Printer "In an Error State" in Windows 11? Here's How to Fix It

Your printer shows “Printer in an error state” in Windows 11, but the printer itself looks powered on and ready.

Why: Windows is reporting that something is wrong at the printer or the connection — out of paper, jammed, a stuck print job, a hung Print Spooler, or a confused driver. The message is generic, so work through these in order.

Fix 1: Check the printer itself

Microsoft’s first advice is to rule out a physical problem before touching Windows:

1. Make sure the printer is turned on and connected (USB cable seated, or for Wi-Fi, that it’s online).
2. Check for low paper or low ink/toner, an open cover, or a paper jam — any of these can trigger the error state.
3. Clear any jam, close all covers, and reload paper.
4. Turn the printer off, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it back on to clear its own stuck state.

Fix 2: Clear stuck jobs and restart the Print Spooler

A jammed job at the front of the queue, or a hung spooler, keeps the printer flagged as errored:

1. Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > select your printer > Open print queue.
2. Printer menu > Cancel All Documents to clear stuck jobs.
3. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
4. Right-click Print Spooler > Restart (if Restart is greyed out, click Start).
5. Print a test page.

Fix 3: Clear the spool folder by hand

If a corrupted job refuses to clear:

1. In services.msc, right-click Print Spooler > Stop.
2. In File Explorer, open C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
3. Delete all files inside that folder (leave the folder itself).
4. Back in Services, right-click Print Spooler > Start.
5. Try printing again.

Fix 4: Update the driver or remove and re-add the printer

A bad or outdated driver can leave the printer permanently in an error state:

1. Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > select your printer > Update driver (under Manage).
2. If that doesn’t help, choose Remove, restart your PC, then Add a printer or scanner to reinstall it cleanly.
3. If Windows can’t find a driver, download the one for your exact model from the manufacturer’s support site.

FAQ

The error state comes back every time I print. That usually means a real printer condition — low ink, a sensor reading a jam that isn’t fully cleared, or a failing cartridge. Reseat the cartridges and clear the paper path again.

It started right after a Windows update. Updates can replace the driver or reset the spooler. Restart the Print Spooler (Fix 2); if that fails, remove and re-add the printer (Fix 4).

Error state only over Wi-Fi, fine over USB? That points to a network reachability problem rather than a printer fault. Confirm the printer is on the same network as your PC.

Sources: Microsoft — Printer in error state