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Printer Shows “Printing” but Starts After 5–6 Minutes in Windows 10 or Windows 11

Quick Answer When Windows displays Printing but the printer does not physically start for five or six minutes, the delay can occur at one of three stages: Wi...

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Bison Technical Team Enterprise IT specialists
Updated 09 Sep 2026 17 min read 0 total views

Quick Answer

When Windows displays Printing but the printer does not physically start for five or six minutes, the delay can occur at one of three stages:

  1. Windows or the application is still preparing the print job.
  2. The Print Spooler, driver, or print queue is processing the job slowly.
  3. The job has reached the printer, but the printer is waiting because of network communication, sleep mode, memory, firmware, paper settings, or hardware problems.

The most common causes are:

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  • A stuck or corrupted Windows print queue
  • An outdated, incorrect, or damaged printer driver
  • A printer installed through a WSD port instead of a stable IP-based port
  • Weak Wi-Fi or an unstable network connection
  • A printer taking too long to wake from sleep
  • Large PDF, image, Excel, or graphics-heavy print jobs
  • Incorrect paper size or paper type settings
  • Antivirus scanning Windows spool files
  • Problems with the printer’s memory, firmware, print server, or network card

Start by printing a one-line Notepad document and an internal printer test page. These two tests quickly reveal whether the delay is caused by Windows, the application, the network, or the printer itself.

Understanding the Problem

Selecting Print does not send ordinary text or images directly to the printer. Windows first converts the document into printer-readable data, stores it temporarily in the print queue, and then transfers it through USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, a print server, or another connection.

Therefore, seeing Printing in the queue does not always mean that the printer has received and started processing the complete job.

A delay that happens only occasionally can be caused by:

  • A temporarily stuck print job
  • Network congestion or packet loss
  • The printer waking from deep sleep
  • A slow document-rendering process
  • An intermittent driver or spooler problem
  • Printer maintenance, calibration, or temperature preparation
  • A temporary communication problem between Windows and the printer

Microsoft recommends identifying whether the delay occurs while the application creates the job, while Windows spools it, while a print server transfers it, or after the printer receives it. This approach avoids changing unrelated settings. Microsoft: Troubleshooting scenarios for printing

First Identify Where the Delay Occurs

Before reinstalling anything, perform the following tests.

Test 1: Print an Internal Printer Report

Use the printer’s control panel to print a configuration, network, status, or test page. The exact menu varies by printer manufacturer.

If the internal report also takes five or six minutes to start, the Windows computer is probably not responsible. Check:

  • Printer sleep or deep-sleep mode
  • Printer initialization or calibration
  • Low toner or ink warnings
  • Incorrect paper selection
  • Printer firmware
  • Printer memory
  • Printer hardware
  • Overheating or maintenance messages

If the internal page prints immediately, continue with the Windows tests.

Test 2: Print a Simple Notepad Page

  1. Open Notepad.
  2. Type one short sentence.
  3. Select File → Print.
  4. Choose the affected printer.
  5. Measure how long the printer takes to start.

Interpret the result:

Test result Likely cause
Notepad prints immediately, but PDF or Excel is slow Application, document complexity, fonts, images, or PDF rendering
Every application is slow Driver, spooler, printer port, network, or printer problem
Only one computer is affected Windows configuration, local driver, local queue, or security software
Every computer is affected Printer, network, print server, firmware, or shared queue
Internal printer page is also delayed Printer sleep, settings, firmware, or hardware
USB printing works but network printing is delayed Network connection, port configuration, Wi-Fi, or printer IP issue

Test 3: Watch the Print Queue

Open:

Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → Select the printer → Open print queue

On Windows 10, the path may appear as:

Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners

Check what happens to the job:

  • If the job remains at Spooling, Windows or the application is still generating it.
  • If the job immediately changes to Printing but the printer remains silent, investigate the connection, printer port, sleep mode, printer memory, or printer settings.
  • If the job disappears immediately but nothing prints, check whether it was sent to the correct printer or port.
  • If another job is ahead of it, cancel or resolve the earlier job first.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Follow these steps in order. Test printing after each major step so you can identify the actual solution.

Step 1: Restart the Printer and Computer

  1. Cancel unnecessary print jobs.
  2. Turn off the printer.
  3. Disconnect its power cable for approximately 60 seconds.
  4. If it is a network printer, restart the router or network switch only when other devices are also experiencing connectivity problems.
  5. Reconnect and turn on the printer.
  6. Restart the Windows computer.
  7. Print a one-page Notepad document.

