Why Is My Printer Not Working After Connecting to PC?

Jun 25, 2025 - 07:18

You just connected your printer to your computer. Maybe it made a sound, maybe it even blinked once—but now, nothing. No prints. No response. Just frustration. If you’ve been wondering “Why is my printer not working after connecting it to my PC?”, you’re not alone.

This is probably the most prevalent tech agony individuals experience nowadays. Don't worry, however, since most problems are simple to resolve if only you can pinpoint the problem. Through this article, we'll walk you through the most probable perpetrators and step-by-step solutions so your printer prints like magic once more.

1. Let's Rule Out the Obvious Physical Connection Issue

In general, it is best to begin with a hardware check prior to advanced settings or software issues.

Is the USB cable fully plugged in? Unplug it and plug both ends.
Try a different USB port on your computer. Some of them may be out of order.
If you can, exchange the cable. Old or twisted cables are often the quiet culprits.

2. Is the Printer Powered On and Ready

You don't need to tell me, but check that the printer is actually on and not error or sleep mode.
Check again that there are any lights flashing or error messages on the front panel of the printer.
Check again that there isn't a paper jam, low ink warning, or offline status.
If it jams, attempt a power cycle—shutdown printer, switch on power at the wall, wait 30 seconds, and start up again.

Small tricks like these will usually repair issues with lower-cost or older printers in the majority of instances.

3. Is the Printer Installed Properly on Your PC?

Your PC won't recognize that the printer is there unless there are good drivers installed.

H3: Where to Find Windows

Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Make sure your printer shows up.
If not, tap Add device and wait to be scanned.
If still hesitant, go to the manufacturer's website and download driver software.

If your printer won't print, there is a good chance it does not have the correct software to communicate with your PC.

4. Make the Printer Your Default Device

At times your papers are printed on the wrong printer.

H3: Solution:

Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
See your printer, right-click on it, and select "Set as default printer."
Double-check to ensure it also has a green checkmark beside it to indicate it is default.

This holds especially true if you've previously installed more than one printer simultaneously.

5. Empty the Print Queue – It May Be Jammed in cyberspace

It can be jammed virtually and won't print any jobs, and your printer can even become unresponsive.

Removing the Queue:

Open Devices and Printers.
Right-click your printer and select "See what's printing."
In the open window, cancel all documents.
Restart your printer and computer.

Now, attempt to print a test page to check if the problem of your printer not being able to function is resolved.

. Printer Offline or in Error State? What to Do

Sometimes Windows sends the printer to "Offline" state, or the printer is sent to "Error" state.

Steps to Fix

Right-click your printer and select "See what's printing."
Click the top menu bar's Printer and deselect "Use Printer Offline."
If in error state, attempt to reset print spooler service:
Press Win + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter.
Locate Print Spooler, right-click, and restart.

This should stand the printer on its feet and connect printer to the computer.

7. Use the Windows Troubleshooter

If it's lost, let Windows repair it for you.

H3: Here's How

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Scroll down and click Printer and then hit Run.

The troubleshooter scans for typical issues like outdated drivers, connectivity issues, and queue jams—and automatically resolves them in most cases.

8. Did You Recently Update Your Operating System?

The Windows update or OS update may disable your printer drivers or make them outdated.

Visit the website of your printer manufacturer (HP, Canon, Epson, etc.).
Download the most recent driver for your very same printer model.
Restart your computer after installation.

Follow this especially if you have Windows 11 or a beta version of your OS.

9. Is Firewall or Antivirus Blocking the Printer?

Your firewall or antivirus sometimes sees a new printer connection as something it doesn't want and won't communicate with it.

Try This

Disable your firewall or antivirus temporarily.
Print.
If it prints, add printer software to your exception list or allowed list for security software.

Don't forget to re-enable your firewall later for regular protection.

10. Installing a Network or Shared Printer? Additional Checks Required

If the network installation is to be performed on another computer on the network (i.e., office environment), then make sure:

The host machine is running.
File and printer sharing are on.
The printer has been shared from the printer individual properties.

Attempt to ping the host machine or printer IP address. Printers won't print issues on shared networks often are a sign of a questionable network.

11. Do a Full Reinstallation—Sometimes a Clean Slate Helps

As a last resort, uninstall the printer and start over.

Steps:

Settings > Printers & Scanners.
Choose your printer and select Remove device.
Uninstall installed software.
Restart your PC.
Install the printer and reinstall drivers.

This complete reboot has a knack for weeding out any residual bugs and installation issues.

12. For Wireless Printers: Reset and Reconnect

Wireless printers also lose their connection to your Wi-Fi network.

Solution:

On your printer, proceed to Network Settings > Reset Network Settings.
Reconnect your Wi-Fi using the touchscreen or setup software on your printer.
On your computer, proceed to Printers & Scanners > Add a printer to find it again.

Ensure double that both your computer and your printer use the same frequency band of Wi-Fi (2.4GHz is usually best for most printers than 5GHz).

Conclusion

Yes, It Is Possible to Fix a "Printer Not Working" Issue After Connecting it to PC

The good news is that the majority of the issues related to printer connectivity are easily solvable by some diligent process. With a wireless or a wired printer, your issue would most likely be in one of the above mentioned categories.

From driver installation and cable testing to print queue clears and defaulting, you now have a whole toolkit to play with to get your printer working again.

Still having issues? Try it on another machine to eliminate hardware failure, or use official technical support for more serious problems.