Print Jobs Not Completing

Photos stuck in the queue? Printer not responding? Here are the common causes and how to fix them.

Symptoms

Print jobs appear in the queue but don't print
The printer seems idle even though jobs are queued
Jobs show as "pending" indefinitely

Common Causes and Fixes

1. Printer Is Offline or Disconnected

Check that the printer is powered on
Check the USB cable — is it firmly connected to both the printer and your computer?
Check the printer's status lights — any error indicators?
Fix: Reconnect the USB cable, power cycle the printer

2. Out of Paper or Ink

Check the paper tray — is it empty?
Check the ink ribbon — has it run out?
Fix: Reload paper and/or replace the ink ribbon

3. Paper Jam

Check the printer for jammed paper
Follow your printer manufacturer's instructions for clearing jams
Fix: Clear the jam, then resume printing

4. ALIVE Magic Print Lost Connection

Check ALIVE Magic Print on your computer — is it still running?
Check that your computer hasn't gone to sleep
Fix: Wake your computer, restart ALIVE Magic Print if needed

5. Network Connection Dropped

The iPad may have lost its connection to the print server
Check Wi-Fi on both devices
Fix: Reconnect to the printer in ALIVE's settings

6. Print Queue Stuck

Sometimes a single failed job can block the entire queue
Fix: Clear the stuck job from the queue in ALIVE Magic Print, then retry

Preventive Measures

Disable computer sleep — Set power settings to "Never" during events
Monitor paper levels — Know how many prints your paper tray holds and check halfway through the event
Bring spare supplies — Extra paper, extra ink ribbons, extra USB cables
Test before the event — A full test print confirms everything works

When troubleshooting mid-event, disable printing temporarily in ALIVE's settings so guests don't keep queuing jobs that won't print. Fix the issue, re-enable printing, then resume.

Updated on: 17/03/2026

Was this article helpful?

Thank you!