Windows Guide · Printers & Devices

Printer Not Working in Windows 10 and Windows 11: How to Fix It

A practical troubleshooting guide for offline printers, stuck print jobs, driver errors, USB connection problems, Wi-Fi printer issues, and Windows Print Spooler failures.

⏱ 10-minute read 🖨 USB, Wi-Fi & network printers ✅ Windows 10 & 11 🛠 Built-in tools first
Overview

Printer Not Working in Windows 10 or Windows 11: Common Symptoms

Printer problems in Windows usually fall into a few predictable categories. The printer may appear as Offline, the document may stay stuck in the print queue, Windows may show Driver is unavailable, or the printer may disappear from the list entirely. The cause can be as simple as a paused queue or as complex as a corrupted driver package.

Printer shows Offline

Windows cannot communicate with the printer, or the printer queue is set to offline mode.

Print jobs are stuck

The queue is blocked by a failed document or the Print Spooler service is not processing jobs.

Driver is unavailable

The installed printer driver is missing, outdated, incompatible, or damaged.

Nothing prints

The wrong printer may be selected, the default printer may have changed, or the device is not connected.

Fastest Fix to Try First

Restart the printer, restart Windows, cancel all stuck print jobs, and then try printing a Windows test page. If the test page works, the problem is usually with the application or document. If the test page fails, continue with the system-level fixes below.

Start Here

Quick Printer Checks Before Changing Windows Settings

Before reinstalling drivers or changing services, verify the basics. Many printing problems are caused by power, paper, ink, cable, or Wi-Fi issues rather than Windows itself.

  1. Restart the printer. Turn it off, wait 20–30 seconds, and turn it back on.
  2. Check paper, toner, ink, and jam warnings. A printer with an internal error may still appear in Windows but refuse new jobs.
  3. Check the cable. For USB printers, reconnect the cable directly to the PC instead of using a hub.
  4. Check Wi-Fi. For wireless printers, confirm that the printer and PC are on the same network.
  5. Restart Windows. A restart often clears temporary spooler and driver communication problems.
  6. Try another app. Print from Notepad or Microsoft Edge to determine whether the issue is limited to one program.
Important: If the printer display shows a hardware error, paper jam, empty cartridge, cover open warning, or maintenance message, fix that on the printer first. Windows troubleshooting will not solve a device-side hardware alert.
Method 1

Set the Correct Default Printer in Windows 10 and Windows 11

01
Default Printer Make sure Windows is sending the job to the right device

Sometimes the printer works correctly, but Windows sends the document to another device, such as Microsoft Print to PDF, an old office printer, or a disconnected network printer.

Windows 11

Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners
  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
  3. Turn off Let Windows manage my default printer.
  4. Select your printer.
  5. Click Set as default.

Windows 10

Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners
  1. Open Settings with Win + I.
  2. Go to Devices → Printers & scanners.
  3. Uncheck Let Windows manage my default printer.
  4. Click your printer and choose Manage.
  5. Click Set as default.
Tip: After setting the default printer, print a test page from the same printer settings page. This confirms that Windows can communicate with the device.
Method 2

Fix Printer Offline Mode and Clear Stuck Print Jobs

02
Queue Repair Remove blocked print jobs and disable offline mode

A single failed document can block every document behind it. Clearing the queue is one of the most effective fixes when the printer is connected but nothing prints.

  1. Open Settings → Printers & scanners.
  2. Select your printer and click Open print queue.
  3. Click Printer in the menu bar.
  4. Make sure Pause Printing is not enabled.
  5. Make sure Use Printer Offline is not enabled.
  6. Right-click stuck documents and select Cancel.

If the queue will not clear, restart the Print Spooler service as shown in the next section.

Method 3

Restart the Print Spooler Service in Windows

03
Print Spooler Restart the Windows service that manages print jobs

The Print Spooler service stores and processes print jobs before they reach the printer. If this service freezes, crashes, or holds a corrupt job, printers may stop responding.

Restart Print Spooler from Services

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Find Print Spooler.
  3. Right-click it and choose Restart.
  4. If it is stopped, choose Start.
  5. Set Startup type to Automatic.

Clear the Spooler Folder Manually

If jobs remain stuck, open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

net stop spooler
del /q /f %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*
net start spooler
Note: This deletes pending print jobs from the queue. It does not delete installed printers or printer drivers.
Method 4

Run the Built-in Windows Printer Troubleshooter

04
Automatic Repair Let Windows detect common printer configuration issues

Windows includes a printer troubleshooter that can reset common settings, check the queue, verify the default printer, and repair some service-level issues.

Windows 11

Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters.
  3. Find Printer and click Run.
  4. Choose the problematic printer and apply the suggested fixes.

Windows 10

Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Update & Security → Troubleshoot.
  3. Open Additional troubleshooters.
  4. Select Printer and click Run the troubleshooter.
Method 5

Update or Reinstall the Printer Driver in Windows 10 and Windows 11

05
Driver Repair Fix “Driver is unavailable” and compatibility problems

If Windows shows Driver is unavailable, prints blank pages, prints symbols, or refuses to install the printer, the driver is likely the problem.

Update the Driver Automatically

  1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Print queues or Printers.
  3. Right-click the printer and select Update driver.
  4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.

Install the Manufacturer Driver

For HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, Xerox, Samsung, Lexmark, and other printers, the manufacturer driver often works better than the generic Windows driver. Download the driver only from the official manufacturer website, then install it and restart the PC.

