Dell Printer Showing an Error State? Start Here

What "Printer in Error State" Really Means

When Windows shows "Printer in error state" under your Dell printer, it's passing along a status report. Either the printer or the driver that talks to it has told Windows something is wrong. Windows just doesn't tell you what.

That's why the message is so annoying. The same three words can mean a sheet of paper stuck behind the rear door, or a driver that lost track of the printer after a Windows update.

Most cases come down to a few causes, and you can rule them out in order: the printer first, then the connection, then Windows. Work through the sections below from top to bottom and stop once your printer prints again.

Why Dell Printers Go Into an Error State

Something physical the printer is reporting

• A paper jam, including small torn scraps you can't see from the front
• A front, side, or rear cover that isn't fully closed
• An empty paper tray, or paper that doesn't match the size set for the tray
• Toner or ink that is empty, not seated properly, or not recognized

A broken connection between the PC and the printer

• A loose or faulty USB cable
• The printer dropped off Wi-Fi, or it joined a different network than your computer
• The printer's IP address changed after a router restart, so Windows is still sending jobs to the old address

A problem inside Windows

• A stuck or corrupted print job that blocks everything behind it
• The Print Spooler service (the Windows service that manages print jobs) stopped or froze
• An outdated, damaged, or duplicate printer driver
• A WSD port or SNMP status check that reports the printer as unavailable even though it's working

An internal error on the printer itself

• Some Dell laser printers show numbered codes (for example, 016-xxx) when they can't process the data they were sent

Here: Check the Printer Itself

Take a couple of minutes for these before you open any Windows settings. They fix a lot of error state messages on their own.

1. Read the printer's display or lights. If the panel shows a message (jam, cover open, toner low, load paper), deal with that first. Windows is usually just repeating it.
2. Look for jams everywhere. Open every door and tray and pull any paper out slowly and evenly. A small torn corner left inside can keep the error on.
3. Close every cover firmly. Some Dell models won't clear the error until a door clicks shut.
4. Reseat the toner or ink. Take each cartridge out and push it back in until it seats.
5. Power cycle the printer properly. Turn it off, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet or surge protector, wait at least 30 seconds, plug it back in, and turn it on.
6. Print a settings report from the printer's own menu. The menu path varies by model (check your User's Guide). If the report prints, the printer's hardware is working and the problem is between your computer and the printer. On network printers, the report also shows the IP address, which you'll need later.

If the printer can't print its own settings report, or the same hardware error comes back after a power cycle, skip ahead to "When It's Probably Hardware" below.

How to Fix a Dell Printer Error State in Windows 11

Try these in order. After each step, send a test page before you move on.

Step 1: Clear the Print Queue

A single stuck job can block everything behind it.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select your Dell printer, then select Open print queue.
3. Select the ... menu and choose Cancel all.

If jobs won't delete, go straight to Step 3.

Step 2: Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then select Run next to Printer. On current Windows 11 builds, this opens in the Get Help app, because Microsoft has retired the older troubleshooters. Let it finish and apply any fixes it suggests.

Step 3: Restart the Print Spooler and Delete Leftover Jobs

This is the fix for queues that won't clear.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Stop.
3. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete the files inside this folder, but don't delete the folder itself. (Windows may ask for administrator permission.)
4. Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
5. Double-click Print Spooler and make sure Startup type is set to Automatic, so it starts on its own every time your PC boots.

Step 4: Make Sure Windows Is Using the Right Port (Network Printers)

If your Dell printer is on Wi-Fi or Ethernet and its IP address has changed, Windows keeps sending jobs to an address where nothing answers.

1. In Printers & scanners, select your Dell printer, then Printer properties.
2. Open the Ports tab and find the checked port.
3. If it's a Standard TCP/IP port, select Configure Port and compare the IP address with the one on your settings report. If they don't match, update it.
4. If the port says WSD and the printer keeps dropping into an error or offline state, add a direct connection instead: select Add Port > Standard TCP/IP Port > New Port, then enter the printer's IP address and follow the prompts.

