If you’ve ever stared at your printer while it cheerfully reports it’s “ready” yet refuses to print a single page, you know the frustration. This common glitch—the printer showing ready but not printing in Windows 10/11—can bring your workflow to a halt. Fortunately, it’s often a software hiccup rather than a hardware failure. In this article, we break down the most effective solutions, inspired by a practical tutorial that walks you through the process step by step.
Why Does the Printer Show Ready but Won’t Print?
Before diving into fixes, it helps to understand the root causes. The “ready” status simply means the printer is powered on and connected, but the communication between your PC and the printer has stalled. Common culprits include:
– **Corrupted print spooler** – The service that manages print jobs can get stuck or crash.
– **Outdated or faulty printer drivers** – Especially after a Windows update.
– **Stuck print queues** – A single failed job can block all others.
– **USB connection issues** – Loose cables or power-saving settings.
Building on this, the video demonstrates a systematic approach that works for HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and Samsung printers alike.
Restart the Printer Spooler Service (The Most Likely Fix)
The print spooler is the heart of Windows printing. When it malfunctions, your printer may show as ready but ignore all commands. Here’s how to restart it:
1. Press **Windows + R**, type `services.msc`, and hit Enter.
2. Scroll down to **Print Spooler**. Right-click it and select **Stop**.
3. Open File Explorer and navigate to `C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS`. Delete all files inside this folder (they are temporary print jobs).
4. Go back to Services, right-click **Print Spooler**, and choose **Start**.
As a result, any stuck jobs are cleared, and the spooler runs fresh. This alone resolves the “printer showing ready but not printing” issue for many users.
Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
After a Windows 10 or 11 update, your printer driver may become incompatible. To fix this:
– Visit your printer manufacturer’s support site (e.g., [HP](https://support.hp.com), [Canon](https://www.usa.canon.com/support), [Epson](https://epson.com/support)) and download the latest driver for your model.
– Alternatively, go to **Device Manager**, find your printer under **Print queues**, right-click it, and select **Update driver** → **Search automatically for drivers**.
If that fails, uninstall the driver completely, restart your PC, and let Windows reinstall it automatically. This often eliminates the “printer in error state” message.
Clear the Print Queue Manually
Sometimes the queue appears empty, but a hidden job is blocking everything. To force-clear it:
1. Open **Control Panel** → **Devices and Printers**.
2. Right-click your printer and select **See what’s printing**.
3. If any documents are listed, click **Printer** → **Cancel All Documents**.
4. If that doesn’t work, restart the print spooler as described earlier.
In addition, you can disable the “Let Windows manage my default printer” setting in **Settings** → **Bluetooth & devices** → **Printers & scanners** to prevent automatic changes.
Check Physical Connections and Power Settings
Don’t overlook the basics. A loose USB cable or a printer that’s gone into sleep mode can cause the “ready” status without action. Try:
– Unplugging the USB cable and plugging it into a different port.
– Turning the printer off, waiting 30 seconds, and powering it back on.
– Disabling USB selective suspend in **Power Options** → **Change plan settings** → **Change advanced power settings**.
These steps often resolve intermittent communication breakdowns.
Final Thoughts: Watch the Full Tutorial for a Visual Walkthrough
While this guide covers the core fixes, seeing them in action can make all the difference. The video tutorial provides a clear, step-by-step demonstration of each method, including timestamps for quick navigation. Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn HP printer error code or an Epson that won’t accept print commands, the solutions are the same.
Therefore, if your printer is showing ready but not printing in Windows 10/11, don’t give up. Start with the spooler restart, then move through the driver and queue fixes. For a complete visual guide, watch the video below—and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more troubleshooting tips.