Remove a Broken Driver Package

  1. Press Win + R, type printmanagement.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Go to Print Servers → your computer → Drivers.
  3. Right-click the old driver and select Remove Driver Package.
  4. Restart Windows and install the fresh driver.
Windows Home note: Print Management may be unavailable in some Windows Home editions. In that case, remove the printer from Settings and reinstall it using the manufacturer installer.
Method 6

Fix Wi-Fi and Network Printer Problems in Windows

06
Network Printers Restore communication with wireless and LAN printers

Network printers depend on a stable connection between the PC, router, printer, and sometimes a print server. A printer may appear installed but fail to print if its IP address changes or Windows cannot resolve its hostname.

Check Network Connectivity

  1. Print a network configuration page from the printer menu and note the printer IP address.
  2. On the PC, press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
  3. Run a ping test:
ping 192.168.1.50

Replace 192.168.1.50 with your printer IP address. If there is no reply, the PC cannot reach the printer over the network.

Common Network Printer Fixes

  • Connect the printer and PC to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Restart the router and printer.
  • Disable VPN temporarily if it blocks local network devices.
  • Reserve a static IP address for the printer in the router settings.
  • Reinstall the printer using its IP address instead of automatic discovery.
Method 7

Remove and Add the Printer Again in Windows

07
Reinstall Printer Refresh the printer profile and Windows configuration

If the printer profile is corrupted, removing and adding the printer again is often faster than trying to repair each setting manually.

Remove the Printer

  1. Open Settings → Printers & scanners.
  2. Select the problematic printer.
  3. Click Remove or Remove device.
  4. Restart Windows.

Add the Printer Again

  1. Return to Printers & scanners.
  2. Click Add device or Add a printer or scanner.
  3. Wait for Windows to detect the printer.
  4. If it does not appear, choose The printer that I want isn’t listed.
  5. For network printers, add the printer by TCP/IP address for a more stable setup.
Advanced

Advanced Fixes When the Printer Still Does Not Work

If the standard fixes do not help, use the following advanced checks. These are especially useful after Windows updates, driver migration, or failed printer software installations.

1. Check Windows Update for Printer Driver Updates

Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates

Install available printer, USB, chipset, or network adapter updates. A USB or Wi-Fi driver problem can prevent the printer from communicating correctly.

2. Temporarily Disable Firewall or Security Software

For network printers, a firewall may block printer discovery or printing protocols. Temporarily disable third-party firewall software and test printing again. If printing works, add an allow rule for the printer software or printer IP address.

3. Check the Printer Port

  1. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click your printer and open Printer properties.
  3. Open the Ports tab.
  4. Make sure the selected port matches the printer connection: USB for local printers or TCP/IP for network printers.

4. Run System File Checker

If Windows printing components are damaged, run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

5. Check Event Viewer

Event Viewer → Applications and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → PrintService

Event Viewer can show driver crashes, spooler errors, blocked print jobs, access denied messages, and port communication failures.

Problem Most likely fix
Printer says Offline Disable offline mode, check network, restart printer and router.
Documents stuck in queue Cancel print jobs and restart the Print Spooler service.
Driver is unavailable Install the latest manufacturer driver and remove the old driver package.
Wi-Fi printer disappears Assign a static IP address and add the printer by TCP/IP address.
Only one app cannot print Repair or reset that application, then test printing from Notepad or Edge.
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Printer Problems in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Q Why does my printer say Offline when it is turned on? ▼
Windows may be unable to reach the printer over USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or the selected printer queue may be set to offline mode. Check the connection, disable Use Printer Offline, restart the printer, and verify that the printer and PC are on the same network.
Q How do I fix a stuck print queue? ▼
Open the print queue, cancel all documents, and restart the Print Spooler service. If the queue will not clear, stop the spooler, delete files from %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS, and start the spooler again.
Q What does “Driver is unavailable” mean? ▼
It means Windows cannot use the installed printer driver. The driver may be missing, damaged, outdated, or incompatible with the current Windows version. Download and install the latest driver from the printer manufacturer.
Q Should I use the Windows driver or the manufacturer driver? ▼
For basic printing, the Windows driver may be enough. For scanning, duplex printing, maintenance tools, borderless printing, color profiles, and advanced features, the manufacturer driver is usually better.
Q Why does the printer work from one computer but not another? ▼
The printer itself is probably working. The problem is likely on the affected PC: wrong default printer, corrupted queue, missing driver, firewall rule, network profile, or an incorrect printer port.
Q Can a Windows update break printing? ▼
Yes. Updates can replace drivers, change security settings, or expose compatibility problems with old printer software. Reinstalling the manufacturer driver and checking optional updates usually resolves this.
Summary

Conclusion: The Best Order to Fix a Printer That Is Not Working

When a printer stops working in Windows 10 or Windows 11, do not start by reinstalling everything. Work from the simplest causes to the deeper system fixes:

  1. Restart the printer and the PC.
  2. Check paper, ink, toner, cable, Wi-Fi, and printer display errors.
  3. Set the correct default printer.
  4. Disable offline mode and clear the print queue.
  5. Restart the Print Spooler service.
  6. Run the Windows printer troubleshooter.
  7. Update or reinstall the printer driver.
  8. For network printers, add the printer by IP address.

🖨 Key Takeaway

Most Windows printer problems are caused by a stuck queue, an offline printer state, a broken driver, or a network communication issue. Start with the queue and Print Spooler, then move to driver reinstalling and network checks if the printer still does not respond.