A full power cycle can clear temporary printer memory, network, firmware, and sleep-state problems.

Step 2: Check the Printer Display Carefully

Look for messages such as:

  • Processing
  • Receiving data
  • Warming up
  • Calibrating
  • Cleaning
  • Load A4
  • Load Letter
  • Wrong paper size
  • Wrong paper type
  • Manual feed
  • Low memory
  • Replace toner
  • Offline
  • Energy saver
  • Waiting for authentication

A paper mismatch is especially important. For example, Windows may send an A4 job while the printer or selected tray is configured for Letter paper. The job can remain in a waiting state until the printer decides which tray or paper to use.

Confirm that the following match:

  • Document paper size
  • Printer Preferences paper size
  • Physical paper loaded in the tray
  • Paper type, such as Plain, Thick, Labels, or Envelope
  • Selected tray or automatic tray selection

Step 3: Clear the Print Queue

First try the normal method:

  1. Open the printer’s queue.
  2. Select unnecessary or stuck documents.
  3. Choose Cancel.
  4. Wait for the queue to become empty.
  5. Try printing again.

If jobs will not disappear, reset the Print Spooler.

Reset the Print Spooler Through Services

Administrator permission may be required.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type services.msc.
  3. Press Enter.
  4. Find Print Spooler.
  5. Right-click it and select Stop.
  6. Open File Explorer and go to:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
  1. Delete only the files inside the PRINTERS folder.
  2. Do not delete the PRINTERS folder itself.
  3. Return to Services.
  4. Right-click Print Spooler and select Start.
  5. Test printing again.

Warning: Clearing this folder cancels pending print jobs for all printers on that computer. On a shared print server, it may cancel jobs submitted by multiple users.

Microsoft confirms that old, orphaned, or corrupted .SPL and .SHD files in the spool folder can cause stuck jobs and printing delays. Microsoft printing troubleshooting guidance

Step 4: Check the Spooling Settings

  1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
  2. Select the printer.
  3. Open Printer properties.
  4. Select the Advanced tab.
  5. Select Spool print documents so program finishes printing faster.
  6. Select Start printing immediately.
  7. Apply the settings and test again.

If Start printing after last page is spooled is selected, the printer may not begin until Windows has prepared the entire document. This can create a noticeable delay with large PDFs, photographs, drawings, or spreadsheets.

Test Advanced Printing Features

On the same Advanced tab:

  1. Clear Enable advanced printing features.
  2. Select Apply.
  3. Print the same document again.

Microsoft specifically recommends this as a troubleshooting step for slow, stuck, or unsuccessful print jobs.

If performance becomes worse or printer features stop working, turn the option back on.

Should “Print Directly to the Printer” Be Enabled?

Use Print directly to the printer only as a temporary diagnostic test. It can help determine whether spooling is contributing to the delay, but it is not always suitable as a permanent setting.

Direct printing may:

  • Keep the application busy until printing completes
  • Reduce queue-management functionality
  • Cause problems when multiple users share the printer
  • Make large jobs less convenient to manage

Restore normal spooling after the test unless direct printing is clearly required and properly tested.

Step 5: Update or Reinstall the Correct Printer Driver

An incorrect or damaged driver can take several minutes to convert a document into printer-ready data.

  1. Note the exact printer model and Windows architecture.
  2. Visit the printer manufacturer’s official support website.
  3. Download the current driver recommended for Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  4. Remove the affected printer from Printers & scanners.
  5. Restart the computer.
  6. Install the downloaded driver.
  7. Add the printer again.
  8. Print a Notepad page and then the original document.

Avoid unofficial driver-download websites and automatic third-party driver tools.

If the latest manufacturer driver remains slow, test an alternative driver officially supported for that exact printer, such as:

  • Manufacturer PCL 6 driver
  • Manufacturer PostScript driver, if supported
  • Manufacturer universal driver
  • Microsoft-compatible or IPP class driver, if supported

Do not select a driver for a merely similar model unless the manufacturer confirms compatibility. An incompatible driver may print basic documents while causing delays, missing features, incorrect output, or random failures.

