HP Printer Not Printing — Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

If your HP printer is not printing, check the print queue first — a stuck job blocks everything that comes after it. Go to Settings → Printers → Open print queue and delete all queued jobs, then try printing again.

Affected Models

HP LaserJet
HP OfficeJet
HP DeskJet
HP ENVY
HP OfficeJet Pro
HP Color LaserJet

Common Causes

Stuck or corrupt job blocking the print queue
Printer showing offline — see HP Printer Offline guide
Empty or unrecognised ink or toner cartridge
Printer not set as the default printer in Windows
Wi-Fi or USB connection lost
Print Spooler service stopped or frozen

How to Fix It

Clear the print queue.

Go to Settings → Bluetooth and devices → Printers and scanners. Click your HP printer → Open print queue. Right-click each job and select Cancel. If the jobs will not cancel, restart the Print Spooler: press Windows + R, type services.msc, find Print Spooler, and restart it.
Check the printer status.

Ensure the printer display shows Ready and no error lights are on. If the printer shows Offline, follow the HP Printer Offline steps to bring it back online before trying to print.
Set the HP printer as the default printer.

Go to Settings → Printers and scanners. Click your HP printer and select Set as default. Print jobs sometimes go to a different printer or a Microsoft PDF printer if the HP is not set as default.
Print a test page from the printer itself.

On the printer control panel, navigate to Setup → Reports → Print Quality Report or Test Page. If the test page prints, the hardware is working and the problem is on the computer side — check the driver and connection.

When to Call a Professional

If all software fixes fail and the printer shows Ready on its own display but still will not print, the formatter board or main board has a hardware fault — contact HP support.