The Printer in Error State error can occur when your printer is offline, the USB connection is loose, the printer driver is outdated, or the Windows Print Spooler service is not working correctly.
Sometimes, incorrect printer settings, paper jams, low ink levels, or pending print jobs can also cause this problem.
In this guide, we will walk you through different ways to fix the Printer in Error State on Windows 11/10.
Fix “Printer in Error State” on Windows 11/10
To fix the Printer in Error State on Windows 11 or Windows 10, follow these steps:
- Restart your printer and computer to clear temporary connection problems.
- Check the printer’s power, USB cable, Wi-Fi connection, paper supply, and ink or toner levels.
- Open Windows printer settings and make sure your printer is selected as the default device.
- Run the Windows printer troubleshooter to identify and resolve common printing problems.
- Restart the Print Spooler service to clear stuck printing jobs.
- Update or reinstall your printer driver to fix outdated or corrupted driver issues.
- Check the printer port and connection settings to ensure Windows is communicating with the correct device.
- Remove and add your printer again if the error continues.
Let’s learn the steps in detail!
1: Restart Your Printer and Computer
The first thing you should try is restarting both your printer and computer. Sometimes, Windows cannot communicate properly with the printer because of a temporary software or connection problem.
Start by turning off your printer using its power button. Unplug its power cable from the electrical outlet and wait approximately 30 to 60 seconds. Reconnect the cable and turn the printer back on. Wait until the printer finishes its startup process and becomes ready.
Next, restart your Windows computer. Once it boots up, check whether the printer is recognized correctly.
Follow this path: Start > Power > Restart.
After restarting both devices, try printing a test page. If the error disappears, the issue was likely caused by a temporary communication problem. If Windows still displays the same message, move on to the next method.
2: Check Your Printer’s Physical Connections
A loose cable or unstable wireless connection is another common reason for the Printer in Error State message. Before changing Windows settings, make sure your printer is properly connected.
If you use a USB printer, check whether the USB cable is firmly connected to both your computer and printer. Try connecting it to another USB port. Avoid using a USB hub temporarily because it can sometimes interfere with communication.
If you use a wireless printer, make sure your computer and printer are connected to the same local network. Check the printer’s wireless status screen or network settings to confirm that it has an active connection.
Also, inspect the printer for paper jams, empty paper trays, open covers, and low ink or toner warnings. These physical problems can prevent the printer from accepting new print jobs.
The connection path for a USB printer is Printer USB port > USB cable > Computer USB port.
Once everything looks correct, try printing again. If the printer still shows an error, continue troubleshooting.
3: Make Sure Your Printer Is Not Set to Offline
Windows may show an error if your printer is accidentally configured to work offline. This setting prevents printing jobs from reaching the device even when the printer is connected.
To check this setting in Windows 11, press Windows + I to open Settings. Select Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Choose your printer and open its printer queue.
In Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer and click Open queue.
When the print queue opens, select the Printer menu at the top. Check whether Use Printer Offline or Pause Printing is enabled. If either option is selected, click it to disable it.
The complete navigation path is Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Your printer > Open print queue > Printer.
Close the queue and try printing a document again. If your printer was accidentally offline, this adjustment may resolve the issue immediately.
4: Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter
Windows includes troubleshooting options that can identify common printer-related problems. Running the printer troubleshooter is a useful step if you are unsure what is causing the error.
On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Find the Printer troubleshooter and select Run if it is available.
On Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Select Printer and click Run the troubleshooter.
Follow the instructions displayed on your screen. Windows may check printer connectivity, driver configuration, and printing services. If it identifies a problem, follow the recommended instructions to apply the suggested fix.
The navigation paths are Windows 11: Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Printer and Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Printer.
After troubleshooting finishes, restart your printer and check whether the error has disappeared.
5: Restart the Print Spooler Service
The Print Spooler is an important Windows service that manages printing jobs. It temporarily stores documents waiting to be printed and sends them to the printer.
If the service stops responding or becomes stuck, Windows may display the Printer in Error State message.
To restart it, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type services.msc and press Enter. The Services window will appear.
Scroll down and locate Print Spooler. Right-click it and select Restart. If the service is not running, select Start instead.
Follow this path: Windows + R > services.msc > Print Spooler > Restart.
Wait a few seconds for the service to restart. Open your printer queue and check whether the pending jobs are processing correctly.
