If your Windows 11 printer is not working, start with the printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app, then follow the checks that match the symptom: offline status, a missing printer, a stuck queue, or printing that fails in just one app. You do not need to complete all nine steps if an earlier one restores printing.
1. Run the Get Help printer troubleshooter
Microsoft recommends starting with the automated printer troubleshooter in Get Help. Open Start, search for Get Help, and launch the app. Search for printer troubleshooting and follow the prompts. The tool runs diagnostics and attempts to fix common problems; it may not resolve every printer or setup issue. If it does not, continue with the relevant checks below.
Microsoft’s offline-printer troubleshooting guide specifically identifies Get Help as the starting point on Windows 11.
2. Check printer power and restart it
If Windows says the printer is offline or it is not responding, verify that it is powered on and ready. Microsoft’s offline-printer steps recommend turning the printer off, unplugging its power cable, waiting 30 seconds, reconnecting it, and turning it back on. Check the printer display for startup messages or errors before trying to print again.
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3. Check how the printer connects
For a Wi-Fi printer
Confirm that both the printer and PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check the network name in the printer’s own screen or menu, and compare it with the PC’s connection. If the printer’s network settings are unclear, use its manual or the manufacturer’s instructions.
For a USB printer
Make sure the cable is firmly connected at both ends and that you are using compatible ports on the printer and PC. If the cable or connection may be faulty, try a known-good compatible cable as a diagnostic. Replacing a cable is relevant only to a wired setup; there is no single connector type that applies to every printer.
For other connection problems—including a printer that cannot be found—use Microsoft’s printer connection and printing guide to find the issue-specific steps.
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4. Select the intended printer
A print job can go to the wrong device if Windows or an app has another printer selected. When printing, check the printer name in the app’s print dialog and choose the device you actually want to use.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf appropriate for your setup, you can set a default printer under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners: select the printer and choose the default option shown. If Windows is managing your default printer automatically, the available controls may differ; check that setting on the same Printers & scanners page.
5. Check the correct printer’s queue
A job may be waiting or stuck in the queue rather than failing at the printer. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the intended printer, and open its queue. Confirm the printer name before changing jobs: each queue belongs to a particular printer.
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If a job is clearly stuck and you no longer need it, cancel it from the queue, then try printing again. The queue shows pending jobs; removing a job will not help if the underlying connection or printer problem remains. See Microsoft’s instructions for viewing a printer’s print queue.
6. Restart the Print Spooler service
If printing remains unresponsive or jobs will not clear, restart the Windows service that handles print jobs:
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- Open Start, search for Services, and open the Services app.
- Find Print Spooler in the list.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
- Try printing again.
This resets the service; it is not a guaranteed fix for printer, connection, or driver problems.
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7. Check for a suitable printer driver
A missing, outdated, or incompatible driver can interfere with installation or printing. Microsoft recommends using Windows Update to download, install, and update printer drivers. Check Windows Update first, then consult the printer maker’s instructions for your exact model if Windows does not provide a suitable driver.
There is a Windows on ARM caveat: Microsoft says some printer-manufacturer installers may not work on ARM-based PCs. Unless the manufacturer provides specific guidance for your device, add the printer through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device. See Microsoft’s guidance on downloading and installing printer drivers and adding or installing a printer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.8. Remove and add the printer again
If the printer is still offline, missing, or unusable after the simpler checks, remove it from Windows and set it up again. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and choose the remove option. Then return to Printers & scanners, select Add device, and follow the setup prompts. Keep the printer’s model-specific setup instructions available in case Windows needs additional information.
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9. Restart the PC and test
After changing printer settings, restarting the Print Spooler, or adding the printer again, restart the PC and try a new print job. This refreshes Windows components involved in communicating with the printer; it does not establish that a hardware or network fault has been fixed.
If the printer still does not work
Match the next troubleshooting path to what you see rather than repeating every step:
Quick Recap
- Printing fails only in one application: check that app’s print settings and use Microsoft’s guidance for app-specific printing problems.
- The printer is not found or is shared over a network: follow the relevant sections in Microsoft’s connection and printing guide.
- There is a paper jam, slow printing, poor print quality, or a spooler error: use the matching issue-specific guidance in that same Microsoft guide; these problems need not have the same cause as an offline printer.
- The printer is still offline: review Microsoft’s staged offline-printer steps and the instructions for your exact model.
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