Fixes / Windows · Checked September 30, 2026

Windows "Printer in error state": what it means and how to fix it

Short answer

"Printer in error state" means Windows got an error status back from the printer, or lost contact with it. Most often the printer has a problem it reports (paper jam, open cover, empty tray, ink or toner) or a print job is stuck. Clear the problem on the printer, turn it off and unplug it for 30 seconds, cancel all jobs in the print queue, then print again.

What this message means

Windows keeps a status for every installed printer. "Error" is shown when the printer reports a fault through its driver or network port, or when a job in the queue fails and blocks everything behind it. It is different from "Offline", which means Windows cannot reach the printer at all, although both can come from the same connection problem. The message is generic: Windows does not say which error occurred. The real cause is usually shown on the printer's own display or lights, in the print queue window, or in the manufacturer's app. Once the underlying fault is cleared and the queue is empty, the status normally returns to "Ready" on its own.

Common causes

Cause	How to tell
A physical fault on the printer: paper jam, open door or cover, empty paper tray, or ink or toner empty or not recognised.	The printer's screen shows a message or a warning light is on or blinking. The manufacturer's app (for example HP Smart or Epson Printer Utility) shows a supply or jam alert.
A stuck or failed job in the print queue that blocks everything after it.	The print queue lists one or more documents with the status "Error" or "Error - Printing", and new documents pile up behind it without printing.
Lost connection: USB cable loose, printer asleep, or a network printer that changed IP address or joined a different Wi-Fi network.	The status flips between "Error" and "Offline". A network printer's IP address (printed on its network configuration page) no longer matches the port set in Printer properties, or you cannot open its web page in a browser.
The Print Spooler service has hung or is not running.	Jobs will not cancel or delete, the queue window freezes, and every printer (including Microsoft Print to PDF) misbehaves, not just one.
SNMP status reporting on a network (Standard TCP/IP) port giving Windows a wrong status.	The printer prints fine from phones or other PCs and shows no fault on its own screen, but this PC keeps reporting an error or offline state.
A corrupted, outdated or mismatched printer driver, often after a Windows update.	The error started right after an update or driver change, Device Manager shows a yellow warning on the printer under Print queues, or the printer appears twice (for example "Printer" and "Printer (Copy 1)").

How to fix it

1. Clear any fault on the printer and power-cycle it

Look at the printer's display or lights and clear what it reports: remove jammed paper, close every door and cover, load paper, and reseat or replace ink or toner.
Turn the printer off and unplug the power cord.
Wait at least 30 seconds, plug it back in and turn it on.
For a USB printer, unplug and reconnect the cable, or try a different USB port directly on the PC (not a hub).
Wait for the printer to finish starting up, then print a test page.

2. Cancel all jobs and turn off "Use Printer Offline"

Windows 10 and Windows 11

Press Windows key + R, type control printers and press Enter.
Right-click your printer and choose See what's printing.
Open the Printer menu and choose Cancel All Documents, then confirm with Yes.
In the same Printer menu, clear the tick next to Pause Printing and next to Use Printer Offline if either is ticked.
Right-click the printer again and choose Set as default printer if it is the one you use, then print again.

3. Restart the Print Spooler and clear stuck spool files

Press Windows key + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
Double-click Print Spooler and click Stop.
Open File Explorer, go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete everything inside that folder (not the folder itself). Click Continue if asked for administrator permission.
Back in the Print Spooler window, set Startup type to Automatic, click Start, then OK.
Try printing again.

4. Run the printer troubleshooter

Windows 11 uses the Get Help app; Windows 10 uses Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Printer

On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Next to Printer, click Run. This opens the automated printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
Choose the printer that shows the error when asked.
Apply any fixes it offers, then print a test page.

5. Check the port and turn off SNMP status (network printers)

Printers connected over Wi-Fi or Ethernet using a Standard TCP/IP port

Print a network configuration page from the printer's menu and note its current IP address.
Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners), select the printer and click Printer properties.
Go to the Ports tab. Check that the ticked port matches the printer's IP address, or is a USB port for a USB printer.
For a TCP/IP port, click Configure Port, clear SNMP Status Enabled, and click OK, then Apply.
If the IP address keeps changing, reserve it in your router's DHCP settings so it stays fixed.

6. Remove the printer and reinstall it with the latest driver

Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners (Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners).
Select the printer and click Remove (Windows 10: Remove device), then confirm. Remove any duplicate "Copy 1" entries too.
Restart the PC.
Download the current driver or full software package for your exact model from the manufacturer's support site and install it.
Back in Printers & scanners, click Add device (Windows 10: Add a printer or scanner), select the printer and print a test page.

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Still not fixed?

If the error persists after a clean reinstall, test the printer from another computer or phone. If it fails there too, the fault is in the printer: run its built-in self-test or diagnostic page, update its firmware, and contact the manufacturer's support (HP Print and Scan Doctor, Canon, Epson and Brother all offer free diagnostic tools). If it prints fine elsewhere, install pending updates under Settings > Windows Update, and on a work or school PC ask your IT department, since print servers, Group Policy or Point and Print restrictions may be blocking the driver.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between "Printer in error state" and "Printer offline"?

"Offline" means Windows cannot reach the printer at all. "Error" means Windows can see it (or its queue) but the printer or a job reported a fault, such as a jam, open cover or failed job.

Why does my printer say error state when nothing is wrong with it?

Usually a stuck job in the queue or incorrect status from a network port. Cancel all documents, restart the Print Spooler, and on a network printer turn off SNMP Status Enabled in the port settings.

Can low ink or toner cause the error state?

Yes. Many printers report an empty, missing or unrecognised cartridge as an error, which Windows shows as "Error". Check the printer's display or the manufacturer's app for a supply warning.

Why did the error start after a Windows update?

Updates sometimes replace or break the printer driver or reset the port. Remove the printer, restart, and reinstall it using the latest driver from the manufacturer's website.

Do I need to reinstall Windows to fix it?

No. The problem is almost always the printer itself, the queue, the spooler, the port or the driver, all of which can be fixed without touching Windows itself.

Sources

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