HP printer not printing?
Most HP printers that stop printing come back after a power reset, a connection check or HP’s own Diagnose & Fix tool. Work through them in that order.
What is your HP printer doing?
Step 1 of 2Likely cause
Likely cause: the job is not reaching the printer, or an old job is stuck in the queue.
- 1Look at the printer’s screen or lights and fix any message first.
- 2Turn the printer off, unplug the power cord, wait 60 seconds, plug it straight into a wall outlet and turn it on.
- 3Cancel every job in the print queue.
- 4Send one small test print.
Likely cause
Likely cause: the printer lost its network connection, or the computer is using the wrong port or an old printer entry.
- 1Check that the printer and computer are on the same network.
- 2Restart the router, the printer and the computer.
- 3Open the HP app and run Diagnose & Fix.
- 4If it stays offline, remove the printer in your system settings and add it again.
Likely cause
Likely cause: the printer is stopped by an error, a cartridge it does not accept, or the status of an HP+ or Instant Ink account.
- 1Read the exact message on the printer’s display or in the HP app.
- 2Reseat the cartridges and make sure any protective tape is removed.
- 3If the printer is enrolled in HP+ or Instant Ink, check HP’s support page for printing on enrolled printers.
- 4If the message stays, contact HP support with the model name and message.
Most likely causes
The printer is offline or on a different network
A dropped Wi-Fi link, a changed router or a printer added with the wrong connection makes the computer unable to reach it.
A stuck job or a spooler error
One failed job can block everything behind it, and the Windows print spooler can stop and hold all jobs.
A driver or port problem
An outdated driver, or a printer connected to the wrong port, can make jobs fail.
A cartridge, error or account status
A cartridge the printer does not accept, a jam or other error, or the status of an HP+ or Instant Ink account can stop printing.
What to try, in order
- 1Reset the printerTurn it off, unplug the power cord, wait 60 seconds, then plug it straight into a wall outlet (not a power strip or surge protector) and turn it on.
- 2Run Diagnose & FixIn the HP app for Windows or macOS, run Diagnose & Fix. HP says it checks whether the printer is offline, fixes print spooler errors, looks for driver updates and corrects port mismatches.
- 3Clear the queue and pick the right printerCancel all waiting jobs, then make sure the correct HP printer is chosen in the print dialog. See print job stuck in the queue.
- 4Reinstall the driver or appRemove the printer in your system settings, restart, then install the current driver or app for your system from HP’s setup page, 123.hp.com.
Fix any error shown on the printer before you reinstall anything. A reinstall will not clear a paper jam or a cartridge message.
When to stop and replace
If the printer still does not print after the reset, Diagnose & Fix and a driver reinstall, and it shows no error you can clear, contact HP support with the model name and any message. The printer may need service or be covered by warranty.
Inkjet or laser?
Inkjet printers
On an HP inkjet, if jobs print but pages are blank or faint, the problem is ink rather than connection. Print our nozzle check once the printer is feeding paper.
Print a nozzle checkLaser printers
On an HP LaserJet, also check the display for a toner or drum message and make sure all covers are closed, then try one simple test page.
Download a test PDFStart with the printer, not the computer
HP’s own advice for a printer that will not respond is a full power reset: turn it off, unplug the cord, wait 60 seconds, and plug it straight into a wall outlet. This clears a stuck printer state and costs nothing. Also read any message on the display before you change settings, since an error stops the printer however you reconnect it.
Use HP’s own repair tool
The HP app includes Diagnose & Fix for Windows and macOS. It targets the usual causes in one pass: an offline printer, a stopped print spooler, an old driver and a port mismatch. It is worth running before you reinstall anything by hand.
If the printer shows as offline
A printer that is on but listed as offline has usually lost its network link or been added with the wrong connection. See printer offline. A stopped Windows service can also hold every job, covered in print spooler not running.
When printing works but the page is empty
If jobs print but black or color is missing, the cause is ink, not connection. See black ink not printing and our nozzle check. For the steps to print an HP test page, see our HP guide, or browse all printer problems.
Good questions
Why is my HP printer not printing?
What does HP Diagnose & Fix do?
Why will my HP printer not print when it says it is ready?
Can an HP+ or Instant Ink printer stop printing?
How do I print an HP test page?
Related problems
- Printer is offlineYour computer says the printer is offline.
- Print job stuck in queueJobs sit in the queue and never print.
- Driver or connection issueThe printer is not found or will not connect.
