My printer will not print. I can scan but it just says error when I try to print.

[Gerry1953]

I was in Florida and the printer worked fine.  I am now back home in NY and the printer screen reads ready but will not print.

[Rachel571]

Hi @Gerry1953,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds frustrating to have your printer stop working properly after moving it. Let’s try to troubleshoot the issue with your printer not printing, despite it indicating that it's ready. Here are a few steps you can take to try to resolve the problem:

Check the Connection:

• Ensure that the printer is properly connected to your computer or network. If it’s a USB connection, try unplugging it and plugging it back in. If it's networked (either via Ethernet or Wi-Fi), make sure the network settings are correct and that the printer is connected to the same network as your computer.

Restart Everything:

• Sometimes simply restarting both your printer and your computer can resolve printing issues. Turn off both devices completely, wait a few minutes, and then turn them back on.

Check Printer Settings:

• On your computer, open the printer settings and ensure that the correct printer is set as the default printer. Sometimes, printers can be mistakenly deselected as the default after a move or network change.
• Check if the printer status is online. In Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, click on your printer, then click Manage and see if there are any jobs stuck in the print queue that might need to be cleared.

Driver Update/Reinstallation:

• Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause issues. Visit the printer manufacturer's website to download and install the latest drivers for your specific printer model. Alternatively, you can uninstall the printer from your device and reinstall it.
  • To uninstall, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, then choose “Remove device.”
  • Restart your computer and reinstall the printer either by reconnecting it or by adding it through the “Add a printer” wizard in Windows or the equivalent on other operating systems.

Check for Error Messages:

• Look for any specific error messages on the printer or computer screen. Sometimes printers will provide error codes or messages that can help diagnose the issue. You can look up these codes/messages on the printer manufacturer’s website or in the printer manual.

Try Printing from Another Device:

• To rule out device-specific issues, try printing from a different computer or a smartphone if your printer supports mobile printing.

Check the Print Spooler Service (Windows only):

• If you are using a Windows computer, ensure that the Print Spooler service is running. You can check this by typing ‘services.msc’ in the search box, running it, scrolling down to ‘Print Spooler,’ right-clicking it, and selecting 'Restart.'

Physical Inspection:

• Since the printer was moved, check if all internal components are securely in place and that there are no paper jams or obstructions. Sometimes moving can loosen parts or block sensors.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support