HP Printer Not Printing? Find the Cause
If your HP printer is not printing, the problem could be something simple such as a stuck print job, an offline connection or an empty paper tray—or something less obvious involving the printer software, Wi-Fi connection or print settings.
The most useful first step is to figure out what happens when you send a document to print. Does the job sit in the queue? Does the printer show an error? Does the printer appear offline? Or does it accept the job but produce nothing?
That symptom can tell you which part of the printing process is failing.
Quick Diagnosis: Start Here
| What you’re seeing | Start here |
|---|---|
| Nothing happens after you click Print | Go to Fix 1 |
| Printer says Offline or Unavailable | Go to Fix 2 |
| Print job is stuck in the queue | Go to Fix 3 |
| Printer shows an error or warning | Go to Fix 4 |
| Printer has paper or cartridge problems | Go to Fix 5 |
| Printer is connected but still won’t print | Go to Fix 6 |
| Printing works from another app but not one particular app | Go to Fix 7 |
| Everything looks normal but printing still fails | Go to Fix 8 |
Why This Happens
An HP printer can fail to print for several different reasons.
Common causes include:
- The printer is offline
- The computer or phone is connected to a different network
- A print job is stuck in the queue
- The printer has an error
- Paper is jammed or unavailable
- Ink or toner is depleted
- The printer software is having trouble communicating with the device
- A USB or Wi-Fi connection has failed
- The application sending the print job is causing the problem
- The printer needs a restart
Rather than changing several things at once, work through the checks below.
Fix 1: Check What Happens When You Send a Print Job
Start with a very simple document.
Open a basic document or webpage and send one page to the HP printer.
Now watch what happens.
If nothing happens
Check the computer’s printer queue.
On Windows, open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, select your HP printer and open the print queue.
On macOS, open System Settings → Printers & Scanners and select the printer.
If the document is sitting there waiting, the problem may be the queue rather than the printer itself.
If the printer starts but stops
Look at the printer display or HP app for an error.
The printer may be reporting:
- Paper problems
- Cartridge problems
- A connection issue
- A door or tray problem
- A general printer error
Fix the message shown by the printer before sending another job.
Fix 2: Check Whether the Printer Is Offline
If Windows, macOS or the HP app shows Offline, the computer may not currently be communicating with the printer.
First check how the printer is connected.
Wi-Fi printer
Make sure the computer or phone and the printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
If you recently changed your router, Wi-Fi name or password, the printer may still be configured for the old network.
USB printer
Make sure the USB cable is firmly connected directly to the computer.
If possible, try another USB port.
Don’t use a loose or damaged cable while troubleshooting because it can make the printer appear intermittently available.
Fix 3: Clear a Stuck Print Job
A stuck document can prevent everything behind it from printing.
Open the printer queue and look for documents that are:
- Paused
- Printing indefinitely
- Waiting
- Showing an error
Cancel the stuck job and try printing again.
If Windows refuses to remove the job, the Windows Print Spooler may need to be restarted.
HP also provides a Diagnose & Fix tool through its current HP app for supported Windows and macOS setups.
If several jobs are stuck, clear the queue rather than repeatedly sending the same document.
Fix 4: Check the Printer for an Error
Look directly at the printer.
Check for:
- Error messages
- Flashing warning lights
- Open doors
- Paper-jam messages
- Empty or very low supplies
- Paper-out messages
A printer can appear connected to your computer while still refusing to print because it is waiting for you to resolve a physical error.
If there is a paper jam, don’t keep sending print jobs. Clear the jam first.
If there is an ink or toner warning, check whether the printer can still print or whether the supply needs replacement.
Fix 5: Check Paper and Ink or Toner
Make sure the input tray actually contains compatible paper.
Check that:
- The paper is loaded correctly
- The stack isn’t badly curled or damaged
- The guides are positioned correctly
- The tray isn’t overloaded
- The selected paper size matches what is loaded
For inkjet printers, check the ink levels.
For LaserJet models, check toner status.
If the printer reports an empty or incompatible cartridge, follow the instructions for your particular model.
Don’t assume that replacing a cartridge will fix every print failure. If the printer cannot communicate with the computer, a new cartridge won’t solve that underlying problem.
Fix 6: Restart the Printer and Your Computer
If everything looks normal, restart both devices.
Turn off the printer.
If it does not shut down normally, disconnect the power cable.
Wait around 60 seconds.
Reconnect it directly to a wall outlet and turn it on.
Then restart the computer or phone you are printing from.
Once both devices are ready, send a small test document.
A restart can clear temporary communication and printer-error states without changing your saved configuration.
Fix 7: Try Printing From Another Application
If your HP printer works from one application but not another, the printer may not be the problem.
For example, if a PDF prints correctly but a document from one particular application does not, investigate that application.
Try:
- Opening another document.
- Printing from another application.
- Printing a simple webpage.
- Checking whether the correct HP printer is selected.
If only one application fails, reinstalling or troubleshooting the printer may be unnecessary.
Fix 8: Run HP’s Diagnostic Tools or Re-add the Printer
If the printer still refuses to print, use the current HP app and its diagnostic tools where supported.
HP’s Diagnose & Fix feature can check common printing and connection problems.
If the printer remains unavailable, removing it from the computer and adding it again can rebuild the connection.
For network printers, make sure the printer is actually connected to the intended Wi-Fi network before adding it again.
If none of this works, the problem may be specific to your HP model, operating system, driver or hardware.
How to Prevent HP Printer Printing Problems
Keep the HP printer software and operating system reasonably up to date.
Avoid repeatedly sending the same document when the first job is stuck. Check the queue first.
If you use Wi-Fi, place the printer somewhere with reliable network coverage and avoid changing your network name or password unnecessarily.
Also keep paper stored flat and use paper appropriate for the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my HP printer not printing even though it is connected?
A printer can be connected but still unable to print because of a stuck queue, error state, paper problem, supply issue or communication problem with the computer.
Why does my HP printer say Ready but not print?
Check the print queue first. If the printer says Ready but nothing happens, the job may not be reaching the printer correctly.
Should I restart my HP printer?
Yes. A normal restart is a useful early troubleshooting step and can clear temporary printer or communication errors.
Why is my HP printer printing nothing after I send a document?
Check whether the document is stuck in the print queue, whether the printer is offline and whether the printer itself is showing an error.
Can the HP app fix printing problems?
For supported printers and operating systems, HP’s current app includes Diagnose & Fix tools that can identify and resolve some common printing and connection problems.
