- Printer listed as Offline
- Jobs stuck in the queue
- Prints a test page but nothing from the computer
Step by step
Work top to bottom0 of 6 steps done
Print from the printer itself
Use the printer's own test page or copy function. If that works, the hardware is fine and the fault is the connection or driver.
Check the connection
USB: reseat both ends and try another port. Network: confirm the printer and computer are on the same Wi-Fi band and that the printer has an IP address.
Clear the queue
Cancel every job. Windows: Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Open print queue. macOS: click the printer icon in the Dock and clear the jobs.
One corrupt job blocks everything behind it.
Restart the print spooler
Windows: Services → Print Spooler → Restart. If jobs return immediately, stop the service, clear the files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then start it again.
Remove and re-add the printer
Delete it from the printer list, then add it again by name or IP address. This rebuilds the queue and the driver link without reinstalling the full software suite.
Install the correct driver
Download the driver from the manufacturer's site for your exact model and OS version. Avoid the generic driver unless it is listed for your model.