Printer takes forever to print and always gets error

[5Kimber5]

My printer is connected to my computer by a cord it is wireless but not to this computer. It stopped printing and I've unplugged and shut off multiple times. It will print just fine from wireless but now it takes like a hour to print one page.

[Pallipurath]

Hi @5Kimber5 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query.

I understand that your printer is working fine wirelessly but struggles when connected by USB, which points to a driver or communication issue rather than a hardware fault. I would request you to please follow the steps:

Restart the Printer

• Press the Power button to turn off the printer.
• Unplug the power cord from both the printer and the wall outlet.
• Wait at least 60 seconds to clear residual memory.
• Plug the cord back in and turn the printer on.
• Allow the printer to fully initialize before attempting to print again.

Update Printer Driver

• On your computer, open a browser and go to the HP Support website. https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers 
• Enter your printer model (e.g., OfficeJet Pro 6970).
• Download the latest Full Feature Software and Driver package.
• Uninstall the current printer driver/software from your computer.
• Install the newly downloaded driver package.
• Restart your computer and reconnect the printer.

Check for Printer Queue Issues

• On Windows:
• Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
• Right‑click your printer → See what’s printing.
• If jobs are stuck, select all and click Cancel.
• On macOS:
• Go to System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
• Select your printer → Open Print Queue.
• Cancel any pending jobs.
• Once the queue is clear, try printing a simple text file to test speed.

Check Printer Settings

• Ensure the printer is set as the default printer:
• On Windows: Right‑click the printer in Devices and Printers → Set as Default Printer.

On macOS: In Printers & Scanners, check that your printer has the green checkmark.

• Verify that the printer is set to the correct paper size and type in the print dialog.
• Make sure the printer is not set to “Print to File” or another virtual printer.

Hope this helps, Please revert if the issue persists.

Take care and have an amazing day!