Easy Steps to Fix Canon Printer Won't Print Solutions Inside
Experiencing issues with your Canon printer won’t print can be frustrating, especially when
you need to complete urgent tasks. Fortunately, simple troubleshooting steps can help
resolve the issue and get your printer back up and running. Whether the problem is
connection issues, outdated drivers, or other settings, this guide will help you address and fix
the problem.
1. Check Basic Printer Connections
Before diving into more complex fixes, check the basic connections between your printer and
your device.
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Ensure the Printer is On: Verify that the printer is powered on and the power light is
steady, not flashing.
Check Cable Connections: If you're using a wired connection, ensure that all cables
(USB, power, etc.) are securely plugged into both the printer and your computer.
Check Wireless Connection: If you're using Wi-Fi, ensure that your printer is
connected to the correct network. You can do this by checking the printer's control
panel or printing a network settings page.
2. Restart the Printer and Computer
Sometimes, simply restarting both your printer and computer can fix printing issues.
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Turn Off the Printer: Power off your Canon printer and unplug it from the power
source.
Reboot Your Computer: Restart your computer to refresh the connection between
the two devices.
Turn On the Printer: After a few minutes, plug the printer back in and power it on.
This simple restart process can often resolve minor glitches that may be preventing your
printer from functioning properly.
3. Check the Print Queue
A clogged or stuck print queue may be the reason your Canon printer isn’t printing.
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Open the Print Queue: On your computer, go to Devices and Printers, find your
Canon printer, and click on See what’s printing.
Cancel Stuck Print Jobs: If there are print jobs that are stuck or paused, right-click
on them and select Cancel. Once cleared, try sending a new print job to the printer.
4. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause communication issues between your printer and
computer, leading to print failures.
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Update Drivers: Visit the Canon website and search for the latest drivers for your
printer model. Download and install any available updates.
Reinstall Drivers: If updating doesn’t fix the issue, uninstall the printer drivers and
reinstall them. This can help resolve any corrupted files that might be causing the
problem.
To uninstall drivers:
1. Go to Device Manager on your computer.
2. Find your Canon printer, right-click, and select Uninstall.
3. Restart your computer, then reinstall the latest drivers from Canon's website.
5. Set Canon Printer as Default
Sometimes, your computer may be sending print jobs to a different printer, causing your
Canon printer to appear unresponsive.
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Set Canon Printer as Default: Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers,
right-click on your Canon printer, and select Set as Default Printer. This ensures
that all future print jobs are sent to the correct printer.
6. Check for Paper Jams or Low Ink
Physical issues like paper jams or low ink levels can prevent your printer from printing.
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Check for Paper Jams: Open the paper tray or printer door to inspect if any paper is
stuck inside. If there is a paper jam, carefully remove the jammed paper.
Check Ink Levels: If your printer uses ink cartridges, make sure they are properly
installed and not empty. Many Canon printers have an ink level display on the printer
itself or via the software.
7. Check Printer Status
If your Canon printer is offline, it won’t be able to print. Ensure that the printer status is set to
"Online."
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Open Printer Settings: Go to Devices and Printers and select your Canon printer.
Set Printer to Online: If the printer status shows "Offline," right-click on the printer
and select Use Printer Online.
8. Clear the Print Spooler
The print spooler service manages print jobs sent to the printer. If it's malfunctioning, it can
stop your printer from working.
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Open Run: Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type "services.msc": Hit Enter to open the services window.
Find Print Spooler: Scroll down and find the Print Spooler service. Right-click it
and select Stop.
Clear Spooler Files: Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and
delete all files in the folder.
Restart Print Spooler: Go back to the services window, right-click on the Print
Spooler again, and select Start.
9. Run Canon’s Diagnostic Tools
Canon provides diagnostic software to help troubleshoot printing issues. Use the Canon
Print Diagnostic Tool or the Canon Service Tool to identify and fix problems.
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Download Diagnostic Tool: Visit Canon's support page to download the appropriate
diagnostic tool for your printer.
Run the Diagnostic Tool: Follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and resolve
the issue.
10. Perform a Factory Reset
As a last resort, you can perform a factory reset on your Canon printer. This will reset all
settings back to their defaults, including network settings, which may resolve any connection
issues.
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Access Printer Settings: Navigate to the Settings or Tools menu on your printer’s
control panel.
Select Reset: Look for the option to Reset or Restore Factory Settings. Confirm
and follow the on-screen instructions.
Conclusion
By following these easy steps, you can often fix the issue of your Canon printer not printing.
Start with basic troubleshooting like checking connections, print queues, and drivers. Then,
proceed with more advanced solutions like updating firmware, clearing the print spooler, or
running diagnostic tools. If none of these steps work, contacting Canon support may be
necessary.