Printer trail

Printer Troubleshooting

When a printer stops printing, the fault is usually in one of four places: the connection, the print queue on your computer, the paper path or the ink and toner supplies.

These guides help you work out which one it is and fix it with safe, everyday steps. They also explain the signs that the printer itself needs the manufacturer’s support team.

4 guides in this topic

Before you start

  • Read any message on the printer’s screen or lights and note it down.
  • Switch the printer off before reaching inside, and let laser printers cool.
  • Have your printer’s model name ready to look up its manual.

Guides in Printer Troubleshooting

Start here

Printer Offline? How to Get It Back Online

Printer offline in Windows or on a Mac? Check power and connection, clear the “use printer offline” setting, restart the queue and reconnect to Wi-Fi.

4 min read · USB and wireless home printers; Windows 10 and 11, and Mac

  1. How to Clear a Printer Paper Jam Safely

    Clear a printer paper jam safely: switch off, open only the doors your manual shows, pull paper out slowly, check for scraps and stop future jams.

    5 min read

  2. How to Clear a Stuck Print Queue on Windows and Mac

    Print queue stuck with a document that won’t print or cancel? Cancel jobs, restart the Print Spooler service on Windows, and clear the queue on a Mac.

    5 min read

  3. Printer Printing Blank or Faded Pages: What to Check

    Printer printing blank pages or faded, streaky prints? Check ink or toner, protective tape, print settings and the printer’s cleaning tools.

    5 min read