Hold for Authentication in the Mac print queue
"Hold for Authentication" means your Mac needs a user name and password for the printer or print server, and the saved one is missing or wrong.
What this error means
This status appears when a print job reaches a printer or print server that requires you to sign in, and macOS doesn't have working credentials to send. It's common with printers shared from a Windows PC or server, office printers with user authentication, and printers whose password has changed. The job waits in the queue until valid credentials are supplied.
Common causes
- The password saved in your keychain is out of date
- Credentials were never saved when the printer was added
- The account on the sharing computer or print server has changed
- The printer requires a user code or sign-in set in the print options
How to fix it
Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.
Fixes for macOS
0 of 6 steps tried
-
Resume the job and enter your credentials
Open the print queue from the printer icon in the Dock, or from System Settings > Printers & Scanners > your printer > Printer Queue. Click the resume (circular arrow) button next to the held job. When asked, enter the user name and password for the printer or the computer sharing it, tick the option to remember the password in your keychain, and click OK.
-
Delete the old saved password
Open Keychain Access (search for it with Spotlight, Cmd + Space). Search for the printer's name or the name or IP address of the computer or server sharing it, select the matching entry and delete it. Print again, and macOS asks for fresh credentials.
-
Check you’re using the right account
For a printer shared from a Windows PC, enter the user name and password of an account on that PC. If that PC signs in with a Microsoft account, the email address and its password usually work. For an office printer, use the credentials your organization's IT team provided.
-
Remove and re-add the printer
In Printers & Scanners, select the printer, click Remove Printer, then add it again with Add Printer, Scanner or Fax. macOS asks for credentials during setup or with the first job; make sure you save them.
-
Enter a user code if the printer needs one
Some office printers hold jobs until you supply a user code, department ID or secure print PIN. Look in the print dialog under the printer's own options (the menu that usually shows Layout or Printer Features) for an authentication or job accounting setting. Option names vary by maker, so check the printer's manual or your IT team's instructions.
-
Reset the printing system as a last resort
If jobs still hold, Control-click (or right-click) in the printer list in Printers & Scanners and choose Reset printing system. This removes all printers and queued jobs, so add the printer again afterwards and enter your credentials when prompted.
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? 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
Why does Hold for Authentication keep coming back?
Usually the password on the sharing computer or server changed, or the credentials weren't saved to your keychain. Deleting the old keychain entry and saving the current password stops it recurring.
Is my printer locked or broken?
No. The printer or server simply won't accept the job without valid credentials. Once you sign in, the job prints normally.