When nothing prints, HP's guidance starts by separating the printer from the queue. Check the printer first: it should show ready with no error, and a control panel message or blinking light is the answer. HP's offline article lists the fixes for a printer that shows unavailable, and HP has a separate page on jobs that stick in the queue, since one stalled job blocks everything behind it.
The checks in more detail
Cancel all print jobs, restart the print spooler service on Windows or reset the printing system on macOS, restart the printer and the computer, and print a test page from the printer's own menu to prove the hardware works. If the test page prints but documents do not, the problem is the computer, the driver or the queue, so remove and re-add the printer with the HP app, which installs the drivers it needs.
If the test page does not print, look at ink or toner status, a cartridge error, a paper jam or a maintenance message. Check that the right printer is selected, since a PDF or fax printer can be the default without you noticing. For wireless printing confirm the printer and computer share a network. A job that is too large or a file that will not render can also stall, so try a plain text page. If a non-HP cartridge was rejected by Dynamic Security, the printer will not print until it is replaced.
Keep a simple routine: print a test page from the printer first, then from the computer. Whichever fails tells you where to look, and it stops you reinstalling software when the printer needs a new cartridge, or the reverse.
Differential
Likely causes of “HP printers receives jobs but does not print”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A stuck job in the queue
What separates it Everything waits because a stuck job is blocking the queue
How to confirm Clear the queue on the computer, and then print again
- 2
The wrong default printer
What separates it The job prints to PDF or nowhere because the wrong default printer is chosen
How to confirm Select the HP printer as the default, and choose it in the print dialog
- 3
An error state
What separates it A message or a blinking light shows because the printer is in an error state
How to confirm Clear the error on the printer, following the message on its panel
- 4
A rejected cartridge
What separates it The printer will not print because it has rejected a cartridge
How to confirm Replace the cartridge, or use a supported one, and try again
- 5
An offline connection
What separates it The status shows offline because the connection to the printer is lost
How to confirm Follow the offline steps to reconnect the printer, and then print again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether a test page prints from the printer
- The printer status on the computer
- Any error message or light that the printer shows
- The last thing that changed before the printing stopped
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the printer status
ReversibleCheck the printer status, and make sure that it is ready with no errors shown.
Cancel all jobs
ReversibleCancel all jobs, which clears the queue of anything that is stuck, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Restart devices
ReversibleRestart the devices, meaning the printer and the computer, and wait for both, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Print a test page
ReversiblePrint a test page from the printer menu, to check that the printer itself works.
Select the right printer
ReversibleSelect the right printer in the print dialog, and not PDF or fax, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Re-add the printer
ReversibleRe-add the printer with the HP app, so that it gets a fresh connection, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check cartridges
ReversibleCheck the cartridges and the paper, and make sure that both are in place, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Test page
- The test page or report menu sits under Setup or Tools on most models.
- HP+
- HP+ printers need an internet connection and an HP account to print.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models OfficeJet Pro 9125e, OfficeJet Pro 9015e, OfficeJet Pro 8025e, ENVY Inspire 7955e, ENVY 6455e, DeskJet 4155e, Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw, LaserJet Pro 4101fdw, LaserJet M234sdwe, Smart Tank 7602, Smart Tank 5101.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a test page prints from the printer but not the computer, re-add the printer and drivers
- !If nothing prints and there is no error, contact HP
- !If a cartridge is rejected, see the cartridge guidance
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Restart, same network, Diagnose & Fix and re-adding the printer.
The diagnostic tool.
Cartridge error topics.
How cartridge authentication and firmware updates work.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does nothing print?+
An error, an offline connection or a stuck job.
How do I prove the hardware works?+
Print a test page from the printer's menu.
What clears a stuck job?+
Cancel all jobs and restart the spooler.
Can the wrong default printer cause it?+
Yes, the wrong default printer can cause it, so select the HP printer.
Does a rejected cartridge stop printing?+
A rejected cartridge can stop printing, so check for a cartridge message.
Is USB a good test?+
Yes, USB is a good test, since it removes network causes.
Does a large file matter?+
A large file can stall a job, so try a simple page to test.
What paper should I use for documents?+
Use plain paper that suits the printer, such as ColorLok paper, and keep it dry and flat in the tray.
What paper suits photos?+
Use photo paper that is made for the printer, loaded with the print side the right way up.
Can humidity affect paper?+
Yes, damp or curled paper causes jams and marks, so store paper flat in a dry place.
Should I fan the stack of paper?+
Fanning a stack before loading helps to separate the sheets, which cuts down on multi sheet feeds.
Can I print from my phone?+
Yes, with the HP app or a built in print service on the phone, over the same network as the printer.