Printer Not Working in Windows? How to fix detection, print queues and drivers

Need to print something important, but your printer has suddenly stopped working? It can quickly disrupt your workflow. In many cases, the problem is something simple, such as a loose cable or a stuck print queue. Other times, it may be caused by a driver issue or a Windows service. Here's how to identify the cause and get your printer working again.

Check the Printer Is Powered, Connected, and Ready

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Before troubleshooting Windows, make sure the problem isn't with the printer itself. Start by checking that the printer is powered on and, if it has a display, that it isn't displaying any errors or warnings. If you see alerts about a paper jam, low or empty ink/toner, an open cover, or required maintenance, resolve those issues first and then try printing again.

If the printer doesn't have a display or isn't responding, check the connection. For a USB printer, make sure the cable is connected to both the printer and your PC. You can also try a different USB port or cable to rule out a faulty connection. If you're using a wireless printer, confirm that it's connected to your Wi-Fi network and that it's on the same network as your computer.

Finally, ensure there's enough paper in the input tray, it's loaded correctly, and there are no paper jams. Restarting both the printer and your computer is also worth trying.

Make Sure Windows Can Detect the Printer

Once you've confirmed that the printer itself is working, the next step is to ensure Windows can detect it. Open the Settings app, go to Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners, and check whether your printer appears in the list. If it does, select it and check its status. If Windows shows the printer as Offline, Unavailable, or Needs Attention, you'll need to resolve that issue.

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If the printer doesn't appear at all, try adding it again. Click "Add Device" and let Windows search for nearby printers, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. If Windows detects the printer but it still doesn't work, remove it and add it again. If you're using a USB printer, also ensure the cable is connected and try a different USB port if necessary.

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Set Your Printer as the Default Printing Device

Do you have multiple printers set up at home or in the office? If so, Windows may be sending your print jobs to the wrong device - whether it's an old printer, a network printer, or even the virtual Microsoft Print to PDF printer. When that happens, the printer you're trying to use won't receive the document, which can make it seem like it's not working.

To fix this, open the Settings app and go to Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners. Select the printer you want to use, and if it isn't already set as the default, click "Set as Default."

Frequently Asked Questions

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Question #1

How do I check whether Windows detects my printer and add it if it’s missing?

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Question #2

What should I do if my printer shows as Offline, Unavailable, or Needs Attention in Windows?

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Question #3

How do I clear stuck print jobs from the print queue when documents won’t delete?

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Question #4

What steps should I take to update or reinstall a corrupted or outdated printer driver?

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If the option isn't available or Windows keeps changing your default printer automatically, return to the Printers & Scanners page and turn off "Let Windows Manage My Default Printer."

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Clear Any Stuck Print Jobs

Sometimes, a printer stops working because a single failed or corrupted print job gets stuck in the queue, preventing new documents from printing. Clearing the print queue can often resolve the issue. To do this, open the Settings app, go to Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click "Open Print Queue."

If you see any documents with a Paused, Error, or Printing status that aren't progressing, select them and choose "Cancel" or "Delete."

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If the print jobs won't delete or remain stuck, restart both your printer and your computer, then try clearing the queue again. If there are multiple pending jobs, clear the entire queue. Once it's empty, send a small test document to the printer and check if it prints normally. If the queue wasn't the problem or the issue persists, continue to the next troubleshooting step.

Restart the Print Spooler

The Print Spooler is the Windows service responsible for managing print jobs and sending them to your printer. If it stops responding, you may experience problems such as print jobs getting stuck in the queue, disappearing without printing, or never reaching the printer at all. Restarting the service can often resolve these issues.

To do this, press Win + R, type "services.msc," and press Enter. In the Services window, locate "Print Spooler," right-click it, and select "Restart." If the service isn't running, click "Start."

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Next, double-click "Print Spooler" and make sure its Startup Type is set to "Automatic" so it starts whenever Windows boots. After that, try printing again.

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Update/Reinstall the Printer Driver

Printer drivers allow Windows and your printer to communicate with each other. If the driver is outdated or becomes corrupted, your printer may stop working correctly. Updating or reinstalling the driver can often fix the problem. To update the driver, open Device Manager, expand the "Printers" category, right-click your printer, and select "Update Driver."

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Then choose "Search Automatically for Drivers" and let Windows check for a newer version. If updating the driver doesn't help, right-click the printer again and select "Uninstall Device." Then download the latest driver for your printer model from the manufacturer's website and install it manually. This ensures you're using the most up-to-date and compatible driver available.

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The fixes above should help you identify what's preventing your printer from working and get it printing again. If the problem persists, one final thing to check is whether your firewall or third-party security software is blocking communication with the printer. Temporarily disable the security software or add the printer to its list of trusted devices, then try printing again.