HP Printer Not Printing? Find the Cause and Get It Working Again

You hit Print, the printer does nothing (or feeds out a blank sheet), and the computer insists everything is fine. When an HP printer won't print, the printer itself usually isn't broken. More often a job is stuck in the queue, Windows is sending pages to a second copy of the printer, a new cartridge still has its tape on, or an Instant Ink payment didn't go through.

The key is figuring out which of those you're dealing with before you start uninstalling things. The quick test below takes about a minute and tells you whether to look at the printer, the network, or your computer.

First, Find Out Where the Print Job Is Stopping

Print a page straight from the printer, with no computer involved. How you do that depends on your model:

• Touchscreen models: Open Setup or Settings, go to Reports, and print a Printer Status Report or Print Quality Report.
• Models with buttons only: Press the Information button (the "i" icon). Some models need you to hold it for a few seconds or press a button combination, which your user guide lists.
• LaserJet models: Print a Configuration Report or self-test page from the Reports menu, or use the button combination in your manual.

Then match what happened to the table:

Why Your HP Printer Is Not Printing

These are the usual suspects, grouped by where they happen.

On your computer

• One failed job at the top of the queue is holding up everything behind it
• The printer is paused or set to Use Printer Offline
• Windows is printing to the wrong printer, often a duplicate with (Copy 1) in the name or a PDF printer
• The Print Spooler service has crashed
• The driver is damaged, outdated, or was swapped out by Windows

On your network

• The router gave the printer a new IP address, and your computer is still sending jobs to the old one
• The printer dropped off Wi-Fi or joined a different network

On the printer

• An empty cartridge on a model that won't print unless every cartridge has ink
• Protective tape left on a new cartridge, or a cartridge that isn't clicked all the way in
• Clogged printhead nozzles, which cause blank or streaky pages
• A cartridge the printer rejects, such as one with a non-HP chip after a firmware update
• A paper jam, or a Paper Mismatch prompt waiting for you to respond

With your HP account

• An Instant Ink payment was declined, the subscription was canceled, or the printer isn't enrolled
• An HP+ printer has been cut off from the internet for too long

Try This First: Diagnose & Fix in the HP App

HP's own troubleshooter now lives in the HP app, which replaced HP Smart. Its Diagnose & Fix tool works on Windows and Mac. It clears stuck jobs, resumes paused ones, checks whether the printer is offline and tries to reconnect it, and repairs Print Spooler errors. On Windows it also installs available driver updates and fixes a mismatched printer port.

1. Install the HP app from 123.hp.com or your computer's app store. If you still have HP Smart, update it or install the HP app instead.
2. Open the app and click your printer. Then click Diagnose & Fix. You'll also find it in the Printers menu or under Diagnostics.
3. Click Start and keep the app open until it finishes. Then follow any fixes it suggests.

You'll need Windows 10 version 1809 or later, or macOS 12 or later. The HP app supports most wireless-capable HP printers made in 2014 or later.

What happened to HP Print and Scan Doctor? HP retired it on May 27, 2025. It isn't maintained anymore, and HP recommends uninstalling it. If a download site still offers it, don't use it.

If the HP app won't install, Windows has its own printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app, and it's worth running.

How to Fix an HP Printer Not Printing on Windows 11 and 10

Go through these in order and try a print after each step. The paths below are for Windows 11. On Windows 10, printers live under Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

1. Clear the print queue

Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, click your HP printer, and select Open print queue. Cancel the oldest job first, because that's usually the one blocking the rest. If a job won't cancel or sits on "Deleting" forever, the spooler is stuck, so skip to step 4.

2. Make sure the printer isn't paused or offline

In the queue window, open the Printer menu and uncheck Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline if either is checked. If your queue window doesn't have a Printer menu, open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click the printer, and choose See what's printing.

If Printers & scanners still lists the printer as Offline, the connection is the problem rather than the queue. Our HP printer offline guide covers that in depth.

3. Check which printer Windows is actually printing to

This is the classic "printer says Ready but nothing prints" cause. Windows sometimes creates two entries for one HP printer, such as "HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e" and "HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e (Copy 1)", or one for USB and one for Wi-Fi. Only one of them actually reaches the printer.

In Printers & scanners:

• Remove any duplicate that shows Offline or that you don't recognize.
• Under Printer preferences, turn off Let Windows manage my default printer. With this on, Windows makes the printer you used most recently the default, and that can quietly end up being Microsoft Print to PDF.
• Click your HP printer and select Set as default.

Before you click Print, check the printer name in the print window too. Programs sometimes remember the last printer you picked.

4. Restart the Print Spooler and clear stuck files

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find Print Spooler, right-click it, and choose Stop.
3. Open File Explorer, paste %WINDIR%\System32\spool\PRINTERS into the address bar, and delete everything inside. Delete the files, not the folder. Click Continue if Windows asks for permission.
4. Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and choose Start.
5. Double-click Print Spooler and make sure Startup type is set to Automatic.

If the same job keeps coming back, our HP print job stuck in queue guide goes further.

