Won’t print
Printing is very slow
Pages take minutes to start or crawl out one at a time. Find whether quality settings, large files, the network or the printer is causing it and speed it up.
You’ll need: A document that prints slowly
Try this first
Open the print settings and change print quality from best or high to normal or standard, and make sure the paper type is set to plain paper. Photo paper and high-quality modes make an inkjet pass over each line several times, which can turn a single page into a wait of several minutes.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsWhat you’ll notice
- A long wait before the first page starts
- Pages print a few lines, pause, then carry on
- Large PDFs or photos take far longer than plain text
- Printing over Wi-Fi is slow but USB is quick
- Long jobs slow down after the first few pages
Usually caused by
- Most commonHigh quality, photo paper or quiet mode settings
- Most commonLarge, image-heavy documents or PDFs
- SometimesA weak Wi-Fi signal or a slow-to-start network port
- SometimesThe printer is waking or warming up from deep sleep
- SometimesTwo-sided printing pausing to let ink dry
- Less commonAn outdated driver or spooler setting
Step by step
Work down the list in order. Tick off each step as you go: your progress is saved on this device.
Windows 11 and 10
0 of 6 tried
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Lower the default print quality
In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, click the printer and choose Printing preferences. Set quality to normal or standard and paper type to plain paper, then click OK. These become the defaults for every app.
You should see: A one-page text document starts and finishes noticeably faster.
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Turn off two-sided printing for drafts
Duplex printing pauses while the first side dries before pulling the sheet back in. For drafts and everyday documents, set two-sided printing to off.
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Find the slow pages in large files
Print a small page range instead of the whole file to see whether particular pages are slow. Pages with large photos, heavy graphics or transparency effects take longest to process; reducing image resolution or exporting a smaller PDF helps.
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Let printing start before spooling ends
Click Printer properties > Advanced. Under the spooling option, choose Start printing immediately so the first page begins while the rest is still being prepared.
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Check the port type
On the Ports tab of Printer properties, a WSD port can be slower to start jobs than a Standard TCP/IP port on some networks. Adding a TCP/IP port with the printer’s reserved IP address can shorten the wait before the first page.
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Update the driver
Get the latest driver from Windows Update or the manufacturer’s official support site. Some manufacturers also offer a simpler basic driver alongside the full package, which processes pages with less overhead.
macOS
0 of 3 tried
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Set quality in the print dialog
In the print dialog, open the media and quality settings (often shown as Media & Quality), choose plain paper and normal quality, then save the settings as a preset from the Presets menu so they stick.
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Try the AirPrint connection
If the printer was added with an older manufacturer driver, remove it in System Settings > Printers & Scanners and add it again with AirPrint in the Use menu. It’s worth comparing, since AirPrint is maintained as part of macOS.
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Check the Mac’s Wi-Fi signal
Option-click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar to see signal details. If the Mac or the printer has a weak signal, large jobs crawl across the network; move closer or test with a cable.
You should see: The same document prints faster with a stronger signal or a cable.
On the printer itself
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Turn off quiet mode
Many inkjets have a quiet or silent mode that slows the print head and paper feed to reduce noise. Look for it in the printer’s settings menu and turn it off when speed matters more than noise.
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Check the Wi-Fi signal on the network report
Print the network report and check the signal strength. A weak reading means big jobs trickle across slowly; moving the printer closer to the router helps more than any setting.
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Adjust the sleep timer to how you print
A printer in deep sleep needs time to wake, warm its fuser or prepare its print head. If only the first page of the day is slow, set a longer sleep timer so it’s awake when you usually print.
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Allow for slowdowns on long runs
Many inkjets deliberately slow down on long jobs to stop the print head overheating, and laser printers can slow down on narrow paper or envelopes to protect the fuser. That’s normal; splitting very long jobs gives the printer a rest.
Did this fix it?
Good to hear. If the problem comes back, the steps will still be here, and your ticked steps are saved on this device.
Try these next:
- Compare with a USB cable if the printer has a USB port. If USB is quick, improve the Wi-Fi signal or use Ethernet.
- Restart the print spooler on Windows to clear a backlog of old jobs that may still be processing.
- Print the same file from a different computer to see whether the slowness follows the file or the computer.
Still stuck? Run the diagnose questions, or check your printer’s manual and the manufacturer’s official support site.
Common questions
Why is the first page so slow?
The printer may be waking from sleep or warming up, or the computer may still be processing the file. Large PDFs and photos take longest to prepare.
Does printing over Wi-Fi slow things down?
For text, rarely by much. For big image files a weak Wi-Fi signal can add a lot of time, so improve the signal or use a cable for large jobs.
Is it normal for long jobs to slow down?
Yes. Many inkjet and laser printers deliberately slow down on long runs to keep parts from overheating. It isn’t a fault.