Overview
If your USB printer doesn’t work in Windows 10, the most common causes are a bad cable/port, driver problems, or a stopped print service. This article explains the likely reasons and gives clear, step-by-step fixes so you can get printing again.
What causes it: hardware faults (cable, port, printer), software issues (drivers, Print Spooler, permissions), and Windows settings (power management, updates, security). Read on to learn quick fixes, detailed troubleshooting steps, and prevention tips.
Key Takeaway
Most USB printing problems are fixed by checking hardware first (cable, port, direct USB), then reinstalling the correct printer driver and restarting the Print Spooler service; use Windows’ built-in Printer Troubleshooter and Device Manager for guided repairs.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Faulty USB cable or port | Replace the USB cable and try a different USB port on the PC. |
| Printer not powered or in error state | Power on the printer, clear any on-device errors, and restart it. |
| USB hub or wrong port (USB 3.0/2.0 issue) | Connect printer directly to a USB port (avoid hubs and front ports). |
| Missing or incorrect driver | Download and install the latest driver from the printer maker’s website. |
| Printer set to offline or paused | In Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, set printer as online and resume printing. |
| Print Spooler service stopped or stuck queue | Restart the Print Spooler service and clear the print queue. |
| Incompatible driver after Windows Update | Roll back or reinstall a compatible driver from the manufacturer. |
| Corrupt/outdated USB controller driver | Update or reinstall USB controllers in Device Manager. |
| USB power management suspends device | Disable USB selective suspend and uncheck power management in Device Manager. |
| Security software blocking printer | Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall to test printing, then add an exception. |
| Corrupted printer registry entries or drivers | Remove old drivers via Print Management or printui.exe and reinstall cleanly. |
| Printer firmware or hardware failure | Update printer firmware or contact service/try another PC to verify hardware. |
| Permissions or user profile issues | Test with an admin account and ensure you have Print permission on the device. |
Detailed Fixes for “USB printer doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1) Faulty USB cable or port
Why it causes the problem:
A damaged cable or bad USB port prevents data and/or power from reaching the printer.
Step-by-step solution:
- Turn off the printer and PC.
- Disconnect the USB cable from both ends. Inspect for bent pins, fraying, or kinks.
- Replace the USB cable with a known-good cable (preferably the one supplied by the manufacturer).
- Plug the cable into a different USB port on the PC (preferably a rear port directly on the motherboard).
- Power on the printer and PC and test printing.
Notes: Try a different PC to confirm whether the cable/port or printer is at fault.
2) Printer not powered or showing an error
Why it causes the problem:
If the printer is off, in an error state, or waiting for paper/ink, Windows won’t print to it.
Step-by-step solution:
- Check the printer’s display for error messages (paper jam, low ink, cover open).
- Resolve any on-device errors (clear jam, replace consumables, close covers).
- Ensure the power cable is connected and the power LED is on.
- Turn the printer off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it on again (power cycle).
- From Windows, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and click Open queue to confirm it is ready.
Tip: Some multifunction printers require the front panel to be in “Ready” mode for USB connection.
3) USB hub or wrong port (USB 3.0 vs 2.0)
Why it causes the problem:
Some printers prefer USB 2.0 ports or won’t enumerate correctly through unpowered hubs.
Step-by-step solution:
- Disconnect the printer from any USB hub, adapter, or docking station.
- Connect directly to a rear motherboard USB port.
- If the port is USB 3.0 (blue), try a USB 2.0 port if available.
- Test again; if it works, avoid hubs or use a powered hub with good reviews.
4) Missing or incorrect printer driver
Why it causes the problem:
Windows may use a generic driver that lacks features or isn’t compatible, causing communication failures.
Step-by-step solution:
- Visit the printer manufacturer’s support site and find drivers for your model and Windows 10 (32-bit or 64-bit).
- Download the full driver package or installer.
- In Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, remove any existing instance of the printer: select it and click Remove device.
- Run the downloaded driver installer and follow prompts to connect the printer when requested.
- Alternatively, add the printer manually via Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a printer and choose the downloaded driver.
Commands/paths to try: printui.exe /s /t2 opens the classic Print Server Properties for driver cleanup.
Tip: Use the vendor’s “full feature” driver when available rather than the basic driver included by Windows.
5) Printer set to offline or paused / wrong default printer
Why it causes the problem:
If Windows marks the printer as offline or paused, jobs won’t print; the wrong default printer sends jobs elsewhere.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer and click Open queue.
- If you see Printer is offline or Paused, click Printer > Use Printer Online or Resume from the menu.
- To change default: in Printers & scanners, click the printer and choose Manage, then Set as default (or disable Let Windows manage my default printer in Settings).
Note: Network printers can appear offline if Windows thinks you’re on a public network—ensure network profile is correct.
6) Print Spooler service stopped or print queue stuck
Why it causes the problem:
Print Spooler manages the print queue; if it stops or gets stuck, jobs won’t process.
Step-by-step solution:
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
- Find Print Spooler, right-click and choose Restart.
- If restarting fails, stop the service, then clear the spooler queue:
- Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS (you may need admin rights).
- Delete all files in the PRINTERS folder.
