Why Is My Canon Printer Not Printing?

Posted by Chloe Harter , 25 Oct, 2024
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Nothing is more frustrating than a printer that refuses to print. Why is my Canon printer not responding? Why is my Canon printer not printing? Whether it’s a Canon inkjet or laser printer, printing problems can disrupt your workflow. In this blog, we’ll explore why your Canon printer won’t print and provide some troubleshooting tips.

Why My Canon Printer Is Not Printing?

There are many reasons why Canon printing stops working, such as loose power, stuck print queue, WiFi connection, etc. Below, we’ve listed four areas to help determine what’s wrong with your printer.

1. Basic Troubleshooting

First, let’s do some simple checks on the printer’s environment before moving on to technical fixes. A few minor issues can cause your Canon printer to stop printing.

(1) Check Printer Power Connection

A loose or unplugged power cord is a common oversight, so check that your Canon printer is turned on and connected to a power source.

When your printer is powered on, the power light comes on. If not, ensure the cable is securely plugged into the printer and the power outlet. You can also plug it into a different outlet to rule out any power issues.

(2) Look for Error Messages or Flashing Lights

Also, see if your Canon printer displays an error message or flashing lights. Once an error occurs, your printer will stop printing and display the error through a numeric code, text, or flashing lights.

Usually, it is a paper jam, low ink level, or connection problem, such as “Paper jam,” “Ink is running low,” “The printer is offline,” “6A81,” “E03,” and “E14.” We cover these in detail in the following content. You can check the user manual or Canon Support by searching for “Errors and Messages” and then following the instructions to fix your printer.

2. Paper and Ink Issues

Let’s take a look at what errors may cause Canon laser printers and inkjet printers to stop working.

(1) Canon Printer Paper Jams

Paper jams are a common problem that can occur due to reasons such as paper misalignment or poor paper quality.
If your Canon printer displays “Paper jammed.”, “1300,” “1303,” or “2801,” follow the steps below.

Cancel the print job and turn off your Canon laser or inkjet printer.
Next, open the paper tray and any covers to remove the jammed paper carefully.
Close the paper tray and all covers, then turn your printer back on and print the document again.

Check out our blog How to Fix a Paper Jam in a Canon Printer for more details.

(2) Low or Empty Cartridges

Whether it is a laser printer or an inkjet printer, when your ink or toner is running low, the printer may refuse to print.

Most Canon printers will display a warning when the ink/toner level is low. You can also manually check the ink/toner level through the printer screen, Canon IJ Printer Utility, or Canon PRINT app.

When the ink or toner level is low, you need to replace your ink cartridge. After replacing it, the printer will recognize your cartridge and work again. The blog How to Change Ink on Canon PIXMA shows step-by-step instructions for ink replacement in Canon inkjet printers.

First, open the front cover or top cover of your Canon printer and take out the old cartridge.
Unpack the new ink cartridge, then remove the protective tape and protective cover.
Finally, put the new cartridge into your printer and close all the covers.

By the way, incompatible printer cartridges still do not work. When replacing ink/toner cartridges, please confirm whether the cartridge model is compatible with your Canon printer.

For example, the Canon Color imageCLASS MF743Cdw uses Canon 055 or 055H, and the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw uses Canon 069 or 069H.

(3) Print Head Clogged

This is usually seen in Canon inkjet printers, such as the Canon PIXMA series. A clogged printhead can result in poor print quality or cause your Canon printer to stop working entirely. If you notice that the text is streaking or fading, it means that the printhead is clogged.

Many Canon printers have a built-in feature for cleaning clogged print heads. Start with 2-3 standard cleanings and review the nozzle check pattern. If the problem persists, perform a deep cleaning and examine the nozzle check pattern again. After cleaning, print a test page to see if normal printing resumes.

For Canon inkjet printers with buttons only: Canon PIXMA MG2500, MG2522, MG3600, MG3620, etc.

Standard Cleaning: Press and hold the “Stop” button until the warning light (Triangle with lightning) flashes twice, then release it and wait for one minute. When the power light stops flashing, the cleaning is complete.
Deep Cleaning: Press and hold the “Stop” button until the warning light flashes three times, then release it and wait for one minute. When the power light stops flashing, the cleaning is complete.
Nozzle Check: Put paper in, press and hold the “Stop” button until the warning light flashes once, then release. Your printer will print the nozzle check pattern, and check if the result has improved.

For Canon inkjet printers with buttons and display: Canon PIXMA MX490, MX492, MX922, etc.

