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Why Your Wireless Printer Won’t Print – Troubleshooting Guide
Having a wireless printer is supposed to make your life easier—no tangled cables, no mess, and the ability to print from any device in your home or office. But when your printer won't print, it can quickly turn into a frustrating experience. Whether you're facing the error for the first time or this is an ongoing issue, understanding the root causes and applying practical solutions can help get things running again.
This article from Callhelpcenter is your comprehensive guide to fixing issues when your wireless printer connected but not printing. We will cover various printer brands, wireless network settings, driver-related problems, and common system configurations that might be preventing your printer from working.
Common Reasons Why Your Printer Won’t Print
Before diving into complex troubleshooting, let’s first look at some of the most common reasons why your printer won't print:
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Connection Issues
Even if the printer is shown as connected, it may not have a stable link to your Wi-Fi or device. A weak signal, incorrect password, or router problems can all cause issues. -
Outdated or Missing Drivers
The driver is the software that enables communication between your computer and printer. If it's outdated or missing, your computer may not recognize the device correctly. -
Print Jobs Stuck in Queue
Sometimes, previous print jobs can get stuck in the queue and block new tasks. Clearing the queue can often resolve the problem instantly. -
Incorrect Default Printer
If you have more than one printer configured, your system may be sending print jobs to the wrong device. -
Low Ink or Paper Jam
These mechanical issues may not throw an error right away but can quietly prevent the printer from functioning.
What to Do When Your Wireless Printer Is Not Printing
You’ve confirmed your printer is connected—so why isn't it doing its job? The wireless printer connected but not printing issue is one of the most frustrating because everything looks fine on the surface. Here’s a structured way to tackle it:
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Restart Everything
Yes, the age-old trick of turning everything off and back on again still works! Restart your printer, router, and the device you're printing from. This resets temporary memory and can resolve minor glitches. -
Check Wireless Network Status
Ensure that your printer and the device you’re printing from are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your printer was connected to a different network earlier (such as a guest network), it might not communicate properly with your PC or mobile. -
Remove and Re-add the Printer
Sometimes, removing the printer from your system and adding it again can resolve communication problems.
Steps (Windows):
Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Right-click on the printer and select “Remove device”
Click “Add a printer” and follow the instructions
Steps (Mac):
Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners
Select your printer and click the minus (-) button
Click the plus (+) to add it again
Advanced Fixes for Wireless Printer Issues
If the simple steps haven’t worked, it's time for some deeper diagnostics. The following are more technical solutions but highly effective in resolving the wireless printer not printing error.
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Update or Reinstall Drivers
Go to the official website of your printer manufacturer and search for the latest driver for your model. Uninstall the current driver and install the new one. -
Run the Printer Troubleshooter (Windows)
Windows includes a built-in printer troubleshooter.
Go to:
Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Printer
Follow the prompts and let Windows try to fix it automatically. -
Set as Default Printer
Your printer might not be set as the default device.
Right-click on the correct printer in the control panel and select “Set as default printer.” -
Disable Offline Mode
Sometimes printers are accidentally set to work offline. Right-click your printer and ensure “Use Printer Offline” is unchecked.
Resolve Network Communication Conflicts
A printer that appears connected but refuses to print may be struggling with an IP address conflict. If multiple devices on your network are using similar IP ranges, they might interfere with each other.
Assign a Static IP to Your Printer:
Access the printer settings via its control panel or web portal and assign a static IP address that doesn’t conflict with other devices.
Clear Print Queue and Restart Spooler
A jammed print queue can prevent all print jobs from executing—even after a restart.
Windows:
Open "Services" via Start menu
Locate "Print Spooler"
Right-click > Stop
Delete contents from C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
Start the spooler again
This effectively refreshes the print environment.
Fixing “Wireless printer not printing” on Specific Brands
Here are brand-specific tips:
HP Printers
Use HP Smart App to diagnose and repair connection problems.
Use the HP Print and Scan Doctor utility.
Canon Printers
Reset network settings via the LCD screen and reconnect manually.
Make sure Bonjour or Canon-specific services are enabled on macOS.
Epson Printers
Update the Epson Connect software.
Ensure firmware updates are installed.
Brother Printers
Disable SNMP if the printer is being detected incorrectly.
Try connecting via the Brother iPrint&Scan software.
When to Contact Support
If you’ve tried all troubleshooting methods and still face issues, it might be time to seek professional help. That’s where Callhelpcenter comes in. Their technical experts are trained in resolving printer issues of all kinds, including:
Printer won't print
Wireless printer connected but not printing
Wireless printer not printing
They provide round-the-clock support and step-by-step guidance for both home and office setups.
If you’re facing wireless printer connected but not printing, get dedicated support and solutions by visiting this page.
Prevent Future Printing Issues
Once you’ve resolved the current issue, take these steps to avoid future problems:
Regularly update your printer firmware and drivers
Avoid using multiple networks when printing
Keep the printer's software utility installed for easier diagnostics
Place your wireless printer within good Wi-Fi signal range
Use original cartridges and perform regular cleaning
Conclusion
When your printer won't print, it’s not always a hardware problem. Most of the time, it’s a software configuration or a network issue that can be resolved with a few simple steps. Issues like wireless printer connected but not printing or wireless printer not printing are common but manageable with the right approach.
If you’ve tried all the methods mentioned above and still can’t fix the issue, don’t stress. Callhelpcenter offers reliable and expert printer support, saving you from endless trial and error. Stop wasting time and start printing again—accurately and wirelessly.