To stop this from happening again, give the printer an address that never changes. You can set a DHCP reservation in your router, or set a static IP from the Dell Printer Configuration Web Tool. To open it, type the printer's IP address into a web browser on the same network.

Step 5: Turn Off SNMP Status (If the Printer Works but Windows Still Complains)

Windows uses a protocol called SNMP to ask network printers how they're doing. If the printer doesn't respond the way Windows expects, Windows can mark a perfectly good printer as having a problem.

1. Go to Printer properties > Ports > Configure Port.
2. Uncheck SNMP Status Enabled and select OK.

The tradeoff is that Windows stops checking in with the printer, so watch the printer's own display for low toner and jam warnings.

Step 6: Do a Clean Driver Reinstall

Uninstalling from Settings alone often leaves the old driver behind. Remove the device and the driver package, then install a fresh copy.

1. In Printers & scanners, select your Dell printer and choose Remove.
2. On the same page, under Related settings, open Print server properties. Go to the Drivers tab.
3. Select the Dell driver, select Remove, choose Remove driver and driver package, and confirm.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Go to Dell's Drivers & Downloads page at dell.com/support, enter your printer's model or Service Tag, and choose your version of Windows.
6. Right-click the downloaded file and select Run as administrator. For USB printers, leave the cable unplugged until the installer asks you to connect it.

A note on 2026 Windows changes: As of July 1, 2026, Windows 11 prefers Microsoft's built-in IPP class driver when you add a printer that supports it. So if you re-add your Dell with the Add device button, Windows may pick its own generic driver instead of Dell's. That's usually fine for basic printing. If the error comes back or features like duplex or tray selection are missing, install Dell's driver package directly. Microsoft has confirmed that manufacturer installation packages can still be installed.

On a work PC? Some IT departments turn on Windows protected print mode, which blocks third-party printer drivers. If a Dell driver won't stay installed on a managed computer, check with your IT team before trying anything else.

Step 7: Update the Printer's Firmware

If Dell has posted a firmware update for your model, it'll be on the same Drivers & Downloads page, listed under Firmware. Install it with the printer connected and powered on, and don't turn anything off while it runs.

How to Fix It in Windows 10

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, but the fixes still work. The steps are the same as the Windows 11 steps above. Only the menu locations are different:

• Clear the queue: Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > select your printer > Open queue, then cancel the jobs.
• Run the troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Printer.
• Restart the Print Spooler: Same as Windows 11. Use services.msc, stop the spooler, clear C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then start it again.
• Check the port and SNMP setting: Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click your Dell printer, choose Printer properties, and open the Ports tab.
• Remove the old driver: In Devices and Printers, right-click the printer and choose Remove device. Then select any remaining printer, choose Print server properties from the top bar, open the Drivers tab, and remove the Dell driver.

Since Windows 10 no longer gets security updates, it's worth planning a move to Windows 11. Check Dell's printer compatibility page for your model first so you know whether a Windows 11 driver is available.

If Your Dell Printer Shows an Error Code

Some Dell laser printers show a numbered code on the control panel along with the Windows error state. Dell says that on models such as the C3760dn, 016-xxx codes are usually caused by the data sent to the printer and rarely by a hardware fault.

A quick way to test it:

1. Turn the printer off and unplug the USB or Ethernet cable. On a wireless model, disconnect it from Wi-Fi.
2. Turn the printer back on with nothing connected.
3. If the code is gone, the problem was a print job. Clear the queue and restart the Print Spooler (Step 1 and Step 3 above) before you reconnect.

For any other code, look it up in the Troubleshooting section of your model's User's Guide, which you can download from Dell's support site. The meaning of each code depends on the model, so don't rely on a code list written for a different printer.

When It's Probably Hardware

Software fixes can't help if the printer itself is failing. It's likely a hardware problem if:

• The printer can't print its own settings report
• The same error comes back right after a power cycle, with no cable connected
• You hear grinding or clicking, or the printer stops partway through feeding a page