Mac printer inactive: How to remedy

If the printer on your Mac is shown as inactive, no documents can be printed anymore. However, in just a few steps, you can solve this problem and return your printer to the active status.

Check if the connection from the Mac to the printer is properly made via the cables. It is possible that a USB cable has come loose. If you are running the printer over the Wi-Fi network, make sure it is properly connected.

First Actions for an Inactive Printer on Mac

Also, if your Mac automatically downloads the software for almost all printers, you should check that the latest drivers for your end device are installed and check for software updates.

Getting an inactive printer working again on Mac

Should the printer be connected correctly and the latest software installed, this step-by-step guide will help you get the printer working again. The troubleshooting is straightforward via the "System Preferences" on your Mac OS:

1. First, call up the menu item "Print & Scan".
2. By holding down the option key and clicking on the "-" symbol, you get to a context menu in which you select the "Reset printing system" option.
3. Sämtliche Druckaufträge werden nun gelöscht und die vorgenommenen Einstellungen für den Drucker zurückgesetzt.
4. Fügen Sie nun den Drucker erneut hinzu, indem Sie auf das „+“-Symbol klicken und die Anweisungen innerhalb des Menüs befolgen.

Durch diese Maßnahme sollten Sie den Druckbetrieb unverzüglich wieder aufnehmen können.