How to Fix a Canon Printer That's Saying "Out of Paper"

Have you ever been using your Canon printer and seen the error ‘Out of Paper’? This error message can be even more frustrating when you look inside the printer and realize that there is paper available! In that case, it’s almost natural to stress and worry that your printer isn’t functional anymore – I have definitely been there. However, this is an issue that has a few fixes available.

Typically, the ‘Out of Paper’ error on a Canon printer can arise because of everyday issues. This could be because of the type or weight, or size of paper you use. Alternatively, you could be having a hardware or cleanliness issue with the printer. Finally, another cause for this error is issued with Canon printer firmware or the Spooler software that connects the printer and the computer.

To find out in detail how you can identify and fix these issues, you should read through the rest of this article. With each cause for concern, we have explained how you can reverse the problem and set it right to get back on track with your printing!

How To Fix ‘Out of Paper’ Error On A Canon Printer

So you are trying to print out something important, but your Canon printer keeps saying it is out of paper. What can you do? The first fix you should consider above all else is checking if there is indeed no paper in the tray. Refilling the tray will do the trick and resolve your error in most cases. However, if you still keep seeing this message, you should try and troubleshoot each of the issues listed below:

Consider The Paper

Now that you know there is definitely an issue, it’s time to look at the paper in the printer tray. Sometimes, the Canon printer sensors can’t read that there is paper in the tray when it is folded, bent, or the wrong kind of paper. First, make sure you are using the right kind of paper. You can find information about this in the instructional manual you get with your Canon printer.

Next, you should look at the condition of the paper itself. If the paper has some damage or is torn or bent, consider switching it out with a fresh batch. You should also make sure that the paper aligns in the printer tray. Don’t add too much paper as well, as the printer will not be able to pull it away in that case.

Another common issue you might see is a paper jam. This occurs when the printer does not grasp the paper correctly. The paper gets stuck in the roller of the printer. You can pull the paper out gently but firmly to get rid of the paper jam and restore function.

Clear Printer Rollers

Sometimes, your printer isn’t able to read the paper available because the rollers are dirty. You can clear out this dirt by cleaning out the printer roller. Start by switching off the Canon printer and cutting out the energy supply to be safe. Now, you can use a simple damp microfiber cloth to clean out the rollers. Next, you should let the rollers dry thoroughly and then place them back inside the Canon printer. If the rollers were the cause for concern, they should go back to normal now.

Troubleshoot The Printer Spooler

The printer spooler is a simple piece of software that helps you manage all of the printing commands on a Windows computer. The software is there to help manage a queue when you have different printing jobs on the way. However, issues with your printer spooler can lead to the error above. Luckily, there’s a way to switch the spooler back on with these steps:

On your Windows computer, click the start button in the bottom left corner of the taskbar.
Search for the Run app, and start the software.
In the window that opens up, type the following: services.msc.
Press Enter to run the command.
This will now open up a list of all of the Services.
Find the service Printer Spooler.
Check the status of the spooler software. If it is running, the status should show ‘Started.’
However, if the spooler is ‘Stopped,’ then please right-click and select the option Properties.
Move to General, and then select Start.

Once you save these settings, the printer spooler should start working. In that case, the error should immediately disappear. However, if it does not, move on to the next step listed below.

Update the Canon Printer Drivers

Another issue you should consider is that the Canon printer drivers may need an update. Printer drivers help your Canon device adapt and work on the Windows computer seamlessly. If your software is not up-to-date, it can create errors that otherwise won’t appear. There is an easy way to update your printers drivers, though, with these steps:

In the search bar on your Windows PC, search for the term Device Manager.
Select the Device Manager from the results that appear.
In the new window that opens up, choose the option Printers.
From the list of devices, select the Canon printer.
Right-click on your printer and select Update Driver Software
Select the option to Update Driver automatically.
This will give the Windows PC permission to look for the printer drivers that are currently available.
Download and install any newly available updates.

You can also manually update your printer drivers. For this, you can head over to the Canon website to find new driver updates. You can then download and install them onto your computer.

Restart Your Canon Printer

Finally, a cause you might not have thought of is that this error is occurring due to a firmware glitch. Even though updating drivers often fixes this issue, there is one last way to resolve the problem. This is to reset the Canon printer. It would be best to unplug the power plug from the wall to do this. Then, after thirty seconds, you can plug it back in. Press the printer’s power button to switch it on and try rerunning it.

Conclusion

With all of these fixes, you can hopefully get your Canon printer working back to normal in no time! However, if any issues persist, there is always the option that you can consider, which is contacting customer support.