Standard Cleaning: “Setup” > “Maintenance” > “Cleaning”
Deep Cleaning: “Setup” > “Maintenance” > “Deep cleaning”
Nozzle Check: “Setup”> “Maintenance” > “Nozzle check”

3. Printer Software and Driver Issues

If the above two aspects do not solve your Canon printer problem, your Canon printer may have a software or driver problem.

(1) Clear Print Queue

If there are multiple jobs in the print queue, especially failed jobs, they may get stuck printing. Clearing the print queue can often resolve this issue.

Most Canon printers have a “Stop” or “Cancel” button that cancels the current print job. If your printer has a display, go to “Settings” and find “Print” or “Job Status” to clear the print job. You can also cancel the print job from your computer’s print queue.

On Windows, open “Devices and Printers,” select your Canon printer, right-click, and select “See What’s Printing.” From here, you can cancel any stuck print jobs.

On macOS, go to “Printers & Scanners,” select your Canon printer, and clear all jobs in the queue.

(2) Set the Correct Printer as Default

Sometimes, your computer may print to a different printer, especially if you have multiple devices connected. This may happen if you have recently used another printer, so it is best to set your Canon printer as the default printer.

On Windows: Go to Control Panel, select “Devices and Printers,” right-click your Canon printer, and select “Set as Default Printer.”

On macOS: Navigate to “Printers & Scanners,” select your Canon printer, and check the default option.

(3) Check Your Printer Driver

Outdated or missing printer drivers are also one of the most common causes of printer problems.

To check your drivers, go into your computer’s settings and find the “Devices and Printers” option (on Windows) or the “Printers & Scanners” option (on macOS). Select your Canon printer from the list and look for any error notifications.

If needed, visit the Canon Support website, select “Software & Drivers,” and download the latest driver for your Canon model.

4. Printer Network Connection Issues

If your Canon printer is connected via Wi-Fi, then network issues may also be the reason why printing has stopped.

(1) How to check your Canon printer’s network status?

If your printer has a display, look for the Wi-Fi or Network icon. A blinking icon means it’s disconnected or having trouble connecting.

Additionally, most Wi-Fi-enabled Canon printers can print network configuration reports. Select “Settings” or “Network” and look for the option to print a network configuration page. Check the network status on the report (it should say “Connected”) and confirm the Wi-Fi signal strength.

You can also check the printer’s network status on your Canon PRINT app.

(2) How to troubleshoot the Wi-Fi connection on your Canon printer?

First, reset the network settings on your printer. On many Canon models, you can reset the network settings by selecting “Settings,” – “Device settings,” – “Reset settings,” – “LAN settings only.”

Then, go to “Settings” – “Network settings” to perform Wi-Fi setup again.

For Canon printers with a display, you can navigate to “Wireless LAN Setup” or “Settings,” choose “Easy Wireless Connect” (if available) or follow the prompts to reconnect to Wi-Fi.

In addition, you can also reconnect your Canon printer to Wi-Fi through the Canon PRINT app.

5. Other Troubleshooting Methods

If the above methods do not solve the problem, the following solutions may help you.

(1) Reset Your Printer

Restoring the factory settings can effectively solve the problem of printing stops. You can follow the steps below to reset your Canon printer.

For Canon laser printers, e.g., Canon imageCLASS LBP247dw, Canon imageCLASS MF445dw, Canon Color imageCLASS LBP633Cdw, Canon Color imageCLASS LBP654Cdw, Canon Color imageCLASS MF751Cdw.

“Menu” – “Management Settings” – “Initialize All Data/Settings” – “Yes” – “Yes.”

For Canon inkjet printers, especially Canon PIXMA series, e.g., Canon PIXMA MX490, Canon PIXMA MX492. See the blog How to Reset Canon Printer for more information.

“Setup” – “Device Settings” – “Reset Setting” – “All data” – “Yes.”

Please note that resetting the printer will delete all customized settings and data. You need to reconnect to your network settings to resume printing.

(2) Seek Canon Professional Support

If you’ve tried all of the troubleshooting steps and your Canon printer still won’t print, it’s time to contact Canon’s customer support. They can provide tailored help for your printer model, and if the printer is under warranty, they may be able to offer repair or replacement options.

Conclusion

Dealing with a Canon printer that won’t print can be frustrating, but most common problems can be fixed with a few simple solutions. Start with the basic checks, then follow the printer prompts for further checks. If the Canon stopped printing problem persists, simply call Canon support, and they can help you get printing back easily.