USB printer not recognized
You plugged in your printer with a USB cable but the computer doesn't detect it. Check the cable, the port and the driver on Windows or Mac.
Quick fix
Plug the printer's USB cable straight into a different USB port on the computer, not a hub, keyboard or monitor port, and try another cable if you have one. Turn the printer off and on with the cable connected and give the computer a minute to detect it.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsYou might see
- Nothing happens when you connect the printer
- Windows shows a USB device not recognized message
- The printer appears as an unknown device
- The printer is listed but every job fails
Usually caused by
- Faulty or overly long USB cable
- Hub, dock or adapter not passing the connection
- Missing or damaged driver
- USB power saving switching the port off
- Printer asleep or showing an error
Step-by-step fix
Work through the steps in order and check each one off. Most people are printing again before the last step.
Windows 11 / 10
0 of 5 steps tried
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Connect directly with a good cable
Plug the printer directly into the PC; on a desktop, use a port on the back. Use a standard USB printer cable (USB-A or USB-C to USB-B), ideally under 3 metres.
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Add the printer in Settings
With the printer on, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and click Add device (Windows 10: Add a printer or scanner). If it appears, add it and let Windows install a driver.
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Check Device Manager
Right-click Start and choose Device Manager. Look under Print queues, Printers and Other devices. A yellow warning icon means a driver problem: right-click the entry, choose Uninstall device, then click Action > Scan for hardware changes.
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Install the full driver
Download the driver for your exact model and Windows version from the manufacturer's official support site. Some installers want the USB cable unplugged until they ask for it, so follow the on-screen order.
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Turn off USB selective suspend
On some laptops, power saving switches USB ports off. In Control Panel, open Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings, expand USB settings and set USB selective suspend setting to Disabled. Not every PC shows this option.
macOS
0 of 4 steps tried
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Connect directly and check adapters
Plug the printer straight into the Mac. On Macs with only USB-C ports, use a USB-C to USB-B cable or a reliable adapter, as some hubs don't pass printers properly. On Apple silicon laptops, choose Allow if macOS asks whether the accessory can connect.
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Check that the Mac sees the printer
Hold Option, open the Apple menu and choose System Information, then select USB under Hardware. If the printer is listed, the connection works and the issue is setup; if not, suspect the cable, port or printer.
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Add the printer
Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners and click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax. Select the printer shown as USB, let the Use menu choose AirPrint or the correct driver, and click Add.
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Check accessory security
If you dismissed the accessory prompt, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and review Allow accessories to connect, then unplug and reconnect the printer so macOS asks again.
Did this fix it?
Good. To confirm everything is healthy, print a test page. It takes a minute and shows any quality problems early.
Try these next
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
Can I use a USB hub for my printer?
Often yes, but powered hubs are more reliable than unpowered ones, and some docks don't pass printers correctly. Plug in directly while troubleshooting.
Does cable length matter?
It can. Long or thin cables cause more connection problems. A short, good-quality cable is the easiest thing to rule out.