HP Printer Paused Won’t Resume on Mac – How to Fix it

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When your HP printer shows as “Paused” on a Mac and won’t resume, it typically prevents any print jobs from proceeding. This can be caused by driver issues, misconfigured printer settings, or macOS communication problems. Here’s how to resolve the issue.

Resume the Printer Manually

Use System Settings
  1. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences) on your Mac.
  2. Click Printers & Scanners.
  3. Select your HP printer from the list.
  4. If it shows as “Paused,” click the Resume button.

Use the Print Queue
  1. Open the print queue by clicking Open Print Queue next to the printer name.
  2. If a job is stuck, select it and click the Resume or Delete icon.
  3. Click Resume Printer if available at the top of the window.

Reset the Printing System

If the printer remains paused:

  1. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
  2. Right-click (or Control-click) in the list of printers.
  3. Choose Reset Printing System.
  4. Re-add your HP printer after the reset is complete.

Check for Multiple Queues

Sometimes, multiple instances of the same printer may exist:

  1. In Printers & Scanners, check for duplicate printer names (e.g., “HP LaserJet (1)”).
  2. Delete all but one instance.
  3. Try printing again.

Reinstall the Printer

Remove and Re-Add the Printer
  1. Go to Printers & Scanners.
  2. Select the HP printer and click the minus (–) button to remove it.
  3. Click the plus (+) button to add the printer again.
  4. Choose the correct driver or let macOS select one automatically.

Check for Software Updates
  1. Open System Settings > General > Software Update.
  2. Install any macOS or printer-related updates.
  3. Visit the HP Support site to download the latest drivers for your model if needed.

Verify Printer Connection

Make sure the printer is online and connected:

  • If using USB, check the cable and try another port.
  • If using Wi-Fi, verify the printer is connected to the same network as the Mac.
  • Restart both the Mac and the printer.

Use HP Smart App
  1. Download the HP Smart app from the Mac App Store.
  2. Use the app to manage and troubleshoot your printer.
  3. Sometimes the app can resume or reset the printer queue more reliably.

Check for Print Job Issues

A corrupted print job can pause the queue:

  1. In the print queue, delete all pending print jobs.
  2. Try printing a test page after clearing the queue.

Verify Sharing and Permissions
  1. In Printers & Scanners, ensure the printer is not set to share if it’s a personal device.
  2. Check that you have permission to use the printer (especially in office environments).

These steps should help resolve a paused HP printer on Mac that won’t resume.