macOS Printer Not Working — Cannot Print Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

When your Mac cannot print, the most common causes are the printer showing as 'Offline,' a stuck print queue, or an outdated printer driver. macOS handles printers differently from Windows, and many printer issues are solved by resetting the print system or deleting and re-adding the printer.

Affected Models

MacBook Air
MacBook Pro
iMac
Mac Mini
Mac Studio

Common Causes

The printer is showing as Offline in macOS even though it is powered on and connected
There is a stuck or paused job in the print queue blocking all new print jobs
The printer driver is outdated or incompatible with the current version of macOS
The printer and Mac are on different Wi-Fi networks or the printer's IP address has changed
macOS's print system has encountered an internal error and needs to be reset

How to Fix It

Clear the print queue. Click the printer icon in the Dock (if visible) or open System Settings > Printers and Scanners, select the printer, and click Open Print Queue. Delete all waiting jobs and try printing again.

A single stuck print job blocks everything behind it in the queue. Clearing the queue is the fastest fix for a printer that stopped mid-job.
Set the printer back to online. In System Settings > Printers and Scanners, right-click your printer and choose Resume. If the printer shows Offline, click the printer, then click Resume Printer.

macOS sometimes marks a printer as offline after a network change or sleep. Resuming it re-establishes the connection.
Delete and re-add the printer. Go to System Settings > Printers and Scanners. Select your printer, click the minus button to remove it. Then click the plus button, find your printer in the list, and add it back.

This reinstalls the printer driver and creates a fresh connection. It fixes most driver and configuration problems.
Reset the print system. In System Settings > Printers and Scanners, right-click anywhere in the printer list on the left and choose Reset Printing System. Confirm and then re-add your printer.

This is a more thorough reset that clears all printers, queues, and drivers. Use this if other steps have not worked. You will need to add all your printers back.
Update printer drivers. Go to Apple menu > Software Update and check for printer driver updates. For network or newer printers, visit the manufacturer's website to download the latest macOS-compatible driver.

After a major macOS upgrade, printer drivers often need to be updated for compatibility.

When to Call a Professional

You should not need professional help for a printer not working on macOS. If the printer is completely dead (no lights, no power), that is a hardware problem with the printer itself. Contact the printer manufacturer's support for hardware issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my printer work on iPhone but not on Mac?

iPhones use AirPrint, which is a wireless printing standard built into iOS. Macs use a different printing system that requires drivers. If your printer supports AirPrint, try removing it from Mac and adding it back — macOS should detect it as an AirPrint-compatible printer, which usually works better.

My printer says it is offline but it is clearly on and connected. Why?

This usually happens when the printer's IP address on the network has changed. When a printer restarts or your router restarts, the printer may get a new IP address. macOS is still trying to connect to the old address. Delete and re-add the printer to fix this.

After a macOS update, my printer stopped working. Is this normal?

It happens occasionally — Apple sometimes changes the printing system or removes older drivers in macOS updates. Check for a macOS Software Update that includes printer driver updates. Also visit your printer manufacturer's website and download the latest driver specifically for your new macOS version.