Why Won’t My Canon Printer Print? [Top 4 Methods]

Why won’t my Canon printer print? This can happen for many reasons, and this guide will help you resolve this issue. We know how frustrating it can be to print files and see a printer error on the Canon printer. The next day, you can’t print a single file. What could be the reason for your Canon printer not printing properly?

Canon printers are considered good home printers for people who print simple files for work or school. They can also print brochures and portraits. Many factors can cause the Canon printer to stop printing. We can agree that it won’t print because something prevents it from working properly. Regardless of printer type, most printer owners will agree that you will encounter at least one issue over a lifetime.

Before going into the details of how to fix the Canon printer, let’s first discuss why the Canon printer won’t print at all.

What Are The Main Reasons For Canon Printer Not Printing?

Before moving ahead with the methods, here we will mention some reasons you face this problem. Take a look at the main reasons:

Paper jam error
The driver software is out of date.
Not having a secure network connection.
Print tasks get stuck in the print queue.
Unmatched paper size loaded in your printer.
Caused by a dusty printer head
If the printer is not compatible with an older driver

4 Methods To Fix Canon Printer Won’t Print Error

There are several methods to resolve a Canon printer that is not printing, and some basic steps must be followed to fix it. Have a look!

Method 1: Set Canon As a Default Printer

Follow the steps given below to fix the “why won’t my Canon printer print” issue.

Open the “Control Panel” tab on your computer(as shown below.)

After that, select the “Devices & Printers” option.

Ensure that the printer is set as the default printer from the list.
If the printer isn’t selected as the default printer, right-click on the printer name and select the “Set as Default” option.
After setting the printer as a default printer, ensure a green check mark on the printer.

Method 2: Remove Print Job From Print Queue

If your Canon printer doesn’t print, there may be a canceled or failed print job in the print queue if you need to remove the print job from the print queue. This way:

Remove print jobs from the print queue:

To show print jobs, select the “Display print queue” option.
To remove a print job from the “Printer“menu, choose the “Cancel All Documents” option.
When the confirmation notice appears, tap the “Yes“button.

You can attempt a manual procedure if the prints don’t clear up. After manually deleting a print job, the printer spooler service will need to be restarted. Please see below for manually deleting print jobs and restarting the printer spooler service.

Manual Procedure:

Click the “Windows” + “R“keys together to open the “Run“dialog box.
Input “services.msc” in the search bar and tap the “OK” button.

Scroll to the “Print Spooler” option in the Services screen. Right-click on it and hit the “Stop“button.

Note: Don’t close the Services screen; just minimize it, as you will return to it later.

Once the “Print Spooler” has stopped, click the “Windows“+ “R“keys together to open the “Run“box.
Enter the “Spool“in the search bar and hit the “OK” button.

After that, open the “Printers“folder.

Now, you need to delete any file in this printer’s folder.
After deleting files, close the folder.
Go back to the Services screen. Right-click on the “Print Spooler” and tap the “Start” option.

Now try a print test to see if it brings the Canon printer back to normal.

Method 3: Temporarily Disable Firewall Software

A firewall will help block digital threats from outside your network, but some settings may block communication with the printer and deny connections required for your computer to function properly. To fix this, disable the firewall software from your computer and try printing again.

To switch off Windows Firewall, follow the below steps:

Enter “windows defender firewall” in the search bar.
After that, select “Windows Defender Firewall“from the given results.
On the left corner of the screen, tap the “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off“option.
Tick “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall” for private and public networks.
Now, tap the “OK“button to save the changes.

Method 4: Reboot Your Computer

You can attempt rebooting your PC if you face a “why won’t my Canon printer print” issue. This may fix minor system errors and get your Canon printer working again.