My desktop cannot communicate with my printer HP Laser Jet Pro 200 color M251nw?

Question

The above printer attached to my PC having no issue in power on and printing directly from printer but if I am giving printing command through my PC there is no print work and printer gone asleep?

Answer 1

Hi CA to GM (IA),

I understand how inconvenient this can be, especially when the printer itself appears to be working, but the print command from Windows does not reach it.

At this point, I recommend that you review and try the steps provided in the AI generated answer on your thread. That reply typically include the most relevant checks for this scenario. 

Since the printer can power on and work directly from the printer side, to help narrow this down, could you please share a few more details?

• Is the HP LaserJet Pro 200 color M251nw connected to the desktop by USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or through another shared computer?
• In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, does the printer show as Ready, Offline, Paused, or In error state?
• When you send a print job, does it appear in the printer queue, or does nothing show there?
• Can you print a Windows test page from the printer settings?
• Did this start after a Windows update, printer driver update, router/Wi-Fi change, or after reinstalling the printer?

In the meantime, you may try these checks:

• Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your HP printer, then open the print queue. Make sure Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing are not selected.
• Cancel any stuck print jobs in the queue, then try printing a very simple file, such as a Notepad document.
• Set the HP printer as the default printer temporarily. If Let Windows manage my default printer is turned on, turn it off first, then manually choose the HP printer as default.
• Run the Windows printer troubleshooter from Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Printer. Apply any suggested fixes and test printing again.
• If the printer is connected over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, print or check the printer’s network configuration page from the printer menu and confirm that the printer still has a valid IP address.
• If the printer shows as reachable on the network but Windows still treats it as offline, open Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Printer properties > Ports > Configure Port and check whether SNMP Status Enabled is selected.
• Please also check HP’s support page for the exact HP LaserJet Pro 200 color M251nw model and install the latest available printer driver or firmware.

While my initial response may not fully resolve the issue, I truly appreciate your cooperation as we work together toward identifying the most effective solution. Thank you so much for your understanding.    

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Answer 2

These are from the HP website. They show you how your printer can communicate with your PC through an Ethernet (wired) network or a WiFi (wireless) network. Choose the instructions that correspond to the type of network you have.

HP printer setup (wired Ethernet network)

HP printer setup (Wi-Fi network)

Answer 3

Follow these steps in order on the Windows 11 desktop that can’t print.

1. Power‑cycle printer and PC

• Turn the printer off, unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and turn it on again.
• Restart the Windows 11 PC.

2. Check the connection (USB or network)

• If using USB: Make sure the USB cable is firmly plugged into both the printer and the PC, and into the correct port on the printer. If needed, try a different USB port on the PC.
• If using Wi‑Fi: Make sure the printer’s wireless is turned on and connected to the same Wi‑Fi network as the PC. Many printers have a wireless button with a blue icon and a built‑in wireless test in the printer menu.
• If using Ethernet: Ensure the network cable is firmly connected and the printer shows as connected to the network.

3. Remove and reinstall the printer in Windows 11

• Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & scanners.
• Select the HP LaserJet Pro 200 and choose Remove; confirm removal.
• Make sure the printer is powered on and connected (USB or network).
• In Printers & scanners, select Add device and wait while Windows searches.
  • If the printer appears, select Add device next to it.
  • If it doesn’t appear, select Add manually and follow the prompts that best match how the printer is connected.

4. Install or update the printer driver

• After the printer is re‑added, install the latest driver for the HP LaserJet Pro 200 from the manufacturer’s site if available.
• If adding manually, choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings, then:
  1. Select Use an existing port and pick the correct port (USB, LPT, or TCP/IP as appropriate), then Next.
  2. Use Windows Update to refresh the printer list, then select the correct manufacturer and model, and Next.
  3. If prompted about driver versions, normally choose Replace the current driver.

5. Clear and reset the Print Spooler (on the problem PC) This fixes many “PC sees printer but won’t print” issues.
6. In the taskbar search box, type services, then open Services.
7. On the Standard tab, double‑click Print Spooler.
8. Select Stop, then OK.
9. In the search box, type %WINDIR%\system32\spool\printers and open that folder.
10. Delete all files in that folder.
11. Open Services again, double‑click Print Spooler.
12. Select Start, set Startup type to Automatic, then OK.
13. Run the Windows printer troubleshooter

• Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
• Run the Printer troubleshooter and apply any fixes it suggests.

7. Test printing

• In Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & scanners, select the HP printer and choose Print a test page.
• If the printer still goes to sleep and does not print, check the printer’s status on the PC (for errors like “offline” or “in error state”) and on the printer display for any error messages.

If the printer works from other devices but not from this desktop after these steps, focus on reinstalling the driver again and confirming the printer is using the correct port in its Printer properties.

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References:

• Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows
• Printer isn't responding
• My printer won't connect and I'm unable to print anything - Microsoft Q&A
• printer is not working - Microsoft Q&A