Printer isn’t responding

1. Check the printer connection

Ensure that the printer is properly connected to your computer or network:

• For wired printers, make sure the cable is securely plugged in.
• For wireless printers, verify that the printer is connected to a functioning Wi-Fi network.

2. Check if the printer is in a problematic state

Check the printer’s display panel or the printer status on your computer. If the printer is in a Stopped state, add the Status Reason column to see if there’s an error, such as Out of toner or Off-line.

3. Check the printer properties

Right-click the printer icon and select Properties. Select the General tab and check the device status message. It might indicate a problem or provide an error code to check online or in the printer manual.

4. Restart the printer

Turn off the printer, wait about 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. This action can often resolve temporary issues.

5. Run the printer troubleshooter

Run the built-in printer troubleshooter on your Windows computer. To do so, go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, and then select Run next to Printer.

6. Reinstall the printer driver

Right-click your printer in Device Manager and select Uninstall device. Then, restart your computer and reinstall the driver.

If the driver is the latest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) version, try switching to a generic in-box driver.

7. Check the Print Spooler service state

Restart the Print Spooler service to clear any stuck print jobs by using one of the following methods. For more information, see Printing issues caused by the Print Spooler service not running.

Manually restart the service

In the Services application, right-click Print Spooler in the list, and select Restart.

Use Command Prompt

Type cmd in the search bar, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator to open Command Prompt as an administrator. Run the following commands and press Enter after each one:

ConsoleCopy

-net stop spooler

ConsoleCopy

-net start spooler

Use Windows PowerShell

Type powershell in the search bar, right-click Windows PowerShell, and select Run as administrator to open PowerShell as an administrator. Run the following cmdlet and press Enter:

PowerShellCopy

Restart-Service -Name spooler

8. Verify the printer queue status

If there are any stuck print jobs, clear the queue and resubmit the print job.

To delete any files stuck in the queue, follow these steps:

1. Stop the Print Spooler service.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
3. Delete all files (.shd files) in this folder. These files are the print jobs that are stuck in the queue.
4. Restart the Print Spooler service.

9. Update the printer firmware

Check the manufacturer’s website for any firmware updates available for your printer.