PRINTER NOT CONNECTED

[abcd1234893230]

PRINTER NOT READY

[Meghana_10]

Hello @CNBRT5915J, Welcome to the HP Support Community.

A “Printer Not Ready” message on the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M126nw Plus usually means the computer is not communicating correctly with the printer. Common causes include a temporary printer communication error, a stuck Windows print queue, or an incorrect connection/driver configuration.
 

Try the following steps in order.
 

1. Perform a printer power reset

A power reset clears temporary hardware and communication states without changing your printer settings.

• Turn on the printer.
• Disconnect the power cord from the back of the printer.
• Unplug the other end from the wall outlet.
• Wait 60 seconds.
• Plug the power cord directly into a wall outlet, then reconnect it to the printer.
• Turn the printer on and wait until it finishes initializing.

2. Clear the Windows print queue

A stuck print job can leave Windows showing the printer as Not Ready even when the printer itself is functioning normally.

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Find Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Stop.
• Open File Explorer and enter:
  C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
• Delete the files inside this folder. These are temporary files for pending print jobs.
• Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
• Try printing again.

3. Check the printer connection

Make sure the connection method used by the M126nw Plus matches the way it was installed on the computer.

• USB: Make sure the USB cable is firmly connected at both ends. If possible, try another USB port.
• Wi-Fi/network: Confirm that the printer is connected to the same network as the computer.
• Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers and verify that the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M126nw Plus is not showing as Offline or Paused.
• If it is not already selected, set the HP printer as the default printer.

4. Reinstall the printer software if necessary

• If Windows still reports “Printer Not Ready,” the installed printer driver or connection configuration may be corrupted.
• Remove the M126nw Plus from Windows, download the appropriate software for your printer from HP Support, and reinstall it using the connection method you intend to use. This creates a fresh printer configuration rather than continuing to use a damaged or incorrect installation.

If the printer is still not ready

Please let me know:

• Are you connecting the M126nw Plus by USB, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet/network?
• Does the printer itself display any error message or flashing light?
• Does Windows show “Offline,” “Error,” or “Not Ready”?
• Which version of Windows are you using?

With those details, we can narrow down whether the problem is with the printer, network connection, Windows print spooler, or printer driver.