my printer is idle how to remove idle

Question

how to remove idle from my printer. It will not send to the printer and I cannot remove it I have tried everything I know to do. Can you help me I am 88 years old and I am having a hard time. My printer is a HP Envy Inspire 7900 series

Answer 1

Hi,

Are you using the printer via cable or Wi-Fi network?

Because if it's in Wi-Fi mode, it's idle, and when you send a print job, it won't print because the IP address is set to automatic.

In that case, you would have to manually configure it to stay on permanently.

Thanks

Answer 2

Follow these steps in Windows 11 to clear “idle” jobs and get the HP Envy Inspire 7900 printing again:

1. Cancel anything stuck in the printer queue
   1. Click the Start button.
   2. Select Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
      (Or use the Open Printers & scanners settings link if shown.)
   3. Click your HP Envy Inspire 7900 printer.
   4. Click Open print queue.
   5. Click the … (three dots) and choose Cancel all (or right‑click each document and choose Cancel).
2. Restart the Print Spooler (the Windows printing service)
   1. On the taskbar, click in the Search box and type services.
   2. Click Services in the results.
   3. Scroll down to Print Spooler.
   4. Right‑click Print Spooler and choose Restart.
3. Make sure the printer is the default and not set to “Use printer offline”
   1. Go back to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
   2. Click your HP Envy Inspire 7900.
   3. If you see Set as default, click it so this is the main printer.
   4. Click Open print queue again, then in the menu make sure Use Printer Offline is not checked.
4. Remove and reinstall the printer (if it still will not print)
   1. In Printers & scanners, click your HP Envy Inspire 7900.
   2. Click Remove device (or Remove) and confirm Yes.
   3. Make sure the printer is turned on and connected to the same Wi‑Fi network as the PC.
   4. In Printers & scanners, click Add device (or Add a printer or scanner).
   5. Wait for Windows to find HP Envy Inspire 7900, then click Add device next to it.

After these steps, try printing a small test document again.

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References:

• Troubleshooting offline printer problems in Windows
• Fix print job stuck in queue errors in Windows
• Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows