Canon Printer Not Printing? Find the Cause
A Canon printer not printing can be caused by something as simple as a stuck print job or the wrong printer being selected, but the problem can also come from the printer itself, a USB connection, Wi-Fi communication, ink or toner, or the printer driver. The important thing is to identify where the failure is happening before changing settings.
The quickest way to narrow it down is to check whether the printer itself appears ready. If the printer shows an error, has a warning light, is still initializing, or cannot communicate with the computer, the solution will be different from a situation where the printer looks normal but nothing comes out of the computer.
Use the diagnosis below first, then jump to the fix that matches what you are seeing.
Quick Diagnosis: Start Here
| What you’re seeing | Start here |
|---|---|
| Printer is off or not responding | Go to Fix 1 |
| Printer is on but shows an error or warning | Go to Fix 2 |
| Printer is ready but nothing happens when you print | Go to Fix 3 |
| A document is stuck in the print queue | Go to Fix 4 |
| The wrong Canon printer is selected | Go to Fix 5 |
| USB-connected printer is not communicating | Go to Fix 6 |
| Wi-Fi Canon printer is connected but won’t print | Go to Fix 7 |
| Printer was recently moved or the network changed | Go to Fix 8 |
| Printer prints, but pages are blank or badly faded | Go to Fix 9 |
| Nothing else works and the problem started after software changes | Go to Fix 10 |
Why Is My Canon Printer Not Printing?
There isn’t one single cause behind a Canon printer that refuses to print.
The printer may not actually be ready, even though it appears powered on. A print job may also be waiting in a queue because of an earlier failed job. In other cases, Windows or macOS may be sending the document to a different printer, or the computer may have lost communication with the Canon printer.
For wireless models, the printer can also appear normal while the connection between the printer and computer has failed. A changed Wi-Fi network, router, IP address or network configuration can cause this.
If the printer accepts the job but produces blank or extremely faint pages, that’s a different problem again and may point toward ink, toner or print-head-related issues rather than connectivity.
The goal is therefore to identify which part of the printing chain has failed before reinstalling anything.
Fix 1: Make Sure the Canon Printer Is Actually Ready
Start with the printer itself.
Check that:
- The printer is switched on.
- The power cable is firmly connected.
- The printer has finished starting up.
- There is no paper, cover, tray or cartridge warning.
- The printer’s display or indicator lights do not show an error.
A printer that is still initializing may not immediately accept a print job. Canon’s support documentation also notes that some models can automatically power off, which can result in an “offline” message when you try to print.
If your printer has gone into sleep or power-saving mode, wake it and give it a moment before sending the document again.
Try this
- Cancel the current print attempt.
- Turn the printer off.
- Wait about 30 seconds.
- Turn it back on.
- Wait until the printer indicates that it is ready.
- Try printing again.
If the printer shows a specific error message or warning, deal with that first. A printer that is reporting a physical error may not accept jobs until the underlying problem is cleared.
Fix 2: Check for a Printer Error Before Troubleshooting the Computer
If the printer is displaying an error, don’t immediately start reinstalling drivers.
Look for common physical problems such as:
- No paper
- Paper loaded incorrectly
- Paper jam
- Open cover
- Ink or toner warning
- Cartridge not seated correctly
- Printer head or carriage obstruction
- A model-specific error code
Canon documentation for printing failures includes problems such as empty ink tanks, improperly installed ink tanks and a printer that isn’t ready.
If the printer has a display, read the exact message rather than relying only on the fact that the computer says “can’t print.”
Once the printer reports that it is ready, try the print job again.
Fix 3: Test Whether the Problem Is With the Printer or the Computer
This is one of the most useful diagnostic steps.
If your Canon model allows you to print a printer-generated report, configuration page, nozzle check or similar maintenance/test page, try doing that directly from the printer.
The result tells you a lot:
If the printer can produce its own test page:
The printer itself is probably capable of printing. Focus on the computer, print queue, driver, USB connection or network connection.
If the printer cannot produce its own test page:
The problem is more likely to be on the printer side. Check its error state, paper, ink/toner, cartridge installation and other model-specific conditions.
This distinction prevents you from wasting time changing Windows or macOS settings when the printer itself is unable to print.
Fix 4: Clear Stuck Print Jobs
A stuck document can prevent later jobs from printing.
This is particularly common when:
- A previous document failed.
- A large document was cancelled.
- The computer lost connection to the printer during printing.
- Several jobs were sent while the printer was unavailable.
Canon’s support documentation specifically recommends removing unnecessary jobs from the print queue when printing does not start.
On Windows
Open:
Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → your Canon printer → Open print queue
Cancel documents that are stuck.
If several old jobs are waiting, clear them rather than repeatedly pressing Print.
Then send a small test document.
On Mac
Open the Canon printer’s print queue from the printer settings and remove the jobs that are stuck or paused.
If the queue refuses to clear, restart the computer and printer before trying again.
Fix 5: Make Sure You Selected the Correct Canon Printer
This sounds obvious, but it is surprisingly easy to miss when several printers have been installed.
You may have:
- An old Canon printer
- A second Canon printer
- A duplicate printer created after changing Wi-Fi
- A printer with a slightly different model name
- A software-created printer entry
Canon notes that printing may fail if the wrong printer or driver is selected. Canon
Before printing, open the application’s Print dialog and check the selected printer.
Don’t assume that the printer listed first is the one sitting beside you.
