How to Fix Chrome Printing Problems

Experiencing issues with printing from Google Chrome can be frustrating, especially when you need a document printed quickly. Whether it’s a print preview not loading, blank pages, or Chrome crashing when attempting to print, this guide will walk you through comprehensive solutions for fixing Chrome printing problems.

Quick Fixes to Try First

• Try printing with Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac) instead of right-click > Print.
• Restart Chrome and try printing again.
• Attempt printing in Incognito mode (Ctrl+Shift+N / Cmd+Shift+N).
• Check if the printer works from other applications like Notepad or TextEdit.
• Ensure the printer is online and has paper and ink.

Solution 1 – Clear Print Queue and Restart Spooler

Windows

1. Press Win+R, type “services.msc” and hit Enter.
2. Find “Print Spooler” service, right-click and select Stop.
3. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files.
4. Return to Services, right-click “Print Spooler” and select Start.
5. Restart Chrome and try printing.

Mac

1. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Right-click your printer and select Reset printing system.
3. Alternatively, open Terminal and run cancel -a to clear the queue.
4. Re-add your printer if necessary.

Linux

1. Run sudo systemctl restart cups or sudo service cups restart.
2. Clear the queue with cancel -a.

Solution 2 – Update Printer Drivers

Windows

1. Open Device Manager (Win+X > Device Manager).
2. Expand “Print queues”, right-click your printer, and select Update driver.
3. You can also download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother).
4. Uninstall the old driver completely before installing the new one.

Mac

1. Most printers use AirPrint and don’t need drivers.
2. For older printers, check the manufacturer’s website.
3. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, remove, and re-add the printer if needed.

Linux

1. Check the CUPS web interface at http://localhost:631.
2. Install printer-specific drivers if available.
3. Many modern printers work with driverless printing.

Solution 3 – Reset Chrome Settings

1. Navigate to chrome://settings/reset.
2. Click “Restore settings to their original defaults”.
3. Confirm by clicking “Reset settings”.
4. Retry printing after the reset.

Solution 4 – Clear Browser Cache and Data

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac).
2. Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data”.
3. Set the time range to “All time”.
4. Click “Clear data”.
5. Restart Chrome and try printing.

Solution 5 – Disable Extensions

1. Go to chrome://extensions.
2. Disable all extensions, especially print-related ones, ad blockers, and PDF viewers.
3. Attempt printing again.
4. Re-enable extensions one by one to identify the problem.

Solution 6 – Fix Print Preview Not Loading

Method 1 – Clear Chrome Data

• Delete Chrome temporary files.
• On Windows: Navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache.
• On Mac: Go to ~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome/Default.

Method 2 – Disable Hardware Acceleration

1. Visit chrome://settings/system.
2. Turn off “Use hardware acceleration when available”.
3. Relaunch Chrome.

Method 3 – Use System Print Dialog

• Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Cmd+Shift+P on Mac) for system dialog.
• This bypasses Chrome print preview and might resolve the issue.

Solution 7 – Fix Blank Pages When Printing

1. Check the print preview to ensure content visibility.
2. Try “Print to PDF” to see if the content appears correctly.
3. Adjust margins in the print settings: More settings > Margins > Default or None.
4. Set the scale to 100% or “Fit to page”.
5. Print “Background graphics” if the page appears blank.
6. Update printer drivers.
7. Ensure correct paper size settings.

Solution 8 – Fix Images Not Printing

1. Enable “Background graphics” in the print dialog.
2. Try “Print to PDF” first, then print from the PDF.
3. Right-click the image and select “Open image in new tab” to print from there.
4. Check printer ink or toner levels.
5. Print at a higher quality setting.
6. Disable any print-optimization settings.

Solution 9 – Fix Formatting and Margin Issues

1. In print preview, click “More settings”.
2. Adjust margins: None, Default, Minimum, or Custom.
3. Set scale to 100% or “Fit to printable area”.
4. Change paper size to match the loaded paper.
5. Try Portrait versus Landscape orientation.
6. Disable “Headers and footers” if they add extra pages.
7. Look for “Print-friendly” versions of websites.

Solution 10 – Fix “Print to PDF” Not Working

1. Ensure “Save as PDF” appears in the destination dropdown.
2. Select a different destination first, then switch back to PDF.
3. Check if the target folder is writable.
4. Clear Chrome cache.
5. Try saving to Desktop instead.
6. Disable all extensions and retry.

If Microsoft Print to PDF is not working (Windows)

1. Open Windows Features (optionalfeatures.exe).
2. Ensure “Microsoft Print to PDF” is enabled.
3. Alternatively: Go to Settings > Apps > Optional features and add “Microsoft Print to PDF”.

Solution 11 – Fix Printer Not Showing in Chrome

1. Ensure the printer is installed in system settings.
2. On Windows: Navigate to Settings > Printers & scanners > Add a printer.
3. On Mac: Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners and add the printer.
4. Restart Chrome after adding the printer.
5. Click “See more…” in the destination dropdown if needed.
6. Check if the printer is shared on the network correctly.

Solution 12 – Create New Chrome Profile

1. Visit chrome://settings/manageProfile.
2. Click “Add” to create a new profile.
3. Try printing from the new profile.
4. If successful, the issue lies with the old profile.
5. Consider backing up bookmarks and starting fresh.

Solution 13 – Reinstall Chrome

1. Export bookmarks first: Go to Bookmarks > Bookmark manager > Export.
2. Uninstall Chrome completely.
3. Delete leftover data:
   • On Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome
   • On Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome
4. Download a fresh copy from google.com/chrome.
5. Install and import bookmarks.

Solution 14 – Windows-Specific Fixes

Fix Print Spooler Dependencies

1. Open Services (services.msc).
2. Find “Print Spooler”, go to Properties > Dependencies.
3. Ensure all dependencies (HTTP, Remote Procedure Call) are running.

Reset Winsock

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run netsh winsock reset.
3. Restart your computer.

Run Printer Troubleshooter

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. Select the “Printer” troubleshooter.
3. Run it and follow any recommendations.

Solution 15 – Mac-Specific Fixes

Reset Printing System

1. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Right-click in the printer list and select “Reset printing system”.
3. Re-add your printer.
4. This action clears all printer configurations.

Check CUPS Service

1. Open Terminal.
2. Run sudo cupsctl --debug-logging.
3. Check /var/log/cups/error_log for issues.

Solution 16 – Mobile Printing

Android

• Use Google Cloud Print replacement: Chrome > Share > Print.
• Ensure the printer supports Wi-Fi Direct or Google-compatible printing.
• Install the printer manufacturer app (HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson iPrint).
• Enable Cloud printing in printer settings if available.

iOS

• Chrome uses AirPrint – the printer must support AirPrint.
• Tap Share > Print to print documents.
• Ensure your iPhone/iPad and printer are on the same network.
• Some printers may require the manufacturer’s app for full features.

Advanced Troubleshooting

• Check chrome://print in the address bar for print interface issues.
• Explore chrome://flags and search for print-related flags.
• Use Windows Event Viewer to check for print-related errors.
• Inspect specific website CSS for blocking print issues (right-click > Inspect).

By following these solutions, you should be able to resolve most Chrome printing issues effectively. Whether the problem is with integration, glitches, or failures, these steps cover a wide array of potential fixes tailored for different operating systems.