Printer not found or won’t connect?
Start with the connection, then the driver. Most cases come down to a loose link or outdated printer software.
Where does it fail?
1 of 2Likely cause
Likely cause: the printer and computer are not connected to the same network or cable.
- 1Turn the printer on and wait until it finishes starting.
- 2For Wi-Fi, check that the printer and the computer are on the same network. For USB, reseat the cable at both ends.
- 3Restart the printer, the router and then the computer.
- 4Open your system’s printer settings and add the printer again.
Likely cause
Likely cause: the driver is missing, damaged or out of date.
- 1Remove the printer in your system’s printer settings.
- 2Download the current driver or software from the printer maker’s official website.
- 3Run the installer, then add the printer again.
- 4Restart the computer and print a test page.
Likely cause
Likely cause: a system update changed how the printer connects, or the old driver no longer matches.
- 1Restart the printer and the computer once.
- 2Check the manufacturer’s website for a newer driver for your system version.
- 3Remove the printer entry and add it again.
- 4Print a test page to confirm.
Most likely causes
A broken or loose connection
A USB cable not fully seated, a worn cable, or a Wi-Fi link that dropped can stop the computer from seeing the printer.
Different networks
If the printer and computer sit on different Wi-Fi networks, the computer cannot find it, even though both seem online.
An outdated or damaged driver
A driver that no longer matches your system, or one that did not install fully, can cause errors or missing features.
A stale printer entry
An old entry for the printer can point at an address that no longer works, so printing fails until it is replaced.
What to try, in order
- 1Check power and the physical linkMake sure the printer is on and finished starting. Reseat the USB or network cable, or check Wi-Fi on the printer.
- 2Restart everything in orderRestart the printer, then the router, then the computer, waiting for each to finish.
- 3Remove and add the printer againDelete the printer in your system’s printer settings. Add it again so the system can create a fresh entry.
- 4Update or reinstall the driverDownload the driver from the printer maker’s official website. Install it, restart the computer and print a test page.
Download drivers only from the printer maker’s official website. Drivers from other sites can be unsafe or the wrong version.
When to stop and replace
If the printer will not connect on any computer or network, or it shows an error you cannot clear after a fresh driver, contact the manufacturer’s support. If the printer is very old and the maker no longer supplies a driver for your system, replacement may be the practical choice.
Two things can go wrong: the link and the software
When a computer cannot find or use a printer, the cause is either the link between them or the software that lets them talk. The link is a USB cable, a network cable or Wi-Fi. The software is the driver, which translates your documents into something the printer understands. Check the link first because it is quicker and more often the cause.
Check the link
Make sure the printer is on and has finished starting. For USB, push the cable in at both ends and try another port. For a network cable, check the link light on the printer port. For Wi-Fi, confirm the printer and the computer are on the same network. A guest network or a second router splits them apart.
Restart in order
Restart the printer, then the router, then the computer, and wait for each to finish before the next. This clears most address and network glitches.
Remove and add the printer
Open your system’s printer settings, remove the printer, then add it again. The new entry replaces any stale address. Our Windows guide and Mac guide show how printers are listed and tested.
Update or reinstall the driver
If the printer still fails, download the current driver or software from the printer maker’s official website. Choose your printer model and your operating system. Install it, restart the computer and print a test page. Avoid driver download sites that are not the manufacturer’s.
Confirm with a test
Print a built-in test page, or use a file from our test page PDF hub. If the printer connects but shows offline, read printer is offline. For more fixes, see all printer problems.
Good questions
Where do I get the correct driver?
Should I uninstall the old driver first?
Why can my phone print but my computer cannot?
How do I check that it works after fixing it?
Related problems
- Printer is offlineYour computer says the printer is offline.
- Print job stuck in queueJobs sit in the queue and never print.
- Test page prints, documents don’tThe printer works but your files will not print.
