Printer Not Working in Windows 10/11—Complete Fix Guide [2025]

 Introduction

Printers are an essential device in every home and office today. But often users face the problem that their printer is not working. Sometimes the printer shows offline, sometimes paper gets jammed, and sometimes there are driver issues or spooler errors. If your printer is not working, it can be frustrating, but you are not alone.

If you are also troubled by this problem and your printer is not working in Windows 10/11, then this complete guide will help you. In this, we will tell you step-by-step troubleshooting, FAQs, and bonus tips so that you can fix your printer problem yourself without calling a technician. This guide is specifically aimed at resolving issues when your Printer Not Working.

Why Is My Printer Not Working?

Why does the printer suddenly stop working? Why does the “printer not working, printer not responding” error appear? There can be many reasons for this. Here are the most common reasons:

1. Loose or Damaged Cables—The printer power or USB cable may be loose or damaged
2. Driver Issues—The “Printer Not Working” error occurs due to an outdated or incompatible driver.
3. Printer Offline Mode – Windows sometimes mistakenly shows the printer as offline.
4. Paper Jam—Paper getting stuck in the printer is a very common issue.
5. Ink/Toner Problems – Empty or incorrectly inserted ink cartridge.
6. Print Spooler Service Stopped – Printing stops due to print jobs getting stuck.
7. Network/Wireless Problems – The wireless printer is not connected to the correct network.

Step-by-Step Fixes for Printer Not Working

1. Check Printer Power & Connections

If your printer is not working, the first thing to do is to check its physical connections:

• • Whether the power cable is connected correctly or not.
  • Is the USB cable loose?
  • If there is a wireless printer, is the Wi-Fi network stable or not?

Note: – Sometimes even a small connection problem becomes a big problem.

2. Restart Printer and Computer

Sometimes even a minor problem can cause the printer not working error, so the best way to fix it is to restart the PC and the printer.

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Turn it on again after 30 seconds.
3. Restart the PC and do a test print.

Note: – Many times, the stuck process gets cleared with a simple restart, and the Printer Not Working issue gets solved.

3. Set Printer as Default

If you have multiple printers installed on your Windows PC, then changing the default printer may result in a Printer Not Working error.

Steps to fix: –

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Devices and Printers → Select your printer.
3. Right-click → Set as Default Printer.

4. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

A driver issue is the most common reason for a printer not working.

Steps to update/reinstall driver: –

1. Open Device Manager in Windows search.
2. Printers section → right-click on your printer.
3. Select Update Driver.
4. If it doesn’t work, try Uninstall → Restart → Install the latest driver.
5. Download the driver from the official printer manufacturer’s website.

5. Clear Print Spooler Service

Sometimes the “Printer Not Working” error also occurs due to stuck print jobs.

 Steps to fix: –

1. Win + R → services.msc
2. Find Print Spooler service.
3. Right-click → Stop
4. Clear the Print Queue files → Start again.

6. Fix Printer Offline Mode

If Windows shows “Printer Offline,” follow these steps:

1. Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners
2. Select Printer → Open Queue.
3. Uncheck “Use Printer Offline” option.

7. Check Paper Jam & Ink Cartridges

• If your printer is not working, then there may be a paper jam or ink issue.
• Open the printer cover and remove the paper jam.
• Check whether the ink cartridges are installed correctly or not.
• If the ink/toner is finished, then replace it.

8. Network & Wireless Printer Fix

In wireless printers, the printer does not work due to network issues.