- Restart Print Spooler in services.msc.
- Test printing.
Advanced: Use an elevated Command Prompt and run net stop spooler then net start spooler.
7) Incompatible driver after Windows Update
Why it causes the problem:
Windows Update can install a generic or newer driver that doesn’t work with your printer model.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager (Windows + X > Device Manager).
- Expand Printers or Universal Serial Bus controllers, find your printer, right-click and choose Properties.
- On the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver if available.
- If not available, remove the device: Uninstall device (check Delete the driver software for this device).
- Reinstall the manufacturer-provided driver from their website.
Tip: Turn off automatic driver updates if you must keep the older driver: Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Hardware > Device Installation Settings.
8) Corrupt or outdated USB controller driver
Why it causes the problem:
If Windows’ USB drivers are damaged, connected devices won’t function properly.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Right-click each USB Root Hub and choose Uninstall device (do not uninstall the host controller except as needed).
- Restart the PC; Windows will reinstall drivers automatically.
- Optionally, right-click your USB controllers and choose Update driver to search automatically.
Note: If you use chipset-specific USB drivers (Intel, AMD), download updates from the motherboard/computer manufacturer.
9) USB power management (selective suspend)
Why it causes the problem:
Windows may suspend USB devices to save power and fail to wake the printer.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Control Panel > Power Options and click Change plan settings for the active plan.
- Click Change advanced power settings.
- Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting and set to Disabled.
- In Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers, right-click each USB Root Hub, choose Properties, then Power Management, and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Restart PC and test the printer.
10) Security software blocking the printer
Why it causes the problem:
Some antivirus or firewall settings block drivers or USB device communication.
Step-by-step solution:
- Temporarily disable third-party antivirus or firewall (right-click the icon in the system tray and choose disable).
- Test printing. If it works, open the security software and add an exception for your printer driver or the printing service.
- Re-enable protection and verify printing still works.
Warning: Only disable security software briefly for testing; re-enable immediately.
11) Corrupted printer registry entries or leftover drivers
Why it causes the problem:
Old or conflicting driver entries can prevent new drivers from installing correctly.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt and run printui.exe /s /t2 to open Print Server Properties.
- Under the Drivers tab, remove any drivers for your printer model.
- If drivers persist, use the vendor’s cleanup utility (HP Print and Scan Doctor, Canon Clean Tool, etc.) or follow vendor manual removal instructions.
- After cleanup, restart the PC and reinstall the latest driver.
Caution: Editing registry manually is risky—back up the registry before making changes.
12) Printer firmware or internal hardware failure
Why it causes the problem:
If the printer’s firmware is corrupted or internal components fail, the device may not respond to USB.
Step-by-step solution:
- Check the manufacturer’s website for firmware updates and follow their exact update instructions.
- Connect the printer to another known-working PC to confirm the problem persists.
- If firmware update fails or the printer still doesn’t respond on another PC, contact the manufacturer or a service technician for hardware repair.
Tip: Firmware updates should be done using a stable power source and recommended USB cables.
13) Permissions, UAC or user profile issues
Why it causes the problem:
Non-admin accounts or corrupted user profiles can lack permissions to install or use printers.
Step-by-step solution:
- Test printing from an Administrator account: open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users and sign in as admin or create a temp admin account.
- Try reinstalling the printer driver while signed in as an admin.
- Check printer-sharing permissions if printing to a shared device: Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Right-click printer > Printer properties > Security and ensure your user has Print permission.
- If the user profile is corrupted, create a new Windows user and move data as necessary.
Maintenance and Prevention Tips
- Always use a good-quality USB cable and connect directly to a rear motherboard port when possible.
- Keep printer drivers and firmware updated from the manufacturer—not just Windows Update.
- Periodically clear old drivers and unused printers with printui.exe /s /t2.
- Run Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Printer when problems first appear.
- Keep a small toolkit: spare cable, basic cleaning supplies, and the latest drivers downloaded to a USB stick.
FAQ
What should I try first if my USB printer suddenly stopped working?
Start with hardware: check power, replace the USB cable, and plug into a different USB port or another PC to isolate whether the issue is the cable/port or the printer.
Can Windows 10 automatically install the wrong driver?
Yes—Windows Update can push a generic or newer driver that may be incompatible; uninstalling and installing the manufacturer’s driver usually fixes it.
How do I completely remove old printer drivers?
Use Control Panel > Print Management or run printui.exe /s /t2, then remove drivers from the Drivers tab; vendor cleanup tools help if drivers persist.
Will a firmware update fix USB connectivity issues?
Sometimes—firmware updates can resolve internal communication bugs. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully; if the printer still fails on another PC, it may be hardware.
When should I contact manufacturer support or repair?
If the printer fails to respond on multiple PCs after trying cables, ports, driver reinstallation, and firmware updates, contact support or a repair center—it’s likely hardware-related.
Conclusion
USB printing problems in Windows 10 are usually resolved by checking hardware (cable/port), reinstalling correct drivers, and restarting the Print Spooler service. By following the step-by-step fixes above, you can diagnose and fix the majority of cases where a USB printer doesn’t work in Windows 10.