Microsoft advises testing another print queue or driver to determine whether a particular driver is responsible. Microsoft printer driver guidance

Step 6: Check Whether the Printer Uses a WSD Port

Network printers discovered automatically by Windows are often installed through a WSD port. WSD can work correctly, but on some networks an unstable discovery or status connection may contribute to delayed printing.

To check:

  1. Open Printer properties.
  2. Select the Ports tab.
  3. Find the selected port.
  4. Check whether its name begins with WSD.

If it uses WSD and delays continue, consider testing a Standard TCP/IP Port using the printer’s IP address.

Before Changing the Port

Print the printer’s network configuration page and note its current IP address. Configure a DHCP reservation in the router or assign an appropriate static address according to your network design. Do not assign a random address because it could conflict with another device.

Add a Standard TCP/IP Port

  1. Open Printer properties → Ports.
  2. Select Add Port.
  3. Choose Standard TCP/IP Port.
  4. Select New Port.
  5. Enter the printer’s verified IP address.
  6. Complete the wizard.
  7. Ensure the new port is selected.
  8. Print a test page.

If you are unfamiliar with IP addressing, ask your network administrator or IT support provider to make this change.

Step 7: Test the Network Connection

For an Ethernet or Wi-Fi printer, open Command Prompt and run:

ping PRINTER_IP_ADDRESS -n 30

Example:

ping 192.168.1.50 -n 30

Look for:

  • Request timed out
  • Destination host unreachable
  • Large variations in response time
  • Packet loss
  • Replies coming from an unexpected address

A local wired-network printer should normally respond consistently. Exact response times vary by printer, power state, VLAN, Wi-Fi strength, and network design.

Also try opening the printer’s IP address in a web browser:

http://192.168.1.50

If the printer’s web page is also slow to open, the problem is more likely related to the printer or network rather than the Windows application.

Network Improvements to Test

  • Prefer Ethernet over Wi-Fi where practical.
  • Improve the printer’s Wi-Fi signal.
  • Avoid guest Wi-Fi or client-isolated networks.
  • Check for a duplicate IP address.
  • Reserve the printer’s IP address in DHCP.
  • Update the router, switch, access point, and printer firmware.
  • Replace a suspected Ethernet or USB cable.
  • Connect the printer and computer to the same stable LAN for testing.
  • Bypass a print server temporarily and print directly to the printer’s IP address.

Step 8: Check Printer Sleep and Energy-Saving Settings

If the first job after a long idle period is delayed but subsequent jobs print quickly, the printer may be taking too long to wake from deep sleep.

Open the printer’s control panel or embedded web page and look for:

  • Sleep timer
  • Deep sleep
  • Auto power-off
  • Energy saver
  • Wake on network
  • Eco mode

Temporarily increase the sleep timeout or disable deep sleep for testing. Do not permanently disable energy-saving features unless the delay is confirmed and the additional energy use is acceptable.

Some laser printers also require warm-up time. A short warm-up is normal, but repeated delays of five or six minutes should be investigated.

Step 9: Test PDFs, Images, Excel and Browser Printing Separately

A document with high-resolution images, transparent objects, embedded fonts, complex charts, or damaged content may create a very large spool file.

For a PDF

  • Save the PDF locally before printing.
  • Try printing one page.
  • Try another trusted PDF viewer.
  • Use Print as Image as a diagnostic test if the PDF application provides this option.
  • Reduce the print-quality setting temporarily.
  • Recreate or re-download the PDF if only one file is affected.

Printing as an image can help with damaged fonts or complex PDF rendering, but it may generate more data and print more slowly. It should therefore be treated as a test, not a guaranteed speed improvement.

For Microsoft Excel

  • Check the defined print area.
  • Remove unintended blank formatted rows and columns.
  • Check page breaks.
  • Test one worksheet at a time.
  • Save the workbook locally.
  • Try exporting the required pages to PDF and compare the result.

For Browser Printing

  • Save or download the page as PDF and test it locally.
  • Disable unnecessary browser extensions temporarily.
  • Try another supported browser.
  • Confirm that the browser is selecting the correct printer and paper size.

If only one application is slow, repairing or updating that application may be more appropriate than repeatedly reinstalling the printer.

Step 10: Check Print Quality and Resolution

High-quality and photo modes produce larger print jobs and require more processing.

