If you can’t print from Chrome, first try printing something from another app on the same device. If that fails too, the problem is the printer or its connection, not Chrome: check that the printer is on, has paper and ink, and is on the same network as your device. If other apps print fine, the fixes below are for Chrome on a computer, on a Chromebook, and on phones.
Fixes for Chrome on Windows, Mac and Linux
- Pick the right printer. Press Ctrl + P (⌘ + P on a Mac) and look at Destination. Chrome reuses the last destination you chose, so it may still be set to Save as PDF or an old printer. Select See more to choose your printer.
- Set up the printer first. Google’s Print from Chrome help says to set up your printer by following its manufacturer’s instructions before you print from Chrome.
- Try your computer’s own print window. On Windows, Mac or Linux, Chrome’s print window may offer Print using system dialog. Select it to print through your computer’s own print window instead of Chrome’s print preview, which helps when the preview won’t load.
- Update Chrome. Follow our steps to update Chrome, then relaunch it.
- Turn off extensions. Go to More (three dots) > Extensions > Manage extensions and switch them off, then try again. If printing works, turn them back on one at a time to find the culprit.
- Reset Chrome’s settings. If nothing else works, reset Chrome’s settings. Bookmarks and passwords are kept.
What Chrome’s print messages mean
- “Print preview failed.” Close the print window, reload the page and try again. If it keeps failing, use the system print window or turn off extensions, as above.
- “The selected printer is not available or not installed correctly.” Chrome can’t reach that printer. Choose another destination, or remove and add the printer again in your computer’s settings.
- “Printing failed. Please check your printer and try again.” Do what the message says: check the printer and its screen for paper, ink or jam errors, then print again.
- Print is missing from the menu. On a work or school device, an administrator can turn printing off. Google’s Enable printing policy says that then printing is removed from the three-dot menu. Ask your IT team.
The printout is blank, cut off or missing parts
- Colors or boxes missing: under More settings, turn on Background graphics.
- Text cut off at the edge: set Scale to Custom and lower the number, or change Margins to Default. Wrong Paper size can also crop the page.
- Too many pages: set Pages to Custom and type only the pages you need, such as
1-3. - A PDF prints with garbled or missing parts: some printers need PDFs sent as a picture. If you see Print as image in the print settings, turn it on. On Windows and Mac, Google’s Print as image policy says the option only appears if an administrator has turned it on.
Chromebook not printing
These steps follow Google’s Set up your printer guide for Chromebooks.
- Same network. Your printer and Chromebook must be on the same internet network. Chromebooks don’t support Bluetooth printing, so use Wi-Fi, a wired network or a USB cable.
- Choose the printer. Press Ctrl + P, select the down arrow next to Destination, select See more, and pick your printer. Your Chromebook checks whether the printer is compatible when you select it.
- Check the saved details. Select the time at the bottom right > Settings. Under “Device,” go to Printers and scanners > Print. Next to your printer, select More > Edit and fix any typos in its details.
- Remove and add it again. Next to the printer, select More > Remove, then set it up again.
- Add it by address. If it never shows up, select Add printer manually and enter the printer’s IP address. Google says most printers use the IPP protocol with the queue
ipp/print. - Update the printer’s firmware. If you still can’t print, check the printer maker’s website for a firmware update.
- Printer won’t join Wi-Fi? Turn the printer off and on again and reconnect it. If that fails, contact the printer maker.
On a school or work Chromebook, you may not be allowed to add printers. Ask your administrator.
Android and iPhone
- Android: in Chrome, tap More > Share > Print, then choose a printer at the top. Google’s Android printing help says you need a printer that can receive data over Wi-Fi or a mobile network, added to your phone.
- iPhone and iPad: Chrome prints with Apple’s AirPrint. Tap Share > Print. If your printer doesn’t appear, check that it supports AirPrint.
Older advice that no longer applies
Google Cloud Print is no longer supported, as Google’s printer selection policy notes, so guides that tell you to set it up won’t work. If you only need a PDF rather than paper, see how to print to PDF in Chrome.