Mac print queue says waiting for printer to become available
"Waiting for printer to become available" means your Mac can't hand the job to the printer yet. Wake the printer, check the queue and re-add it.
What this error means
This status appears in the Mac print queue when macOS has a job ready but can't hand it to the printer. Usually the printer isn't answering at the address macOS has saved, because it's asleep, off or has moved to a new IP address. It can also mean the printer is answering but won't accept a job yet, for example because it's busy with someone else's job or stopped on a jam. macOS holds the job and keeps trying, so once the printer is reachable the job often prints without you doing anything.
Common causes
- The printer is asleep, off or has lost its network connection
- The printer is busy with another job or stopped on an error such as a jam or empty tray
- The printer's IP address has changed
- The Mac is on a different network, or a VPN is blocking local devices
- An outdated printer setup on the Mac
How to fix it
Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.
Fixes for macOS
0 of 7 steps tried
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Wake the printer and clear any error
Press a button on the printer to wake it and check its screen or lights for a jam, an empty tray or an ink or toner message. Deal with whatever it reports. If someone else is printing, let their job finish first; the waiting job should start on its own.
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Check the queue isn’t paused
Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer and open its queue. If a Resume button appears in the window, the printer is paused; click it. If an individual job shows as on hold, select it and click its resume button. Delete any jobs you no longer need so they don't print unexpectedly later.
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Restart the printer and your network
Turn the printer off, unplug it for about a minute and turn it back on. If it still doesn't respond, restart your router too, wait until the printer has reconnected to Wi-Fi, and check the queue again.
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Check the Mac and printer are on the same network
Compare the Wi-Fi network name on the Mac with the one shown on the printer's screen or network configuration page. Guest networks and some extenders keep devices apart. Turn off any VPN on the Mac while you test, because many VPNs block access to local devices.
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Check whether the printer’s IP address changed
Find the printer's current IP address on its screen or network page. If you added the printer by IP address and that address has changed, the Mac is still trying the old one. Test the current address in Terminal with the command below; if it replies, remove the printer and add it again. Reserving the address in your router prevents a repeat.
ping -c 4 192.168.1.50 -
Remove and re-add the printer
In Printers & Scanners, select the printer and click Remove Printer. Click Add Printer, Scanner or Fax, select it from the Default list and choose AirPrint in the Use menu if available. This creates a fresh setup that finds the printer by name rather than a fixed address.
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Reset the printing system as a last resort
Control-click (or right-click) in the printer list in Printers & Scanners and choose Reset printing system. This removes all printers, all queued jobs and their settings from the Mac, so you'll need to add each printer again afterwards. Use it only if re-adding the one printer didn't help.
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
Is this the same as The printer is not connected?
They are closely related. Both mean the Mac couldn't deliver the job, and the fixes are the same: wake the printer, check the network and address, and re-add the printer if needed.
Do I need to delete the waiting job?
Not necessarily. Once the printer is reachable, macOS sends it automatically. Delete it only if you no longer need it, so it doesn't print by surprise later.