Troubleshooting a network printer in Windows 10 usually comes down to a few common problems — and most are fixable without calling support. If your Network printer doesn’t work in Windows 10, this article explains the typical causes and gives clear, step‑by‑step fixes so you can get back to printing quickly.
You’ll learn how to check connections, restart services, update drivers, fix network and firewall settings, add printers by IP, clear the print queue, and use built‑in Windows tools to diagnose and repair issues.
Key Takeaway
Most network printing problems in Windows 10 are caused by network connectivity, driver/service issues, or Windows settings; start by checking physical/network connections, restarting the Print Spooler service, and re-adding the printer by IP, then move to drivers, firewall, and firmware if needed.
Quick Fix Guide
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| 1. Printer power or cable issue | Check power, network cable, and Wi‑Fi status; restart the printer and router. |
| 2. Printer on a different network or Wi‑Fi | Ensure PC and printer are on the same network (SSID/VLAN). |
| 3. Printer IP changed (DHCP) | Find the printer IP and re-add the printer using the current IP or set a static IP. |
| 4. Print Spooler service stopped | Restart the Print Spooler service or run net stop spooler / net start spooler. |
| 5. Corrupt or incompatible drivers | Remove the printer and install the latest driver from the manufacturer. |
| 6. Firewall or antivirus blocking | Temporarily disable firewall/AV or allow printer traffic in Windows Defender Firewall. |
| 7. Printer set to offline or paused | Clear print queue and uncheck Use Printer Offline in the print queue. |
| 8. Network profile set to Public | Set your network profile to Private so Windows can discover devices. |
| 9. Wrong printer port settings | Recreate the printer using TCP/IP port with the correct protocol. |
| 10. Printer firmware bug | Update the printer’s firmware from the manufacturer’s support site. |
| 11. Shared printer permissions or SMB issues | Enable File and Printer Sharing and check sharing permissions on the host PC. |
| 12. Corrupt Windows files or update issues | Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and install Windows updates. |
Detailed Fixes for “Network printer doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1. Printer power, cable, or Wi‑Fi issue
Why it causes the problem:
A printer without power or a broken network cable can’t communicate with Windows 10. Wireless printers can disconnect from Wi‑Fi or may be connected to a different access point.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Ensure the printer is powered on and shows no critical errors on its display.
- For wired printers, verify the Ethernet cable is connected to the printer and router/switch; try a different Ethernet port or cable.
- For wireless printers, check the printer’s Wi‑Fi status from its control panel and reconnect to the correct SSID.
- Restart the printer and the router: unplug the printer for 10 seconds then power it on, and reboot the router if necessary.
Note: If possible, temporarily connect the printer via USB to confirm the printer itself is functioning.
2. PC and printer on different networks or SSIDs
Why it causes the problem:
If your PC and printer are on separate networks, subnets, or VLANs, Windows can’t reach the printer.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- On your PC, open Settings > Network & Internet > Status to check the network name.
- On the printer control panel, check the connected SSID or IP address.
- Ensure both devices are on the same SSID and subnet (first three octets of IPv4 address, e.g., 192.168.1.x).
- If using guest or isolated Wi‑Fi, move the printer or PC to the main network or configure routing between VLANs.
Tip: If devices are on different subnets intentionally, ask your network admin to allow print traffic.
3. Printer IP changed (DHCP)
Why it causes the problem:
If DHCP assigns a new IP, the printer installed by a previous IP will fail.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Print a network configuration page from the printer menu to find its current IP.
- On Windows, open Command Prompt and ping
to verify connectivity. - If reachable, remove the old printer and re-add using the new IP: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer or scanner > The printer that I want isn’t listed > Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
- Set a static IP in the printer settings or reserve the IP on your router (DHCP reservation) to prevent future changes.
4. Print Spooler service stopped or stuck
Why it causes the problem:
The Print Spooler manages print jobs; if it’s stopped or hung, printing will fail.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
- Find Print Spooler, right‑click and choose Restart. If stopped, choose Start.
- To manually clear stuck jobs: open an elevated Command Prompt and run net stop spooler, delete all files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then run net start spooler.
Note: Deleting spool files clears the queue; ensure no critical jobs are lost.
5. Corrupt or incompatible drivers
Why it causes the problem:
Wrong or outdated drivers can prevent successful communication or produce errors.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Remove device.
- Go to the manufacturer’s website, download the latest Windows 10 driver (match your OS architecture: 64‑bit vs 32‑bit).
- Install the driver using the provided installer or add the printer in Printers & scanners > Add a printer and point to the downloaded driver.
- Optionally use Device Manager > Print queues or Print Management to update drivers.
Tip: Avoid generic drivers for feature‑rich printers (scanning, faxing); use the vendor’s full driver package.
