Chromebooks print without installing drivers, using a standard called IPP Everywhere that most modern network printers support. That keeps setup simple when it works, but when the printer doesn't appear or jobs fail, there's no driver installer to fall back on. This guide covers adding the printer in ChromeOS settings, setting it up manually when it isn't found, and clearing stuck jobs. It also explains why some older instructions you may come across no longer apply.
What you might be seeing
- The printer isn't listed among nearby printers in Settings
- Saving or setting up the printer doesn't complete
- Print jobs fail with a printer error or never finish
- A school or work Chromebook shows only certain printers
Common causes
- Printer not driverless
- Older printers without IPP Everywhere need a model or PPD file chosen manually, and some can't be used at all.
- Different network
- Automatic discovery only works when the Chromebook and printer share a network.
- Out-of-date cloud printing instructions
- The cloud print service many older guides describe was shut down at the end of 2020, so those steps no longer work.
- Managed device policies
- On school or work Chromebooks, administrators decide which printers can be added.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order and test a print after each one. Most people are done within the first few steps.
Check the network and wake the printer
Click the time in the bottom-right corner to open Quick Settings and note the Wi-Fi network name. Compare it with the network in the printer's wireless settings or network report; they must match. Wake the printer by pressing a button, and make sure its wireless light or display shows a stable connection before you continue.
Add the printer from Settings
Open Settings and type printers into the search box, or go to Device › Print and scan › Printers; older versions place it under Advanced › Print and scan. Look in the list of printers available to save. When yours appears, click Save or Set up. Once saved, it appears as a destination in the print preview whenever you press Ctrl + P.
Set up the printer manually
If the printer doesn't appear, click Add printer in the Printers section and choose the manual option. Give it a name, enter its IP address in Address, choose Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) as the protocol, and leave Queue as
ipp/print. Click Add. If the printer supports encrypted printing, the IPPS option works too. The address comes from the printer's network report.Choose a model or PPD file if asked
If the printer doesn't support driverless printing, ChromeOS asks for the manufacturer and model. Pick yours from the lists if it's there. If it isn't, some manufacturers provide a PPD file, a small printer description file, on their official website, which you can select with the Browse option in the same window. If neither works, the printer may not be compatible with ChromeOS.
Clear failed jobs in Print jobs
Open Settings, search for print jobs and open the Print jobs list, which shows current and recent jobs with their status. Cancel anything stuck or showing an error. The status often explains the failure, such as out of paper or printer unreachable. After canceling, restart the printer and send a single short page as a test.
Update ChromeOS and re-add the printer
Printing support improves with ChromeOS updates. Open Settings › About ChromeOS, click Check for updates and restart when asked, which also clears network caches that can hide a printer. Then remove the printer and add it again: in the Printers list, click the three-dot menu beside it, choose Remove, and set it up from scratch.
Check for managed device restrictions
If the Chromebook belongs to a school or workplace, open Settings or the Quick Settings panel and look for a note that the device is managed by your organization. Administrators can limit printers to an approved list or block personal printers entirely. In that case nothing on the Chromebook will change it, and the administrator needs to add or allow your printer.
How to keep it from happening again
- Choose printers that support IPP Everywhere or Mopria when buying
- Keep ChromeOS up to date
- Install printer firmware updates when they're offered
- Save the printer in Settings rather than relying on discovery each time
Common questions
Can I install a printer driver on a Chromebook?
Not in the way you would on Windows or a Mac. ChromeOS prints through its own built-in system, using IPP Everywhere or a PPD file for printers that need one, and driver installers made for other systems won't run. For most current network printers, no driver is needed at all.
Can a Chromebook print to a USB printer?
Yes, many USB printers work. Plug the printer in, and ChromeOS usually shows a notification offering to set it up. If it asks for a model, choose yours or the closest match from the same manufacturer. Printers that rely entirely on their own Windows software may not work this way, so a network connection is better for those.
Why does the printer appear in the list but every job fails?
ChromeOS found the printer, but the setup it chose may not suit it. Remove it, add it manually, and try a different protocol, such as IPPS instead of IPP, or select the exact model instead of the automatic setup. Also check the printer's own display for paper, ink or error messages, since jobs can't finish while it's in an error state.
This guide is general information written for common home and office printers. Menus and button names vary between models, so check your printer’s manual where a step differs. Printer Problems Solved is independent and not affiliated with any printer manufacturer. See our disclaimer.