How to Fix Canon Printer Not Printing – Step by Step Guide

A Canon printer not printing can be frustrating, especially when you need urgent prints. Whether your printer is unresponsive, printing blank pages, or refusing to print in color, this guide will help you diagnose and fix the issue step by step.

By the end of this guide, your Canon printer should be working properly again, ensuring smooth and hassle-free printing.

Common Reasons Why a Canon Printer Won’t Print

There are several possible reasons why your Canon printer is not printing, including:

✔️ Connection Issues – The printer may not be properly connected to your computer or network.

✔️ Low or Empty Ink/Toner – If ink or toner is low, the printer may stop printing.

✔️ Clogged Printhead – Dried ink can block the printhead and prevent printing.

✔️ Paper Jams – A jammed or misaligned paper can cause print failures.

✔️ Outdated or Corrupt Drivers – Printer drivers need to be updated to function properly.

✔️ Print Queue Errors – Stuck print jobs may prevent new prints.

✔️ Hardware Issues – A faulty printer component could be causing the problem.

Let’s go through the step-by-step solutions to fix the issue.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Canon Printer Not Printing

Follow these troubleshooting methods to get your Canon printer working again.

Step 1: Check Printer Connections

The first thing to check is whether your printer is properly connected.

For USB Printers:

✔️ Ensure the USB cable is securely connected to both the printer and the computer.

✔️ Try using a different USB port on your computer.

✔️ Replace the USB cable if it appears damaged.

For Wireless Printers:

✔️ Check if your printer is connected to WiFi by printing a network status report.

✔️ Ensure your computer and printer are on the same WiFi network.

✔️ Restart your router and printer to refresh the connection.

📌 If your printer is offline, follow the steps in the Canon Printer Offline Guide to bring it back online.

Step 2: Check Ink and Toner Levels

A Canon printer may stop printing if ink or toner is low or empty.

✔️ Open the printer software on your computer and check the ink levels.

✔️ If ink is low, replace the cartridge with a new one.

✔️ If the ink levels are fine but the printer is printing blank pages, perform a printhead cleaning (explained later).

Step 3: Clear Any Canon Printer Paper Jams

A paper jam can stop your Canon printer from printing.

✔️ Open the printer’s paper tray and output tray.

✔️ Check for stuck paper and gently remove it.

✔️ If the paper is torn inside, use tweezers to remove small bits.

✔️ Restart the printer and try printing again.

Step 4: Set Canon Printer as Default

If your computer is sending print jobs to a different printer, your Canon printer may not print.

On Windows:

1️⃣ Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

2️⃣ Right-click your Canon printer and select Set as Default Printer.

On Mac:

1️⃣ Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.

2️⃣ Select your Canon printer and click Set as Default Printer.

Now try printing again.

Step 5: Clear Print Queue and Restart Print Spooler

If there are stuck print jobs, they can prevent new documents from printing.

On Windows:

1️⃣ Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

2️⃣ Right-click your Canon printer and select See What’s Printing.

3️⃣ Click Cancel All Documents to clear the queue.

4️⃣ Restart the Print Spooler service:

Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

Find Print Spooler, right-click, and select Restart.

On Mac:

1️⃣ Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.

2️⃣ Select your Canon printer and click Open Print Queue.

3️⃣ Click Cancel All Jobs and restart your Mac.

Now try printing again.

Step 6: Run the Printer Troubleshooter (Windows Only)

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix printer problems.

✔️ Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

✔️ Select Printer > Run the Troubleshooter.

✔️ Follow the on-screen instructions.

If Windows finds and fixes the issue, try printing again.

Step 7: Update or Reinstall Canon Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause printing issues.

To update drivers on Windows:

1️⃣ Open Device Manager (search for it in the Start menu).

2️⃣ Expand Printers, right-click your Canon printer, and select Update Driver.

3️⃣ Follow the instructions to install the latest drivers.

To reinstall drivers on Mac:

1️⃣ Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.

2️⃣ Select your Canon printer and click Remove (-).

3️⃣ Click Add (+), select your printer, and reconnect.

You can also download the latest drivers from the Canon Support website.

Step 8: Perform a Printhead Cleaning

If your Canon printer prints blank pages or faded prints, the printhead may be clogged.

To clean the printhead:

1️⃣ Open Printer Settings on your computer.

2️⃣ Select Maintenance > Cleaning or Deep Cleaning.

3️⃣ Run a Nozzle Check after cleaning.

If the problem persists, remove and manually clean the printhead with warm water.

Step 9: Check for Firmware Updates

Sometimes, firmware updates fix printing issues.

✔️ Visit the Canon Support website and enter your printer model.

✔️ Download and install the latest firmware update.

✔️ Restart the printer and try printing again.

Step 10: Reset the Canon Printer to Factory Settings

If none of the above solutions work, reset your printer to default settings and reconfigure it.

To reset a Canon printer:

1️⃣ Open Setup > Device Settings > Reset Settings.

2️⃣ Select Reset All to restore factory settings.

3️⃣ Reconnect the printer and reinstall drivers.

How to Prevent Canon Printer Issues in the Future

✔️ Keep your printer’s firmware and drivers updated.

✔️ Regularly clean the printhead to prevent clogs.

✔️ Use high-quality ink and paper to avoid printing issues.

✔️ Restart your printer and computer periodically.

✔️ Check ink levels frequently to prevent running out unexpectedly.

Final Thoughts

A Canon printer not printing can often be fixed with basic troubleshooting like checking connections, updating drivers, cleaning the printhead, and resetting the print queue.

If none of these solutions work, contact Canon Customer Support for further assistance.