EECS Technical Database

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== What to do when you can't print (MacOS Sierra Feb 2017)======
\\
This document is taken from [[http://appletoolbox.com/2016/10/cannot-print-using-macos-sierra/| Mac Printing]]
\\
You click Print, and then wait a moment. Nothing happens. Your attempt has clearly failed. A brief check confirms that the problem is not limited to one document
You can’t print anything.

  * Check for macOS Sierra device compatibility - With every new OS update, it is important to check the compatibility especially if you haven’t upgraded your printers in a while. In order to check for the device compatibility for your printer, please click on this Apple’s list to see if your printer is impacted.

  * Check the Print dialog box. After a failed print attempt press "Command-P" again. You will likely see a badge icon such as an exclamation mark next to the printer's name. You may also see message appearing explaining the failure and how to fix it.

  * Resume a paused printer: Another common situation is that the printer was previously paused. If so, you’ll see an error message. Clicking the Resume button should get things going again. If it doesn’t check the Print Queue to get more information

  * Check the Print Queue - If a print job has failed, the printer’s Print Queue icon should remain in the Dock, garnished with a badge that indicates trouble. To find out more, click the icon to open the Queue’s window. Don’t see anything in the Dock? Choose Apple menu > System Preferences. Click Print & Scan, select your printer in the list, and then click Open Print Queue. Resume a paused printer: Your print queue can pause automatically if a print attempt fails, perhaps due to a paper jam. Or, you might hit the pause button yourself if you realize you’re printing the wrong document or you realize you’re going to run out of paper. It’s easy to leave a printer paused and forget about it until the next time you go to print. Clicking the Resume button in the Print Queue has the same effect as doing so from the Print dialog box.

  * Get rid of old print jobs: If that doesn’t solve the problem, look for old print jobs stuck in the queue. If a job isn’t printable (perhaps the document no longer exists), you’ll need to delete it from the queue before you can print anything newer. To do this, click on the X next to the progress bar below the document’s name. 

  * Check the printer itself - If your attempts to fix things at your Mac’s end don’t resolve the matter, it’s time to look at the printer itself: (Check for paper,if printer is connected,Turn the printer off and back on,Check ink or toner cartridges)

  * Check for printer software updates - These days, updating printer software is typically handled via OS X’s Software Update

  *  Delete and re-add the printer - Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences and select Print & Scan. From the list on the left, select your printer. Click the minus-sign (-) button at the bottom of the list. This removes the printer from the print list. Now click the plus-sign (+) button. A menu will appear. Hopefully, you will see the just deleted printer under the header Nearby Printers. If so, select it to add it back. If not, select Add Printer or Scanner. Once again, you will hopefully find the printer in the Default listings. If so, select it in the list and then click Add. 

  *   Check the error log for clues - Still stumped? Return to the Print Queue app and select Printer > Error Log. This launches the Console app and specifically opens an error_log file that lists possible causes of your print failure. The output is far from user-friendly. However, there may occasionally be some plain-English text that suggests what the issue is

  *  Resetting Printer Systems - Sometimes, Reset Printing system can solve the printer related issues. In order to do this, :
Control-click anywhere in the list of devices in Printers & Scanners preferences..
Choose “Reset printing system” from the shortcut menu that appears
Resetting the printing system causes all printers and scanners—including their queues, jobs, and custom settings—to be removed from Printers & Scanners preferences

Follow the step above to add your printer again and test out your printing.

  * Update/Reset Printers Folder on your Mac  
   - From the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder
   - Type /Library/Printers/ and click Go . Your Printers folder opens
   - Choose Edit > Select All to select all items in the folder
   - Choose File > New Folder with Selection to put all of the selected items into a new folder named New Folder With Items.
Follow the step  above to add your printer again and give it a try.