If you recently reinstalled your Canon printer, pay particular attention to duplicate entries.
Fix 6: If You’re Using USB, Check the Cable and Connection
For a USB-connected Canon printer, the computer needs to maintain a working communication path with the printer.
Check both ends of the USB cable.
Then try:
- Disconnect the USB cable.
- Turn the printer off.
- Restart the computer.
- Turn the printer back on.
- Connect the printer directly to the computer.
- Try printing again.
If the printer is connected through a USB hub or other intermediary, temporarily remove it.
Canon specifically identifies USB connection, USB ports and communication problems as possible reasons print data may not reach the printer.
If possible, also test another USB port or cable.
If the printer works after changing the cable or port, you have narrowed the problem down considerably.
Fix 7: If It’s a Wi-Fi Printer, Check the Network Connection
Wireless printing introduces another possible failure point.
Your Canon printer may be powered on and apparently normal while the computer can no longer reach it over the network.
Check:
- Is the printer connected to Wi-Fi?
- Is your computer on the same home network?
- Did you recently change your Wi-Fi name or password?
- Did you replace or reset your router?
- Is the printer connected to an old network?
- Is the printer’s Wi-Fi indicator showing a connection?
Canon’s wireless troubleshooting guidance recommends checking the printer’s wireless status and its connection to the access point/router when the printer cannot be detected.
If the Wi-Fi network was recently changed, reconnecting the printer to the current network may be necessary.
Fix 8: Check Whether the Printer’s Network Address Has Changed
This is more relevant to network-connected Canon printers.
A printer can remain physically connected to the Wi-Fi network while the computer’s previous connection information is no longer valid.
This can happen after:
- Router replacement
- Router reset
- Network changes
- Printer restart
- Changes to network configuration
Canon’s troubleshooting documentation identifies IP-address problems and DHCP-related address changes as possible causes of printing failures on network-connected printers.
If the printer is visible but jobs never reach it, check its current network information and whether the computer is still communicating with the correct printer entry.
For supported Canon models, Canon’s Wi-Fi Connection Assistant can also help diagnose certain communication and printer-port problems.
Fix 9: If the Printer Runs but the Page Is Blank, Check Ink or Toner
If the printer actually pulls paper through but produces a blank or extremely faint page, don’t treat this as a normal connection problem.
Check:
- Ink or toner level
- Cartridge installation
- Whether a cartridge is recognised
- Whether the printer is reporting an ink-related warning
- Whether a print-head/nozzle maintenance procedure is appropriate for your model
Canon documentation lists empty or incorrectly installed ink tanks among possible causes of printing failures.
If the printer prints a test page correctly but a particular document comes out blank, the problem may instead be with the application, document or print settings.
Fix 10: Reinstall or Repair the Canon Printer Software
If the printer works normally from its own controls but the computer consistently fails to send print jobs, software becomes a stronger suspect.
This is especially worth considering if:
- The problem started after a Windows/macOS update.
- You changed the printer connection method.
- The printer was previously installed but is now duplicated.
- The printer appears in settings but cannot receive jobs.
- The printer driver or port appears incorrect.
Before reinstalling, remove old or duplicate printer entries where appropriate.
Then install the correct software/driver for your exact Canon model from Canon’s official support site.
Avoid installing a driver simply because it has a similar model name.
When Should You Stop Troubleshooting?
If the printer:
- shows a persistent hardware error,
- will not power on,
- cannot perform its own basic test/maintenance operation,
- repeatedly reports a mechanical problem,
- or still fails after the connection and software checks,
the issue may require model-specific support or service.
At that point, continuing to change computer settings is unlikely to solve a printer-side fault.
How to Prevent Canon Printing Problems
A few habits can reduce repeat problems:
- Keep the printer connected to a stable power source.
- Avoid unnecessarily switching between USB and Wi-Fi connections.
- Keep the printer’s software and drivers appropriate for your current operating system.
- Remove old duplicate printer entries when replacing or reinstalling a printer.
- Don’t repeatedly resend a document when the first job is stuck.
- If you change your Wi-Fi network, reconnect the printer rather than assuming it will follow the new network automatically.
- Deal with printer warnings before sending large print jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Canon printer not printing even though it is on?
Being powered on doesn’t necessarily mean the printer is ready to receive a job. Check the printer for errors, make sure it has finished initializing, clear the print queue and confirm that the correct Canon printer is selected.
Why does my Canon printer say it is ready but not print?
The printer may be ready but the computer may not be communicating with it correctly. Check the print queue, selected printer, USB connection or Wi-Fi connection depending on how the printer is connected.
Why is my Canon printer connected to Wi-Fi but not printing?
The printer can be connected to Wi-Fi while the computer still has a communication problem with it. Check whether both devices are on the expected network and whether the printer’s network information has changed.
Why is my Canon printer printing blank pages?
Blank pages can be related to ink or toner, cartridge installation, print-head/nozzle conditions or the document itself. If possible, run a printer-generated test or maintenance page to determine whether the printer can produce a usable page independently of the computer.
Why is my Canon printer not responding to print commands?
Start by checking for a stuck queue, incorrect printer selection or a connection problem. For USB printers, check the cable and port. For Wi-Fi printers, check the wireless connection and network communication.
Should I reinstall my Canon printer driver?
Not immediately. First determine whether the printer itself works and whether the problem is actually caused by the driver. Reinstallation makes more sense when the printer works normally but the computer consistently fails to communicate with it.
