Canon Printer Not Printing: How to Fix It

Is your Canon printer not printing even though it appears to be connected? A printer may stop printing because of an offline status, an incorrect connection, an empty ink cartridge, paper problems, a stuck print queue, outdated drivers, or communication problems between the printer and computer.

This guide explains simple ways to troubleshoot a Canon printer that is not printing on Windows, Mac, WiFi, or USB connections.

Why Is My Canon Printer Not Printing?

There can be several reasons why a Canon printer does not print a document. The printer may be turned off, disconnected from WiFi, connected to the wrong network, paused, offline, out of paper, low on ink, or affected by a stuck print job.

Common causes include:

Canon printer is offline.
Printer is not connected to WiFi.
USB cable is loose or damaged.
Paper tray is empty or paper is jammed.
Ink cartridges are empty or not installed correctly.
A document is stuck in the print queue.
The wrong printer is selected on the computer.
Printer drivers or software have a problem.
Computer and printer are connected to different networks.
The printer needs to be restarted.

How to Fix a Canon Printer That Is Not Printing

1. Check That the Canon Printer Is Turned On

First, make sure the Canon printer is receiving power. Check the power cable and press the printer's power button if necessary.

If the printer display or power light does not turn on, check the electrical outlet and power connection before continuing with other troubleshooting steps.

2. Check for Printer Errors

Look at the printer display and indicator lights for error messages. A paper jam, empty paper tray, open cover, ink problem, or other printer error can prevent printing.

Resolve any visible error before sending another print job from the computer.

3. Check the Paper

Make sure the printer has paper loaded correctly. Remove any damaged, curled, or incorrectly positioned paper from the tray.

If the printer reports a paper jam, carefully remove the jammed paper according to the printer's instructions. Avoid pulling paper forcefully because this may leave small pieces inside the printer.

4. Check the Ink Cartridges

Check whether the ink cartridges are installed correctly and whether the printer reports a low or empty cartridge.

If an ink cartridge needs replacement, install a compatible cartridge according to the printer model's instructions. After replacing a cartridge, try printing a test page.

5. Restart the Canon Printer

Restarting the printer can clear temporary communication and processing problems.

Turn off the Canon printer.
Wait for a few seconds.
Turn the printer back on.
Wait until the printer finishes starting.
Send the document to print again.

6. Check the Printer Connection

If you are using WiFi, make sure the printer is connected to the same network used by your computer. If you recently changed your WiFi password or router, the printer may need to be connected to the network again.

If you are using USB, make sure the cable is securely connected to both the printer and computer. You can also try another USB port if available.

For detailed wireless setup help, see: Canon Printer WiFi Setup.

7. Check the Print Queue

A stuck document in the print queue can prevent new documents from printing. Open your computer's printer settings and check whether there are pending documents.

Cancel documents that are stuck in the queue and then try printing again.

8. Make Sure the Correct Canon Printer Is Selected

Your computer may have more than one printer installed. Before printing, check that the correct Canon printer is selected.

If another printer is selected as the default printer, your document may be sent to the wrong device.

9. Check Whether the Canon Printer Is Offline

A Canon printer may not print if the computer shows it as offline. Check the printer status in your computer's printer settings.

If the printer is offline, reconnect it to WiFi or USB and check its status again.

For detailed instructions, visit: Canon Printer Offline: How to Fix It.

10. Restart Your Computer

Sometimes the computer's printing service or printer connection can temporarily stop responding. Restarting the computer can refresh the connection and clear temporary printing problems.

After restarting, check the printer settings and try printing a test document.

Canon Printer Not Printing on Windows

If your Canon printer is not printing from a Windows computer, check the printer status, print queue, connection, and driver.

Open Windows printer settings.
Select your Canon printer.
Check whether the printer is online.
Open the print queue.
Cancel stuck documents if necessary.
Confirm that the correct Canon printer is selected.
Restart the printer and computer.
Try printing a test page.

If Windows cannot detect the printer, check the WiFi or USB connection and verify that the appropriate printer software and driver are installed.

Canon Printer Not Printing on Mac

If your Canon printer is not printing from a Mac, check the printer list, connection, print queue, and printer status.

Open your Mac printer settings.
Select your Canon printer.
Check the printer status.
Review any pending print jobs.
Cancel stuck documents if required.
Check the WiFi or USB connection.
Restart the printer and Mac.
Try printing again.

Canon Printer Connected to WiFi but Not Printing

A Canon printer can sometimes show that it is connected to WiFi but still fail to print. In this situation, check whether the computer is connected to the same network.

Restart the printer, computer, and router. Then check whether the printer appears correctly in the computer's printer settings.

If the printer cannot connect to the wireless network, see: Canon Printer Won't Connect to WiFi.

Canon Printer Not Printing After Changing WiFi

If you recently changed your WiFi name, password, router, or network settings, your Canon printer may still be configured for the previous network.

Reconnect the printer to the new WiFi network and then add or select the printer again on your computer if necessary.

Canon Printer Not Printing Through USB

If you use a USB connection, check that the cable is properly connected. A damaged cable or USB port can interrupt communication between the computer and printer.

Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable.
Try another USB port on the computer.
Restart the printer.
Restart the computer.
Check whether the printer appears in printer settings.
Check the printer driver and software.

Check Canon Printer Drivers and Software

Printer software and drivers allow your computer to communicate with the printer. If the driver is missing, outdated, or damaged, printing may not work correctly.

Check the printer model and use the manufacturer's official resources when downloading drivers or software. Make sure the software matches your printer model and operating system.

Try Printing a Test Page

After troubleshooting the connection, print a test page. A successful test page can help confirm that the printer is communicating correctly with the computer.

If the test page prints but a particular document does not, the problem may be related to that application, document, or print settings rather than the printer itself.

What to Do If Your Canon Printer Still Does Not Print

Make sure the printer is powered on.
Check the printer for error messages.
Check paper and remove any paper jams.
Check ink cartridges.
Confirm the WiFi or USB connection.
Clear stuck documents from the print queue.
Select the correct Canon printer.
Check whether the printer is offline.
Restart the printer and computer.
Check the printer driver and software.
Try printing a test page.

Related Canon Printer Troubleshooting Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Canon printer not printing?

A Canon printer may not print because it is offline, disconnected from WiFi, out of paper or ink, affected by a stuck print queue, or experiencing a driver or communication problem.

Why is my Canon printer connected but not printing?

Check the printer status, computer connection, print queue, selected printer, paper, ink, and printer software. Restarting both the printer and computer can also help resolve temporary connection problems.

Why does my Canon printer say offline?

The printer may show offline because of a network connection problem, a computer communication issue, a changed WiFi password, or an incorrect printer status.

Why is my Canon printer not printing over WiFi?

Make sure the printer and computer are connected to the same network. Restart the printer, computer, and router, then check the printer status and print queue.

Why is my Canon printer not printing from my computer?

Check whether the correct Canon printer is selected, whether it is online, whether documents are stuck in the print queue, and whether the required printer software and driver are installed.

What should I do if my Canon printer still will not print?

Check power, paper, ink, printer errors, WiFi or USB connection, print queue, printer status, and software. If the problem continues, consult the official documentation and support resources for your specific Canon printer model.

Tip: Printer troubleshooting steps can vary by Canon printer model and operating system. Always check the instructions that apply to your specific model when performing hardware or software changes.