Open Printing Preferences and temporarily test:

  • Standard or Normal quality
  • 300 or 600 DPI instead of the highest resolution
  • Plain paper
  • Black-and-white mode
  • Duplex disabled
  • Toner-save or draft mode

If normal-quality printing begins immediately but high-quality printing is delayed, the printer may have limited processing power or memory, or the driver may be producing an unusually large job.

Step 11: Check Antivirus or Endpoint Security Software

Security software may inspect temporary print files, especially .SPL, .SHD, and .TMP files. Microsoft notes that antivirus scanning of spool files can contribute to access errors or stuck and delayed print jobs.

Do not permanently disable antivirus protection.

Instead:

  1. Check the antivirus or endpoint-security event history.
  2. Determine whether scanning activity increases when printing.
  3. Test under IT supervision.
  4. If confirmed, create the smallest vendor-approved exclusion required.
  5. Apply exclusions only after a security review.

On a business network, exclusion changes should be handled by the system administrator or security provider.

Step 12: Test USB and Network Printing Separately

If the printer supports both network and USB printing:

  1. Install it temporarily through USB using the correct manufacturer driver.
  2. Print the same document.
  3. Compare the start time.

Interpretation:

  • USB is fast but network printing is slow: investigate the network, WSD/TCP-IP port, print server, or printer network interface.
  • Both USB and network printing are slow: investigate the driver, document, Windows spooler, printer firmware, or printer hardware.
  • Only one computer is slow through both methods: investigate that computer’s Windows installation, applications, drivers, and security software.

Do not keep both installations active without clearly naming them, or users may accidentally select the wrong queue.

Step 13: Update Windows and Printer Firmware

Install applicable Windows quality and security updates, and then restart the computer.

Also check the printer manufacturer’s official support page for:

  • Firmware updates
  • Updated print drivers
  • Known delay or wake-from-sleep issues
  • Network firmware updates
  • Printer-specific diagnostic utilities

Follow the manufacturer’s firmware instructions carefully. Interrupting a firmware update may make the printer unusable.

Step 14: Remove and Add the Printer Again

If the queue or port configuration is damaged:

  1. Record the existing driver, IP address, port, tray, duplex, and paper settings.
  2. Remove the printer from Windows.
  3. Restart the Print Spooler or restart the computer.
  4. Add the printer again using the correct driver.
  5. For a network printer, test a stable Standard TCP/IP or supported IPP connection.
  6. Restore only the required preferences.
  7. Print a Windows test page.

In an office, make sure you are not removing a centrally managed shared printer without administrator approval.

Step 15: Check Windows Print Events

Windows can record printing errors in Event Viewer.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type eventvwr.msc.
  3. Press Enter.
  4. Navigate to:
Applications and Services Logs
Microsoft
Windows
PrintService
  1. Review the Admin log.
  2. If more detail is required, right-click Operational and select Enable Log.
  3. Reproduce the delay.
  4. Record the time, event ID, printer name, document name, driver, and error details.

Disable the Operational log later if continuous detailed logging is unnecessary.

Fastest Troubleshooting Sequence

For most users, the following order gives the quickest result:

  1. Print an internal printer test page.
  2. Print one line from Notepad.
  3. Check the Windows print queue.
  4. Confirm paper size and tray settings.
  5. Restart the printer and computer.
  6. Clear the print queue and restart the Print Spooler.
  7. Select Start printing immediately.
  8. Test with Enable advanced printing features turned off.
  9. Install the latest official manufacturer driver.
  10. Check whether the printer uses a WSD port.
  11. Test a Standard TCP/IP port with a reserved IP address.
  12. Test Ethernet or USB instead of Wi-Fi.
  13. Check sleep mode, firmware, Event Viewer, and antivirus activity.

