Printers are essential devices in both home and office environments. However, it can be frustrating when a printer like a Canon printer suddenly stops printing. If your Canon printer isn’t printing, don’t worry—this issue is common and can often be resolved with some troubleshooting steps. This guide will walk you through the possible reasons why your Canon printer might not be printing and provide step-by-step solutions to get it working again.
Common Reasons Why Your Canon Printer is Not Printing
Before diving into the specific solutions, it’s essential to understand the common reasons behind your Canon printer not printing. These include:
Connectivity Issues: The printer may not be connected to the computer or network correctly.
Driver Issues: Outdated or missing printer drivers can prevent printing.
Print Queue Errors: A jammed print queue may cause the printer to freeze.
Paper Jams or Empty Paper Tray: A physical issue like a jam or no paper can halt printing.
Ink or Toner Issues: Low or empty ink cartridges or toner may lead to print errors.
Misconfigured Printer Settings: Incorrect settings or selecting the wrong printer in the software can prevent printing.
Software Conflicts: Problems within the operating system or printing software may cause issues.
Offline Status: The printer may show as “offline,” making it unavailable for printing.
Firmware Issues: Outdated printer firmware can interfere with its ability to print properly.
Step 1: Check the Printer Connection
The first step is to ensure that your Canon printer is connected to your computer or network correctly.
For USB Printers:
Check the Cable: Ensure the USB cable is securely connected to both the printer and the computer. Try using a different USB port on your computer or swapping out the USB cable if possible.
Restart Devices: Sometimes restarting both the computer and printer can fix the problem. Turn off both devices, wait for 30 seconds, and then turn them back on.
For Wireless Printers:
Check Wi-Fi Connectivity: Ensure your Canon printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. You can do this by checking the printer's settings through the control panel or display.
Reconnect to Wi-Fi: If the connection is lost, you may need to reconnect your printer to the network. This can often be done by selecting the Wi-Fi option in the printer’s menu and re-entering the network credentials.
Router Restart: If the printer isn't connecting to Wi-Fi, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. This can often resolve network connectivity issues.
Step 2: Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
Printer drivers are essential for communication between your printer and computer. If the drivers are outdated or corrupt, your Canon printer might not print correctly.
How to Update Canon Printer Drivers:
Automatic Updates: In many cases, the operating system will automatically check for and install the latest printer drivers. However, if this doesn’t happen, you can manually update them.
Visit Canon’s Website: Go to the Canon support website and find the driver download page for your specific printer model. Download the latest drivers and install them following the on-screen instructions.
Device Manager (Windows): You can also update drivers through the Device Manager. Open the Device Manager, find your printer under "Printers," right-click, and select "Update Driver."
Reinstalling Drivers:
Uninstall the Current Driver: Go to "Devices and Printers" on your computer, right-click your Canon printer, and choose "Remove device." This will uninstall the printer driver.
Reinstall: Once uninstalled, reinstall the driver by either using the CD provided with the printer or downloading it from Canon’s website.
Step 3: Clear the Print Queue
A stuck print job in the queue could be preventing your printer from printing. Clearing the print queue can resolve this.
How to Clear the Print Queue (Windows):
Open Control Panel: Go to “Control Panel” and select “Devices and Printers.”
Right-click Printer Icon: Right-click on your Canon printer and select “See what’s printing.”
Cancel Print Jobs: In the print queue window, click on “Printer” in the top-left corner and then click “Cancel All Documents.”
How to Clear the Print Queue (Mac):
Go to System Preferences: Open “System Preferences” and select “Printers & Scanners.”
Select Printer: Select your Canon printer and click “Open Print Queue.”
Clear Jobs: Click on “Delete” next to any jobs that are stuck.
Once the queue is cleared, try printing again.
Step 4: Check the Ink or Toner Levels
One of the most common reasons for a Canon printer not printing is low or empty ink cartridges or toner. Checking and replacing the ink is essential.
How to Check Ink Levels:
Control Panel: Use the printer’s control panel or display to check ink or toner levels.
Software: On your computer, go to the printer software or settings to see an estimated ink or toner level.
Replace Cartridges: If the ink or toner is low, replace the cartridges with genuine Canon ink or toner to ensure compatibility.
Step 5: Verify Printer Settings
Your Canon printer might not be printing due to incorrect settings. You should verify that the right printer is selected and that settings such as paper size and format are correct.
Windows:
Set as Default Printer: Go to "Control Panel" > "Devices and Printers" and right-click your Canon printer. Select “Set as default printer.”
Check Printer Preferences: Ensure the correct paper size, format, and print quality settings are selected. You can access this by right-clicking your printer in “Devices and Printers” and selecting “Printer Preferences.”
Mac:
Check Default Printer: Go to “System Preferences” > “Printers & Scanners” and ensure your Canon printer is selected as the default.
Printer Options: Click “Options & Supplies” to adjust printer settings like paper type and size.
Step 6: Resolve Canon Printer Offline Issue
Your Canon printer may show as offline even if it’s turned on and connected. Here’s how to bring it back online.
Windows:
Open Control Panel: Go to “Devices and Printers” in the Control Panel.
Right-click on Printer: Select “See what’s printing” and then click “Printer” in the top-left corner.
Uncheck “Use Printer Offline”: If this option is checked, uncheck it, and your printer should come back online.
Mac:
Go to Printers & Scanners: Open “System Preferences” and select “Printers & Scanners.”
Reset Printing System: Right-click on your Canon printer and select “Reset printing system,” then reconnect the printer.
Step 7: Check for Firmware Updates
Occasionally, outdated printer firmware can prevent printing. Canon regularly releases firmware updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
How to Update Firmware:
Visit Canon’s Website: Go to the support section of Canon’s website and search for firmware updates for your printer model.
Download and Install: Follow the instructions to download and install the latest firmware version.
Step 8: Restart the Printer Spooler Service (Windows)
The Print Spooler service is responsible for managing print jobs. If it stops working, your Canon printer might not print.
How to Restart the Print Spooler:
Press Windows + R: Type services.msc in the Run dialog and press Enter.
Find Print Spooler: In the list of services, find "Print Spooler," right-click, and choose “Restart.”
Conclusion
If your Canon printer is not printing, the issue could stem from a variety of causes, including connectivity problems, outdated drivers, print queue errors, ink or toner shortages, and more. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can resolve most of these common problems and get your printer working again.
If none of these solutions work, you may need to contact Canon support for more in-depth troubleshooting or to resolve hardware issues. Regular maintenance and ensuring your printer is up-to-date will help prevent future issues from occurring.
