Why Is My HP Printer Not Printing [Common Issues & Solutions]

08/14/2023

There could be several reasons why your HP printer is not printing.

Is the machine plugged in and turned on?
Is your HP printer connected to your computer or wireless network?
Are you out of HP toner or ink?

There are many possible causes for your non-printing HP printer. Here are some possible solutions!

Why doesn’t your printer print? Learn why and how to fix it below!

Troubleshooting Your HP Printer

Here are some HP printer troubleshooting tips.

➜ Check Printer Connections

Ensure the printer is connected to your computer or network.

Wired Connection: Verify that the cables (e.g., USB cables) are securely plugged in and there are no loose connections.
Wireless Connection: Check Printers & Scanners or Connected Devices in your computer’s System Settings or Control Panel to ensure your HP Printer is connected to your wireless router.

➜ Paper Jams

Check for any paper jams inside the printer. If you find any, carefully remove the jammed paper and ensure no small bits are left behind.

Don’t leave any little bits of paper behind if you are clearing a paper jam.

➜ Ink or Toner Cartridges

Ensure your printer's ink or toner cartridges are not emptied or dried. Replace them with new cartridges if they are low on ink or toner.

Also, check if the cartridges are correctly installed. Sometimes, an improperly installed cartridge can prevent printing.

➜ Print Queue

Sometimes, print jobs get stuck in the print queue. Clear your queue and try printing again.

Clearing the Print Queue on Windows

To clear the print queue in Windows, you can follow these steps:

Access the Control Panel: Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and then click on the Control Panel application.
Select Devices and Printers or Printers and Scanners: You may see either option, depending on your version of Windows. Click to open the printer settings.
Find your HP printer: Right-click on your printer in the list of available printers to open the print queue window.
Clear the print queue: Click the Printer menu at the top. Choose Cancel All Documents from the drop-down menu. This will remove all print jobs from the queue.
Confirm the action: A confirmation dialog may appear asking if you want to cancel all documents. Click Yes or Cancel Printing to clear the queue.

Once you have cleared the print queue, close the window. This should help resolve any stuck or pending print jobs causing the printer not to print.

Clearing the Print Queue on MacOS

To clear the print queue in macOS:

Click on the Apple menu
Select System Preferences
Click on Printers & Scanners
Select your HP printer and then click on the Printer Queue or Open Print Queue
Click Delete or Cancel button to delete jobs in the Print Queue
A confirmation dialog may appear asking if you want to cancel the selected print jobs
Click Delete or OK to clear the print queue

You can close the Printers & Scanners settings window and try printing again. The printer should be able to process new print jobs without any issues.

➜ Printer Offline

Make sure your printer is not set to offline mode. To check your HP printer's status, go to the printer settings on your computer. If it's set to offline, change it to online mode.

How To Change the Printer Status From Offline to Online on Windows

To change the printer status from offline to online on Windows, you can follow these steps:

Access the Control Panel
Select Devices and Printers or Printers and Scanners
Locate your HP printer in the list of available printers
Right-click on the printer
Open printer properties
Click on the Printer menu
Uncheck the option Use Printer Offline
Save changes and exit

After following these steps, your printer should be set to online mode. You can print a test document to see if it functions properly.

How To Change the Printer Status From Offline to Online on Mac OS

To change the printer status from offline to online on macOS, you can follow these steps:

Click on the Apple menu
Select System Preferences
Click Printers & Scanners
Select your HP printer from the list
You will see the printer's status. If it shows Offline, it means the printer is offline.
Click Open Print Queue
Uncheck the option Pause Printing or Use Printer Offline. This action will change the printer's status from offline to online.
Close the print queue window and the Printers & Scanners settings.

Your printer should be set to online mode. Print a test page to see if it works.

Check also ➜ HP Printer Offline Fix

➜ Driver Issues

Outdated or incompatible printer drivers can cause printing problems. Visit the official HP website and download the latest drivers for your printer model.

Install the latest driver for your HP printer and see if it fixes the issue.

➜ Clogged Printhead

If the printhead is clogged, try cleaning it using the printer's self-cleaning feature.

Some printers have a separate printhead unit that can be replaced if cleaning does not resolve the issue.

Check also ➜ How To Clean Printer Heads and Ink Cartridges

If you have tried all of the above and your printer is still not printing, there may be a problem with the printer hardware. In this case, you will need to contact HP support for assistance.

➜ Firewall or Antivirus Interference

A firewall or antivirus software can sometimes stop your HP printer from printing. Temporarily turn off this software and print a test page.

➜ Reset Printer Settings

Resetting the printer to its default settings can resolve certain printer issues.

Read for more information: How To Reset HP Printer

Additional HP Printer Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some additional troubleshooting steps to get your HP printer up and running again.

Restart your computer and printer: A simple restart can often resolve printer issues. Turn off your printer and computer, count to ten, and restart. Print a test page.
Uninstall and reinstall the printer driver: This can also fix certain printing problems.
Use the HP Print and Scan Doctor: This diagnostic tool from HP can help you troubleshoot printing problems.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it might be necessary to contact HP support or consult a professional technician for further assistance.

Further Reading: