How to Fix the 'Printer in Error State' in Windows

The first thing to check is your printer's connection to your PC. For wired printers, ensure the cable is securely plugged into both your computer and printer. For wireless printers, verify that the printer is connected to a functioning Wi-Fi network.

Additionally, to confirm your Windows PC recognizes the connected printer, do the following:

1. Open the search menu, type in Control Panel, and select the first result that appears.
2. In the Control Panel window, click View devices and printers under the Hardware and Sound section.
3. Find your printer and select it.
4. At the bottom bar, your printer’s Status field should say Ready. This means your PC recognizes the printer and can communicate with it.

2 Troubleshoot the Printer

Rebooting your printer can resolve a variety of issues, so it's worth a try. On most printers, you can simply press the Power button to turn it off. Then, wait for about 30 seconds, and then press the button again to turn it back on.

While you're at it, ensure that your printer has enough ink and paper in the tray. Although this shouldn't trigger any errors in Windows, it's always a good idea to confirm.

3 Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Running the Printer troubleshooter on your Windows 10 or 11 PC is an effective way of fixing printer-related issues. This tool can automatically scan your system for any common issues and attempt to fix them. Here's how to run it.

1. Press Win I to open the Settings app.
2. Head to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Click the Run button next to Printer.

Wait for the troubleshooter to run and fix any problems. Following that, check if your printer works as expected.

4 Reinstall the Printer Drivers

Your printer's drivers allow Windows to communicate with the device. However, if these drivers are outdated or corrupted, you might encounter the "Printer in an error state" message on Windows.

You can try reinstalling the printer drivers on your PC to see if that helps. Here are the steps for the same.

1. Disconnect the printer from your PC.
2. Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager from the list.
3. Locate and expand Print queues.
4. Right-click on the printer driver and select Uninstall device.
5. Select Uninstall to confirm.

After completing the above steps, reconnect the printer to your PC, and Windows should automatically install the necessary drivers. If the drivers aren't installed automatically, visit the printer manufacturer's website to manually download and install the drivers.

5 Configure the Print Spooler Service

Windows relies on the Print Spooler service to handle print jobs and interact with your printer. If this service is not configured to run automatically, you could experience problems. Here's what you can do to fix it.

1. Press Windows R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type services.msc in the box and press Enter.
3. Find the Print Spooler service in the list, right-click it, and select Properties.
4. Click the dropdown menu next to Startup type and choose Automatic.
5. Click Apply followed by OK at the bottom.
6. Reboot your PC.

6 Install Windows Updates

It goes without saying that you should always keep your Windows PC up to date. Running an outdated version of the operating system can lead to various issues, including the "Printer in error state" message.

To check for pending software updates on Windows, open the Settings app and head to System > Windows Update. Then, click the Check for updates button on your right. Download and install any pending updates, and your issue should be solved.

Your printer is incapable of printing anything as long as it’s in an error state. Fortunately, it's not that difficult to fix the underlying issue and get your printer back to functioning normally.

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