Printer in error state is one of the vaguest messages Windows shows. It means Windows has received a fault signal from the printer, or has lost the ability to talk to it properly, but it rarely says which. Sometimes the cause is physical, like an open door or an empty tray. Other times the printer is fine and the problem is the connection, the port Windows uses, a stuck job or the driver. This guide starts at the printer and moves step by step toward the computer, so you fix the real cause.
What you might be seeing
- Windows lists the printer as Error or Printer in error state
- Jobs sit in the queue without printing
- The printer itself shows no obvious problem
- The message returns after every restart
Common causes
- Physical problem
- Paper out, a jam, an open door or a supply issue sends an error status to Windows.
- Connection drop
- A loose USB cable, a USB port put to sleep or an unstable network breaks two-way communication.
- Outdated port
- Windows may be using a network port that points to the printer's old address.
- Stuck job or spooler
- A corrupt job can hold the queue in an error state.
- Driver problem
- A damaged or mismatched driver can misreport the printer's status.
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 printer first
Look at the printer's screen or lights for a message. Make sure it's switched on, has paper in the right tray, has no jam, and that every door and cover is closed. Check that cartridges are installed and not empty. Clear anything the printer reports, restart it, and wait until it shows ready before printing again.
Confirm the connection
Restart the computer. For USB, connect the cable directly to the computer, not a hub, and try another port. For a network printer, check that its screen or lights show a network connection, and print a network configuration page to see its current IP address. If the printer has dropped off your network, reconnect it before going further.
Bring the queue back online
Open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners in Windows 11, or Settings › Devices › Printers & scanners in Windows 10, select the printer and open its print queue. Cancel all documents, and make sure printing isn't paused or set to offline; in the classic queue window these options appear under the Printer menu as Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline. Then send one test page.
Restart the Print Spooler and clear old files
Press Windows key + R, type
services.mscand press Enter. Right-click Print Spooler and choose Restart. If jobs still won't clear, choose Stop, open File Explorer atC:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, delete the files inside that folder but not the folder itself, then start Print Spooler again. Windows may ask for administrator permission.Point Windows at the right port
From Printers & scanners, open the printer's Printer properties and go to the Ports tab. For a network printer, check whether the selected port matches the printer's current IP address. If it shows an old address, or a WSD port that keeps failing, click Add Port, choose Standard TCP/IP Port, enter the current address, finish the wizard and select the new port. Reserve that address in your router.
Stop USB ports from sleeping
For a USB printer, right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers and double-click each USB Root Hub entry. On the Power Management tab, clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and click OK. Laptops in particular cut power to idle ports, which can interrupt the printer's status messages and trigger the error.
Reinstall the driver
If the error persists, remove the printer from Printers & scanners, restart, and add it again with Add device, letting Windows Update supply the driver. If Windows doesn't offer one, or the error returns, install the current driver for your model, downloaded from the manufacturer's official website or app. Avoid driver-download sites, which can bundle unwanted software.
How to keep it from happening again
- Reserve a fixed IP address for network printers
- Connect USB printers directly rather than through a hub
- Keep paper and supplies topped up
- Install drivers only from Windows Update or the manufacturer
Common questions
What does "printer in error state" actually mean?
Windows has an error status for the printer but no details to show. The printer may have reported a problem such as an open door, or Windows may have lost reliable two-way communication with it. Because the message is so general, checking the printer itself first usually saves time.
Why does the error return after every restart?
A recurring error points to something persistent: a port aimed at an old IP address, a USB power-saving setting, or a damaged driver. Physical faults usually clear once fixed and stay fixed. Work through the port and USB power steps, and reserve the printer's address so the port stays valid.
Does the Windows printer troubleshooter help?
It can fix simple issues such as a stopped spooler. In Windows 11, look under Settings › System › Troubleshoot › Other troubleshooters; on newer versions the printer option may open the Get Help app instead. It won't correct a wrong port or a physical fault, so treat it as a quick first check.
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.