Diagnosis Table

Observation Most likely area to investigate
Internal printer page is delayed Printer firmware, sleep mode, warm-up, memory, paper setting, or hardware
Internal page is immediate but all Windows jobs are delayed Spooler, driver, port, network, or Windows configuration
Notepad is fast but PDFs are slow PDF complexity, embedded fonts, images, PDF viewer, or rendering
First print is slow but later jobs are fast Deep sleep, warm-up, Wi-Fi reconnection, or network discovery
Queue shows “Spooling” for several minutes Application, driver, rendering, disk, or spooler
Queue shows “Printing” immediately but printer waits Network, port monitor, printer status query, sleep mode, or printer processing
Only one computer is affected Local driver, queue, spool files, Windows, antivirus, or application
Every computer is affected Printer, print server, network, firmware, or shared driver
USB works quickly but network printing is delayed Wi-Fi, Ethernet, printer IP, WSD, DNS, or print-server issue
Only large or colour files are delayed Resolution, driver language, printer memory, or document complexity
Printer asks for paper confirmation Paper size, type, source, or tray mismatch

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Reinstalling Windows before isolating the cause
  • Downloading printer drivers from unofficial websites
  • Assigning a random static IP address
  • Deleting the entire Windows spool folder
  • Changing registry print-monitor entries without expert guidance
  • Permanently disabling antivirus protection
  • Assuming “Printing” means the printer has received the complete job
  • Testing only the original complex document
  • Changing several settings simultaneously
  • Ignoring paper-size or tray messages on the printer display
  • Installing a driver for a similar but different printer model
  • Leaving duplicate USB, WSD, IP, and shared printer queues with confusing names

Information to Collect If the Problem Continues

Record the following before contacting the printer manufacturer or IT support:

  • Printer manufacturer and exact model
  • Windows version and build
  • USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, WSD, TCP/IP, IPP, or shared connection
  • Printer IP address
  • Driver name and version
  • Application and document type
  • Approximate spool-file size
  • Whether Notepad printing is also delayed
  • Whether the internal printer page is delayed
  • Whether other computers have the same problem
  • Whether the delay occurs only after sleep
  • Date and time of a delayed job
  • Printer display message during the delay
  • Relevant PrintService event details
  • Whether USB or direct-IP printing changes the result

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows show “Printing” when the printer has not started?

The status may mean Windows has assigned the job to the printer queue or port. The job may still be rendering, spooling, transferring, waiting for a status response, or being processed inside the printer.

Can a corrupted print queue cause a five-minute delay?

Yes. Old, orphaned, or corrupted spool files can interfere with new jobs. Clearing the queue and restarting the Print Spooler is an appropriate troubleshooting step.

Why is only the first print of the day slow?

The printer may be waking from deep sleep, reconnecting to Wi-Fi, warming the laser assembly, performing calibration, or renewing its network connection.

Why are PDFs slow but Notepad prints immediately?

PDFs may contain high-resolution images, complex vectors, transparency, damaged fonts, or other elements that require considerably more processing. Test one page, another PDF viewer, or the application’s Print as Image option.

Is a WSD printer port always bad?

No. WSD works correctly in many environments. However, if intermittent delays occur, a properly configured Standard TCP/IP or supported IPP connection can be tested to determine whether WSD discovery or status communication is involved.

Should I disable SNMP status on the printer port?

Only as a controlled diagnostic test. Incorrect SNMP configuration can cause status-detection problems, but disabling it may prevent Windows from reporting accurate printer information. First verify the printer IP address, port, community configuration, network access, and manufacturer recommendations.

Should I use “Print directly to the printer”?

It can be tested temporarily to isolate a spooling problem. Normal spooling is generally better for shared printers, large jobs, application responsiveness, and queue management.

Can antivirus software delay printing?

Yes. Security software that scans temporary spool files can sometimes delay or block print processing. Check logs and consult your security administrator before creating exclusions.

Can low printer memory cause delayed printing?

Yes. Complex graphics, high resolutions, PostScript jobs, or large colour documents may exceed the printer’s comfortable processing capacity. Testing a lower resolution, standard quality, or another supported driver can help confirm this.

When should the printer be serviced?

Consider manufacturer support or hardware service when internal printer pages are also delayed, the device repeatedly freezes, reports memory or hardware errors, loses network connectivity, or remains slow after firmware, driver, connection, and queue problems have been ruled out.

Conclusion

A printer that displays Printing but waits five or six minutes should not immediately be treated as a hardware failure. First identify where the delay occurs: inside the application, in the Windows spooler, during network transfer, or inside the printer.

The most useful starting tests are an internal printer report, a one-line Notepad print, and observation of the Windows queue. In many cases, clearing a damaged queue, correcting the paper settings, installing the proper driver, changing an unreliable network port, or adjusting the printer’s sleep configuration resolves the problem.

Change one setting at a time and repeat the same test after each change. This makes the actual cause easier to identify and prevents unnecessary changes.

 

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