Steps to fix: –

• Restart the router.
• Check the IP address of the printer.
• Ensure that the PC and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Bonus Tips to Avoid “Printer Not Working” Problems

1. Keep your printer dust-free
   Regular cleaning helps avoid paper jams and hardware issues.
2. Use a surge protector
   Protects your printer from sudden voltage fluctuations.
3. Check for monthly driver updates
   Updated drivers fix bugs and improve printer performance.
4. Always use genuine ink/toner cartridges
   Duplicate cartridges can damage the print head and reduce quality.
5. Turn off the printer when not in use
   Saves electricity and extends the printer’s lifespan.
6. Avoid overloading the paper tray
   Overloading often leads to frequent paper jams.
7. Store paper in a dry place.
   Moisture in paper causes print quality issues and jamming.
8. Perform test prints regularly.
   Keeps the ink flowing and prevents nozzle blockages.
9. Check printer settings before printing.
   Wrong paper size or layout may cause failed print jobs.
10. Use the printer on a stable network (for wireless printers).
    Avoids frequent disconnection and “Printer Offline” errors.

FAQs—Printer Not Working

Q1: Why is my printer showing offline?

Ans: – Default printer settings or network issue.

Q2: printer driver is not getting installed. What to do?

Ans: – Download the latest driver from the official manufacturer’s website.

Q3: Why does the printer repeatedly jam paper

Ans: – Due to dust, wrong paper size, or a bad roller.

Q4: Wireless printer is not connecting?

Ans: – Ensure that the PC and printer are on the same Wi-Fi.

Q5: Why does the printer print very slowly?

Ans: –Due to the printing quality being set to high (Best Quality). Change the settings to Draft/Normal mode.

Q6: Nothing gets printed when you give the print command. What to do?

Ans: – Clear the print queue and restart the Print Spooler service.

Q7: The printer gets disconnected repeatedly.

Ans: –A loose USB cable or unstable Wi-Fi connection may be the reason. Check the cables or restart the router.

Q8: Ink cartridge not detected.

Ans: –Install the cartridge properly; if the issue still persists, then use genuine ink/toner.

Q9: Why are duplicate pages getting printed repeatedly in the printer?

Ans: –Multiple commands are stuck in the print queue. Clear the queue.

Q10: How to check the IP address of the wireless printer?

Ans: – The IP address will be visible in Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Printer Properties → Ports tab.

Q11: Printer not working after Windows update?

Ans: – The driver may be outdated or incompatible. Reinstall the latest driver.

Q12: A blank page is coming out from the printer. What to do?

Ans: –The ink/toner cartridge may be empty, or the nozzle clogged. Replace or clean the cartridge.

Q13: How to print a printer test page?

Ans: – Control Panel → Devices and Printers → right-click on Printer → Printer Properties → Print Test Page.

Q14: Why are black spots appearing in the laser printer?

Ans: – Toner leakage or drum unit problem. Do cleaning or go to the service center.

Conclusion

If your printer is not working in Windows 10/11, then 90% of the issues can be easily fixed with the above step-by-step solutions.

If the problem is still not solved, then it may be a hardware fault, and you will have to visit the service center.

 Final Note: – Regular maintenance and driver updates will prevent this problem from recurring in the future.

More Help: – See the official Microsoft guide—Fix printer problems in Windows.

Suggested Internal Links – Must Visit Guides

• Blue Screen of Death in Windows 10/11—Complete Fix Guide [2025 Edition] – Step-by-step guide to fix BSOD errors and system crashes in Windows 10/11.

• Ultimate Fix: Easily Solve Windows Update Stuck Issues in Windows 10/11 [2025 Guide] – Proven methods to resolve Windows Update stuck or failed errors.

• Easy Fix for Sound Not Working in Windows 10/11 — Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide [2025 Edition] – Complete solutions to fix audio and sound issues.

• Wi-Fi Not Connecting / No Internet in Windows 10/11 – Ultimate & Proven Easy Fix Guide [2025 Edition] – Easy and proven steps to restore Wi-Fi and internet connectivity.

• Complete Easy Guide to Fix Common Windows 10/11 Problems [2025 Edition] – Comprehensive guide covering all frequent Windows 10/11 issues.

• Slow Boot and Startup in Windows 10/11 – Easy Ways to Fix [2025 Guide] – Step-by-step solutions to fix slow startup and boot issues in Windows 10/11.

• USB Device Not Recognized Error Message in Windows 10/11 – Troubleshooting guide for the common USB device not recognized error.