Printer Issue

Brooke Leptien 0 Reputation points
2026-08-17T17:29:22.67+00:00

printer is saying error and i cannot print anything

Windows for home | Other | Devices and drivers

1 answer

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  1. AI answer

    2026-08-17T17:29:38.16+00:00

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Power cycle the printer
      • Turn the printer off.
      • Unplug it for 30 seconds.
      • Plug it back in and turn it on.
    2. Check the connection
      • USB printer: make sure the cable is firmly connected to both the printer and PC, then try a different USB port.
      • Wi‑Fi printer: make sure the printer and PC are on the same Wi‑Fi network.
      • Bluetooth printer: make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices and the printer is in range.
    3. Check the printer itself for common error conditions
      • If the printer shows "Printer in error state", check for:
        • low paper
        • low ink
        • open cover
        • paper jam
    4. Restart the Print Spooler service
      • Press Windows key + R.
      • Type services.msc and press Enter.
      • Find Print Spooler.
      • Right-click it and select Restart.
    5. Update or reinstall the printer driver
      • Select Start > Device Manager.
      • Expand Printers.
      • Right-click the printer and select Update driver.
      • If no update is found, select Uninstall device, then restart the PC so Windows can try to reinstall the driver automatically.
    6. Remove and add the printer again
      • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
      • Select the printer and choose Remove.
      • Then select Add device next to Add a printer or scanner and follow the prompts.
    7. Run the printer troubleshooter in Get Help
      • Use Run the troubleshooter in Get Help to let Windows diagnose and try to fix the printer problem automatically.

    If the printer still shows an error after these steps, continue with clearing and resetting the print spooler:

    1. Clear and reset the print spooler
      • In the taskbar search box, type services and open Services.
      • Double-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
      • Open %WINDIR%\system32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files in that folder.
      • Go back to Services, open Print Spooler again, select Start, set Startup Type to Automatic, and select OK.

    Note: deleting spooler files removes stuck print jobs.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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