6. Firewall or antivirus blocking printer traffic
Why it causes the problem:
Security software can block network ports or discovery protocols used by printers.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Temporarily disable third‑party antivirus or firewall and test printing.
- To allow through Windows Firewall: open Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall, then check File and Printer Sharing and any vendor tools.
- In advanced firewall settings add inbound rules for ports like TCP 9100 (RAW), TCP 515 (LPD), and UDP 161 (SNMP) if required by your printer.
Warning: Re-enable security tools after testing and add exceptions rather than leaving them disabled.
7. Printer set to offline or queue paused
Why it causes the problem:
If Windows thinks the printer is offline or jobs are paused, nothing prints.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer and click Open queue.
- In the queue window, click Printer and uncheck Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing.
- Right‑click stuck jobs and choose Cancel to clear the queue, then try printing again.
Tip: Restarting the Print Spooler (see #4) helps clear stubborn jobs.
8. Network profile is Public (device discovery blocked)
Why it causes the problem:
Public network profile disables network discovery and file/printer sharing.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Status, click Change connection properties.
- Under Network profile, choose Private.
- Then open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings, and enable Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.
Note: Use Private only on trusted networks (home or office).
9. Wrong printer port or protocol
Why it causes the problem:
Using the wrong port (e.g., LPT or incorrect TCP/IP protocol) prevents proper communication.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Manage > Printer properties > Ports.
- Confirm the port matches the printer IP and the correct protocol (Standard TCP/IP Port).
- If incorrect, remove the port and use Add Port > Standard TCP/IP Port, enter the printer IP and select the proper protocol (RAW/9100, LPR).
Tip: Use RAW/9100 for most modern printers; LPR is for some legacy setups.
10. Printer firmware bug
Why it causes the problem:
Printer firmware with bugs can cause intermittent network or printing failures.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Find the printer model and current firmware version on the printer’s settings page or web admin interface.
- Download firmware updates from the manufacturer support site and follow their update instructions (usually via web UI, USB, or vendor tool).
- Reboot the printer after updating.
Warning: Follow instructions precisely — firmware updates can brick a device if interrupted.
Why it causes the problem:
If printing through another PC (shared printer), incorrect sharing settings or disabled SMB can block access.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- On the host PC, open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings and enable File and printer sharing.
- Right‑click the printer in Control Panel > Devices and Printers, choose Printer properties > Sharing, and enable Share this printer.
- Ensure user accounts or share permissions allow access; use Manage additional drivers if clients use different OS architectures.
- For older shared printers, ensure SMB 1.0/CIFS Client is enabled only if absolutely necessary (Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off).
Security note: SMB1 is insecure; prefer direct TCP/IP printing or vendor solutions.
12. Corrupt Windows files or update conflicts
Why it causes the problem:
System corruption or bad Windows updates can break printing subsystems.
Step‑by‑step fix:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt and run sfc /scannow; wait for it to complete.
- If problems persist, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to fix the component store.
- Reboot and check for Windows updates: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- If a recent update caused the issue, consider uninstalling it via View update history > Uninstall updates.
Tip: Create a system restore point before major changes.
Additional Tools and Preventive Tips
- Use basic network tools: ping
, arp -a, and ipconfig /all to validate connectivity and IP/MAC info. - Manufacturer diagnostic utilities often can detect and fix network/printer problems automatically.
- Reserve a static IP or DHCP reservation for printers to avoid IP drift.
- Keep Windows, drivers, and printer firmware up to date.
- Maintain a small test page job and a USB cable to verify printer hardware quickly.
FAQ
What if the printer prints from other devices but not my Windows 10 PC?
Try restarting the Print Spooler, remove and re-add the printer, update drivers, and check the firewall on your PC; also confirm both devices are on the same network and subnet.
Can I print to a network printer from outside my home/office network?
Yes, but it requires proper remote access: set up a VPN to the local network, or use manufacturer cloud printing services (like HP ePrint) — avoid exposing printer ports directly to the internet.
Plug the printer into the host PC, enable File and Printer Sharing (Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center), share the printer via Devices and Printers > Printer properties > Sharing, and connect from clients with Add a network printer.
When should I use the manufacturer’s print server software?
Use vendor software for multifunction features (scan-to-PC, advanced settings) or when the driver package includes network discovery and support tools that simplify setup.
Is it safe to enable SMB1 to access an old network printer?
No — SMB1 has known security vulnerabilities. Enable it only as a last resort in isolated networks, and consider updating the printer or using alternative methods (TCP/IP printing or vendor protocols).
Conclusion
Most problems with a Network printer doesn’t work in Windows 10 are fixed by checking connectivity, restarting the Print Spooler, re-adding the printer by IP, and updating drivers or firmware. Follow the step‑by‑step checks above to isolate and resolve the issue quickly.
