Printer says another computer is using the printer
Some printers say another computer is using the printer when a job or connection from another device is active or stuck. Clear queues and power cycle.
What this error means
This message comes from the printer's own status reporting, shown by its driver or the maker's software, rather than from Windows or macOS. It means the printer has told your computer it's busy with someone else: a print job, a scan or a setup session from another computer, phone or tablet. Sometimes that's true and you only need to wait. Often, though, the other job has stalled, or the printer is still reporting a session that has already ended.
Common causes
- Another device is printing or scanning right now
- A job from another device is stuck or waiting for paper or confirmation
- A scanning or printer app left open on another computer or phone
- The printer's status didn't reset after an interrupted job or connection
- The same printer installed twice on one computer
How to fix it
Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.
Fixes for Any printer
0 of 7 steps tried
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Check the printer and wait a moment
Look at the printer's screen or lights to see whether it's printing, scanning or waiting for something such as paper. If another job is genuinely running, let it finish. If the printer is stuck on a job nobody needs, press its cancel button (often marked with an X) to stop it, then try printing again.
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Check the other devices on your network
Ask anyone else who uses the printer to open their print queue and cancel stuck jobs. Close scanning software, the printer maker's app and setup tools on other computers, phones and tablets; some keep a connection to the printer open while they're running, which can make it report itself as busy.
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Restart the printer
Turn the printer off with its power button, unplug it for about a minute, then plug it back in and turn it on. This clears its memory of old jobs and sessions. For a network printer, wait until it reconnects before printing. If other devices on your network are also misbehaving, restart the router as well.
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Clear the queue on your computer
On Windows, open Printers & scanners, select the printer, choose Open print queue and cancel every job. If jobs won't go, restart the Print Spooler. On a Mac, open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer, open its queue and delete the jobs. Then send a single, simple page as a test.
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Remove duplicate printer entries
If the printer appears more than once on your computer, for example with "Copy 1" in the name on Windows or as two entries with the same name on a Mac, the copies can compete for the printer. Remove the extra entries, keep the one that works, and restart the computer.
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Update the printer firmware and software
Status messages that stick even when nothing else is printing can come from a software bug. Check the printer's own menu or built-in web page for a firmware update option, or download updates from the manufacturer's official support website. Update the maker's software on your computer from the same place.
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Print without the status software
If jobs print fine but the message keeps popping up, it's the status monitor that's wrong rather than the printer. Some drivers let you turn off status notifications in the printer's preferences; the option name varies by maker, so check the manual. Alternatively, use the computer's built-in driver, such as AirPrint on a Mac, which doesn't show the maker's status messages.
Did this fix it?
Good. To confirm everything is healthy, print a test page. It takes a minute and shows any quality problems early.
Still stuck? Our printer assistant can walk you through it by live chat, free. . Or the The troubleshooter asks a few questions and narrows it down. If your printer is under warranty, the manufacturer can repair or replace it at no cost. Find their official support site on our brand pages.
Common questions
Nobody else is printing. Why do I still see this message?
The printer is probably still reporting an old session, for example after a job was interrupted or a device disconnected mid-scan. Turning it off and unplugging it for a minute usually clears it.
Does this message mean someone is using my printer without permission?
Usually not. It's normally another household device, a phone app checking ink levels, or a stale session. If you're concerned, check the printer's job log on its built-in web page and set an administrator password for its settings.