If your printer appears connected but refuses to print, the problem may be caused by the print queue, default printer settings, connection issues, or driver errors.

Quick Answer

Restart the printer and computer, check the print queue, confirm the correct printer is selected, and verify the connection before reinstalling the driver.

On This Page
  1. Common Reasons This Happens
  2. Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting
  3. 1. Restart Both Devices
  4. 2. Remove Duplicate Printer Entries
  5. 3. Resume the Printer
  6. 4. Set It as Default Again
  7. 5. Reconnect the Network or Cable
  8. 6. Reinstall the Driver
  9. What If It's Still Not Fixed?
  10. Frequently Asked Questions

Common Reasons my printer connected but not printing

A ghost connection

The printer can appear "connected" in your system tray while the actual data link has silently dropped.

A duplicate printer entry

Reinstalling a printer sometimes creates a second, inactive copy that your documents get sent to by mistake.

A paused queue

A printer can pause itself after one failed job, appearing connected while refusing new jobs.

Background driver conflicts

Two versions of the same driver can compete and quietly cancel jobs.

Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting

Before you start:
  • Look for a small "Paused" or "Offline" label next to the printer icon in your settings.
  • Confirm there is only one entry for your printer in the devices list.
  • Try printing a short test document instead of a large file.

1. Restart Both Devices

1

Power cycle the printer and restart the computer to force a fresh connection handshake.

2. Remove Duplicate Printer Entries

2

Delete any inactive or duplicate copies of the printer from your devices list, keeping only the active one.

3. Resume the Printer

3

Open the printer queue and select "Resume Printing" if the printer shows as paused.

4. Set It as Default Again

4

Re-selecting the printer as default forces your system to refresh its connection settings.

5. Reconnect the Network or Cable

5

Forget and rejoin the WiFi network, or swap the USB cable and port.

6. Reinstall the Driver

6

A clean driver reinstall resolves most cases where the printer looks connected but never receives jobs.

What If It's Still Not Fixed?

If you've worked through every step above and the problem continues, it's worth checking a nearby cause rather than repeating the same steps. The guides below cover the most common related issues.

Still stuck? Try describing the problem in your own words using the search bar — different symptoms of the same root cause are often covered on a related page.

Frequently Asked Questions

The system status icon reflects the last known state, which can be outdated. A restart forces it to re-check the real connection.

Yes, if duplicate entries or a stuck driver are suspected, removing and re-adding the printer is often the fastest fix.

People Also Ask

  • Confirm both devices are on the exact same WiFi network (not a guest network), then remove and re-add the printer in your system settings. Read the full guide →
  • Confirm the printer's current IP address from its own menu, then add it manually if automatic network search fails. Read the full guide →
  • Enable network discovery, confirm the print spooler service is running, and add the printer manually by IP address if automatic search fails. Read the full guide →
  • Confirm the printer and computer are on the same network, then reinstall the scanner driver if it still isn't detected. Read the full guide →

Related Guides

Why Is My Printer Not Printing? How Do I Clear a Stuck Print Queue? Why Does My Printer Say Driver Unavailable? Why Is My Printer Offline?