printer on 'idle' how to fix

[kelly520]

I've managed to get my printer back but it says 'idle' - how can i get it to be 'ready'

kelly520

[Shema-glitch]

Hi!, am Shema and here to help, If your printer says “idle” and won’t print, here are a few steps you can try to get it back to “ready” status, (and also good if you provide the model name):

 

1. Restart Everything

• Turn off the printer completely
• Unplug it from power for 30 seconds
• Restart your computer
• Plug the printer back in and turn it on

2. Check the Print Queue

• Go to: Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Printers & Scanners
• Select your printer → Click “Open print queue”
• If there are stuck jobs, click the three dots → Cancel All

3. Set the Printer as Default

• In the same Printers & Scanners menu:
  • Select your printer → Click “Set as default”
  • If you don’t see that option, turn off “Let Windows manage my default printer”

4. Restart the Print Spooler Service

• Press Win + R → Type services.msc → Enter
• Scroll to Print Spooler
• Right-click → Restart

5. Reinstall the Printer

• Go to: Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners
• Select your printer → Click Remove device
• Reboot your PC
• Go back and click “Add a printer or scanner” to reinstall

6. Update Printer Drivers

• Visit your printer manufacturer’s website.
• Download and install the latest driver for your model

Let me know if any of these steps help! If it’s still stuck on “idle,” we can dig deeper into connection settings or try a manual port setup

[sony__xperia]

It worked for me, thanks alot. Kudos