If restarting the service does not help, you can also clear stuck print jobs.
Press Windows + R, enter services.msc, and stop the Print Spooler service. Open File Explorer and navigate to:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
Delete the files inside this folder, but do not delete the folder itself. You may need administrator permission. Return to Services and restart the Print Spooler service.
This clears pending print jobs, so only use this method if you are comfortable removing documents waiting in the queue.
6: Update Your Printer Driver
An outdated, incompatible, or corrupted printer driver can prevent Windows from communicating with your printer correctly.
To update the driver, right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand the Printers or Print queues section, depending on how your device appears. Right-click your printer and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers and allow Windows to check for available updates.
The navigation path is Start > Device Manager > Printers or Print queues > Your printer > Update driver.
If Windows cannot find a newer driver, visit your printer manufacturer’s official support page. Search using your exact printer model and download the driver compatible with Windows 11 or Windows 10.
For example, HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother provide model-specific printer drivers through their support websites.
Install the downloaded driver by following the on-screen instructions. Restart your computer after installation and check whether the printer works.
7: Check Your Printer Port Settings
Incorrect printer port settings can also prevent Windows from communicating with the printer. This is particularly relevant if you recently changed USB ports, moved your printer to another network, or reinstalled its driver.
Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter. The Devices and Printers window will open.
Right-click your printer and select Printer properties. Open the Ports tab and review the selected port.
For a USB-connected printer, Windows should generally use the appropriate USB port. For a network printer, it may use a Standard TCP/IP port or another manufacturer-supported network port.
Follow this path: Windows + R > control printers > Printer properties > Ports.
Do not randomly change port selections. Instead, confirm that the selected port matches your printer’s actual connection. If you are unsure, check the printer manufacturer’s setup instructions.
Click Apply if you make a necessary change, then select OK and test the printer.
8: Remove and Reinstall Your Printer
If none of the previous methods works, remove your printer from Windows and add it again. This can help resolve incorrect configuration settings or installation problems.
On Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer and click Remove.
On Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and choose Remove device.
Once removed, restart your computer. Turn on your printer and connect it using USB or Wi-Fi.
Return to the printer settings and select Add device or Add a printer or scanner. Allow Windows to search for available printers. Select your device and complete the installation.
The navigation path is Settings > Printers & scanners > Select printer > Remove > Add device.
If Windows does not detect your printer, download and install the correct driver from the manufacturer’s official website. Once installation is complete, print a test page to confirm that everything is working properly.
FAQs
1. Why does my printer keep saying Printer in Error State?
This message can appear because of loose connections, outdated printer drivers, paper jams, incorrect printer settings, or problems with the Print Spooler service. Check the physical connection first and then troubleshoot Windows settings.
2. How do I get my printer out of an error state in Windows 11?
Restart your printer and computer, check the printer connection, and make sure it is not set to offline. If the problem continues, restart the Print Spooler service and update the printer driver.
3. Can a faulty printer driver cause an error state?
Yes. A corrupted, outdated, or incompatible printer driver can prevent Windows from communicating with your printer. Updating or reinstalling the correct driver can often resolve this problem.
4. How do I clear a stuck print job in Windows 10?
Open the printer queue through Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Your printer > Open queue. Select the stuck document and choose Cancel. If it does not disappear, restart the Print Spooler service.
5. Does restarting the Print Spooler delete my documents?
Restarting the service alone does not normally delete queued documents. However, manually clearing the PRINTERS folder removes pending print jobs. You will need to send those documents to the printer again.
6. Why is my wireless printer showing an error state?
Your wireless printer may have disconnected from Wi-Fi, joined a different network, or lost communication with your computer. Check its wireless connection and confirm that both devices can communicate over your local network.
7. Should I reinstall my printer driver to fix the error?
Reinstalling the driver is worth trying if basic troubleshooting does not work. Download the correct driver for your exact printer model and Windows version before removing the existing installation.
Final Words
The Printer in Error State on Windows 11/10 issue can occur for several reasons, but you can usually troubleshoot it without replacing your printer.
Start with simple solutions, such as restarting your devices, checking USB or Wi-Fi connections, and making sure the printer is not offline. If those methods do not work, restart the Print Spooler service, update your printer driver, and check the printer port settings.
If the error continues, remove and reinstall your printer using the correct manufacturer driver.