How To Fix Printer Not Printing On Windows

You hit print and nothing happens, or Windows keeps telling you your printer is offline even though it is plugged in and powered on. This usually happens because a corrupted print job is stuck in the system spooler or Windows has lost track of your default device.

Why this happens

A stuck print job often jams the background service responsible for sending files to your hardware. Alternatively, Windows might be misdirecting your jobs to a virtual printer or a device that is no longer connected.

Steps

1. 01
   Go to Settings, select Bluetooth and devices, then Printers and scanners. Select your printer, click Open print queue, and ensure Use printer offline in the Printer menu is unchecked.
2. 02
   Press Win+R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Locate Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Stop.
3. 03
   Open File Explorer, go to C:/Windows/System32/spool/PRINTERS, and delete every file inside this folder to clear the stuck queue.
4. 04
   Return to the Services window, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start to resume printing services.
5. 05
   To stop Windows from auto-switching your printer, go to Settings, Printers and scanners, and turn off Let Windows manage my default printer. Manually select your printer and click Set as default.
6. 06
   If it still fails, go to Settings, Printers and scanners, select your printer, and click Remove. Then press Win+R, type devmgmt.msc, find your printer under Print queues, right-click it, and select Uninstall device. Restart your PC to force Windows to reinstall fresh drivers.

Still not working?

If these steps fail, your printer might have an IP address conflict if it is networked. Try power-cycling both your printer and your router, or download the latest firmware and driver package directly from your printer manufacturer's support website.

Frequently asked questions

Will clearing the spooler folder delete my documents?

No, it only removes the temporary print instructions currently stuck in the buffer. Your original files remain safe on your computer.

Why does Windows keep changing my default printer?

Windows has a feature that sets the last printer you used as your default. Disabling the 'Let Windows manage my default printer' setting in your device settings will stop this behavior.