My printer doesn't seem to work properly

Question

I have an HP laptop, using Windows 11. Today, I can't print the documents I need. The pront queue shows the jobs, but they won't print.

Answer 1

Hello

When this happens, can you check the printer, and see if it has any error light on, or does the LCD screen show any error message?

Can you print from a different device, such as your smart phone from the same network?

If there's no error on the printer itself, and printing from another device works fine, try this:

Type Services in the search on the taskbar to launch the Services app, right click on print spool and stop it.

Then go to File explorer, find the folder C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

Delete everything in that folder. Then go back to the Services app, and right click on print spool to start it. And see if that helps.

If not, tell me, what's your printer's brand and model?

Answer 2

Follow these steps in order on the Windows 11 HP laptop:

1. Clear the print queue
   1. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
   2. Select the printer, then select Open print queue.
   3. Right‑click each job and select Cancel until the list is empty.
2. Restart the Print Spooler service
   1. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   2. Scroll down and locate Print Spooler.
   3. Right‑click Print Spooler and select Restart.
   4. Wait a few seconds, then try printing again.
3. Manually clear stuck spool files (if jobs still won’t print)
   1. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
   2. Right‑click Print Spooler and select Stop.
   3. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
   4. Delete all files in that folder (do not delete the folder itself).
   5. Go back to services.msc, right‑click Print Spooler, and select Start.
   6. Try printing a document again.
4. Restart printer and PC
   1. Turn the printer off and wait at least 60 seconds, then turn it back on.
   2. On the laptop, select Start > Power > Restart.
   3. After restart, try printing a test page from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > select the printer > Printer properties > Print Test Page.

If printing still fails, run the Windows printer troubleshooter from the Get Help app using the Run the troubleshooter in Get Help link in the printer support article, then follow any fixes it suggests.

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References:

• Fix print job stuck in queue errors in Windows
• Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows
• Fix printing problems in Word, Excel, or other apps
• Fix print spooler service not running errors in Windows