5. Do a proper power reset on the printer

HP's power reset clears more than pressing the power button does:

1. With the printer on, unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
2. Unplug the cord from the wall too, and wait at least 60 seconds.
3. Plug the cord straight into a wall outlet, then back into the printer. HP recommends a wall outlet over a power strip.
4. Turn the printer on if it doesn't start by itself, and wait until it's idle and quiet.

For a Wi-Fi printer, restart your router next, then your computer.

6. Check that Windows is using the printer's current IP address (Wi-Fi and Ethernet)

Routers sometimes give a printer a new IP address, and Windows keeps sending jobs to the old one. Print a Network Configuration page or check the printer's Wireless menu to find its current address. Then, in Printers & scanners, open Printer properties and look at the Ports tab. If the checked port shows an older IP address, that explains it.

The fastest fix is Diagnose & Fix in the HP app, which corrects port mismatches on Windows. Removing the printer and adding it back works too. To stop it happening again, reserve the printer's IP address in your router settings (this is often called a DHCP reservation).

7. Check which driver Windows is using, and reinstall if needed

In Printer properties, the Advanced tab shows the driver. You'll normally see either an HP driver or Microsoft IPP Class Driver.

That second one matters more now. Microsoft stopped publishing new third-party printer drivers through Windows Update for Windows 11 on January 15, 2026. Since July 1, 2026, Windows 11 has also preferred its own IPP class driver when it sets up a printer. Drivers you already have keep working, and HP's own installer still works.

The built-in driver handles everyday printing on most HP printers, but HP describes it as basic, so some HP features can go missing. If printing broke after the driver changed, or you need those features:

1. Remove the printer in Printers & scanners.
2. Download the full software for your exact model from HP's Software and Driver Downloads page or 123.hp.com.
3. Install it, restart the computer, and print a test page.

If HP's driver is the one causing trouble, you can go the other way: remove the printer and add it back with the built-in driver. For more, see our HP printer driver guide.

8. Check Windows protected print mode

Windows 11 (version 24H2 and later) has an optional setting called Windows protected print mode. Turning it on removes every printer that uses a third-party driver, including HP's own drivers, and allows only Windows' built-in driver. Printers that are Mopria certified can be added back and will print. Microsoft says most new printers are certified, and you can check your model at mopria.org.

Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and scroll to Printer preferences. If protected print mode is on and your HP printer disappeared or stopped printing, add the printer again, or select Turn Off and reinstall HP's software. On a work computer, your IT team may control this setting.

How to Fix an HP Printer Not Printing on a Mac

Macs have fewer places for a print job to get stuck, but they have a few snags of their own.

1. Look for a paused printer or a job with an error

On macOS Tahoe 26 and later, open Print Center from Applications > Utilities, or search for it with Spotlight. On older versions, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer, and click Printer Queue. If the printer is paused, click Resume. Delete any job showing an error, then print again.

2. Let the HP app use your local network

Newer versions of macOS ask before an app can talk to devices on your network. If you clicked Don't Allow, or the prompt never appeared, the HP app can't see your printer. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and turn on the HP app (or HP Smart). If it's already on, switch it off, wait a few seconds, and switch it back on.

If the trouble started right after a macOS upgrade, update the HP app before trying anything else.

3. Remove the printer and add it back

In System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the HP printer and click Remove Printer (or the minus button). Then click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax, choose your printer, and click Add.

HP supports two ways to print from a Mac: the HP app (HP's preferred option) or macOS's built-in AirPrint driver. If one gives you trouble, add the printer with the other. When both are available, you'll see them in the Use menu while adding the printer.

4. Reset the printing system (last resort)

In Printers & Scanners, Control-click inside the printer list and choose Reset Printing System. This deletes every printer, queued job, and print preset on the Mac, so you'll need to add your HP printer again afterward.

Fix Ink, Toner, Printhead, and Paper Problems

Know whether your HP printer will print with an empty cartridge

HP printers don't all handle an empty cartridge the same way. It depends on the cartridge your printer uses:

HP Smart Tank models use refillable tanks and separate printheads instead. If you've just set one up or replaced a printhead, make sure the plugs and tape are off the printheads.

New cartridge in, and it still won't print?

• Remove all the packaging. Pull off the protective tape and any pull tab. A strip of tape left over the nozzles or contacts is enough to stop printing.
• Reseat it. Open the cartridge door and wait until the carriage stops moving and goes quiet. Push each cartridge out and back in until it snaps into place.
• Check the cartridge number against the one your printer takes.
• Instant Ink cartridges only work in the printer enrolled on that account, and only while the subscription is active.
• Non-HP cartridges: HP says that on printers with dynamic security, cartridges with a non-HP chip or modified circuitry may not work. They can also work for a while and then stop after a firmware update. HP says using them doesn't void your printer warranty, but damage caused by them isn't covered. HP+ printers require Original HP ink for the life of the printer.

Blank pages? Test first, then clean the printhead

Print a test page from the printer, using the steps from the start of this guide.

