If your Canon printer isn't printing, you’re not alone. It’s a common issue that affects both new and longtime users. Whether your printer is not responding, printing blank pages, showing offline, or simply refusing to print after a command, there’s usually a fix—often simpler than you’d expect.
This step-by-step guide will help you diagnose and solve the issue canon printer not printing, no matter your Canon printer model (PIXMA, i-SENSYS, MAXIFY, etc.). Follow these steps carefully, and your printer should be back up and running in no time.
Before diving into settings canon printer not printing or software, check the obvious—but often overlooked—basics:
Power & Cables: Make sure your printer is plugged in, turned on, and all cables (USB, Ethernet, or power) are securely connected.
Paper & Ink: Ensure there is enough paper in the tray and that ink or toner cartridges are not empty.
Display Panel: Look for error messages or blinking lights on the printer screen, if it has one.
No Error Beeps? Sometimes, your printer gives audible error tones. Refer to the manual for what they mean.
Your Canon printer may connect to your device in different ways—USB, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet. The issue may be as simple as a broken connection.
For USB:
Try unplugging and reconnecting the USB cable.
Use a different USB port on your computer.
Avoid using USB hubs or extenders.
For Wi-Fi:
Make sure your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer or phone.
Restart your router and printer.
Use the printer's screen/menu to reconnect to Wi-Fi if needed.
For Ethernet:
Check that the Ethernet cable is connected to both the printer and router securely.
Look for a green light near the port indicating network activity.
If your Canon printer isn’t set as the default device, your print jobs might be going to a virtual printer (like OneNote or PDF).
On Windows:
Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
Select your Canon printer and click Set as default.
Remove any offline/duplicate Canon entries if they exist.
On macOS:
Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
Select your Canon printer from the list and click Set as default printer.
Sometimes, a stuck print job can freeze everything.
On Windows:
Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Right-click your Canon printer > See what's printing.
Cancel all documents.
Right-click again > Printer > Cancel All Documents.
Restart your printer and try again.
On macOS:
Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
Select the Canon printer, then open the queue.
Cancel all pending print jobs.
Windows has a built-in tool that can automatically detect and fix printer problems.
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
Select Printer and run the troubleshooter.
Follow on-screen instructions.
This often resolves driver issues or spooler service glitches.
Outdated or corrupt drivers are a common cause of printing issues.
To Update:
Visit the Canon Support website.
Enter your printer model (e.g., PIXMA TS6320).
Download the latest drivers for your operating system.
To Reinstall:
Uninstall the existing Canon printer driver from Control Panel > Programs.
Disconnect the printer.
Reboot your system.
Reinstall the driver and reconnect the printer.
If print jobs are getting stuck, clearing the print spooler may help:
Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Scroll down and find Print Spooler.
Right-click it > Stop.
Go to:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
and delete all files inside the folder.
Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
Once you’ve made the above changes:
Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners.
Click on your Canon printer > Manage > Print a Test Page.
If the test page prints successfully, your printer is working properly.
Some newer Canon printers have built-in firmware update options:
On the printer’s screen, go to Setup > Device Settings > Firmware Update.
Follow prompts to update, if available.
Firmware updates can fix bugs and improve compatibility with new operating systems.
If all else fails:
Use the printer’s screen menu to go to Setup > Reset > Reset All (names may vary by model).
This will erase custom settings and restore factory defaults.
Reconnect to Wi-Fi and reinstall drivers if necessary.
If you've just replaced an ink cartridge and it stopped printing:
Make sure the cartridge is seated correctly.
Clean the printhead using the maintenance menu on the printer.
Run a nozzle check pattern to verify ink flow.
Printer problems can be annoying, but most Canon printing not printing issues are either connectivity-related, driver-based, or due to incorrect configuration. Going through this checklist step by step can resolve 90% of printing issues without needing professional help.
If your Canon printer still isn’t printing after trying everything above, it may be a hardware issue. In that case, contact Canon support or visit an authorized repair center.