• The test page looks fine, but your documents come out blank: The printer is working. Check the paper size, paper type, color, and quality settings in the print window, and try a different file.
• The test page is blank or missing a color (inkjet): Load plain white paper and run a printhead cleaning.
  • Touchscreen models: Settings or Setup > Tools or Printer Maintenance > Clean Printhead (on some models, Clean Cartridges).
  • Models without a touchscreen: open the HP app, click your printer, go to Print Quality Tools, and choose Clean Printhead.
  • Check the page after each cycle. HP suggests running up to three cycles. If the page still has problems after three, replace the cartridges, and check whether HP's cartridge warranty covers them.
• The test page is blank (LaserJet): Check toner levels and make sure any sealing tape has been pulled from a new toner cartridge. Then print a cleaning page (the steps vary by model). If the cleaning page also comes out blank, replace the toner cartridge.

Inkjets that sit unused for weeks are the most likely to clog, so printing a page now and then helps keep the nozzles clear. For more on this, see why an HP printer prints blank pages.

LaserJet: check the "Very Low" supply setting

Many LaserJets have a setting that decides what happens when toner reaches Very Low. The options include Stop, Prompt, and Continue. On many models it's under Setup > System Setup > Supply Settings, though the path varies. Prompt or Continue lets you keep printing until the print quality drops.

Office LaserJets can also have Cartridge Policy set to Authorized HP, which blocks non-HP toner, or Cartridge Protection, which locks a toner cartridge to one printer or group of printers. That's why a cartridge borrowed from another office printer can be rejected. Check with whoever manages the printer before you change either one.

Check the paper and the printer's screen

• Clear any jam, including small torn scraps. Our HP paper jam guide walks through it.
• A Paper Mismatch message means the paper size or type in your print settings doesn't match what's loaded in the tray. Make them match in the print window and in the printer's paper settings.
• Look at the printer's control panel. Some models pause on a prompt, like confirming the paper you just loaded, and won't print until you answer it. For specific codes, see our HP printer error codes guide.

Update the printer firmware

HP fixes printing bugs through firmware updates. You can update in three ways:

• Control panel: On many models, Setup > Printer Maintenance > Update Printer > Check Now.
• HP app: Click your printer, open Advanced Settings, choose Printer Updates, and click Check Now.
• HP website: Go to HP's Software and Driver Downloads page, find your printer, and download the update listed under Firmware.

Don't turn the printer off while an update is running. HP warns that it can permanently damage the printer. And if you use non-HP cartridges, keep in mind that an update can stop them working. Step-by-step help is in our HP firmware update guide.

When Instant Ink or HP+ Stops the Printer

HP+ printers and printers enrolled in Instant Ink check in with HP over the internet through a feature called Web Services, which tracks ink levels, page counts, and security. If that connection breaks, or something is wrong with the account, the printer can stop printing even though nothing is physically wrong with it.

You might see messages like:

• Can't print, connect to the internet to continue printing with HP Instant Ink cartridges
• Printer not connected to the internet or Printer status unknown
• Cartridge problem, or a note that a cartridge isn't communicating with the printer

HP lists the usual causes as a declined, pending, or suspended payment; a canceled subscription; a printer that isn't enrolled; Wi-Fi problems; and cartridge errors. HP also says that leaving the printer off the internet for a long stretch, or using it over USB only, can limit what it does until it reconnects.

Work through these in order:

1. Check your account. Sign in to your HP account online or in the HP app. Confirm your payment method is current under Account > Shipping & Billing, then go to HP Instant Ink > Overview > Printer Details and make sure the status says Enrolled. If the subscription has ended, HP remotely disables the subscription cartridges, even with ink left in them. You can re-enroll or switch to regular Original HP cartridges from a store.
2. Reseat the cartridges as described above.
3. Update the printer firmware.
4. Restart everything: the printer, your computer or phone, and the router. Then make sure the printer and your device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
5. Check Web Services. Type the printer's IP address into a web browser to open its Embedded Web Server (EWS), then click the Web Services tab. If it asks for a PIN, look for it on a label, usually inside the cartridge access door. (LaserJets use admin as the username.) If the internet status shows Disconnected, reconnect the printer with the Wireless Setup Wizard under the Network tab. If it's connected but still failing, use Reset Web Services (HP+ models) or Remove Web Services, then turn it back on.

If the printer won't hold a Wi-Fi connection at all, see our HP printer not connecting to Wi-Fi guide.

Signs It's More Than a Settings Problem

Software fixes won't help if the hardware is at fault. It's time to get help when:

• The printer can't print its own test page, even after a power reset, new cartridges, and three printhead cleanings
• A message like Printer Failure or There is a problem with the printer or ink system comes back after every power reset
• The ink carriage won't move, or you hear grinding or loud clicking with no paper jammed
• The same error code appears every time you turn the printer on
• The printer won't power on, or it shuts itself off partway through a job

If your printer is still under warranty, check before you open anything up. HP's support site shows warranty status and service options when you enter the printer's serial number. For errors that won't clear, our HP printer in error state guide may also help.