Troubleshooting: My Printer is Not Printing

Whether you are printing postage and labels using Stamps.com Online or with the Stamps.com PC software, this article will guide you through the most common troubleshooting steps so that you can quickly get back up and running again.

We recommend following the general troubleshooting steps in this article first. Then, if needed, there is a list of printer and error-specific articles at the end of this article that can provide additional troubleshooting steps if needed.

Error Initializing Printer in the Stamps.com PC Software

The Error initializing Printer error occurs when the Stamps.com PC software cannot communicate successfully with your printer. Follow the steps in this article to troubleshoot the most common causes of this error.

1. Check Your Printer & Print a Test Page

Select your operating system to see the troubleshooting steps.

Windows

Check that your printer has not accidentally been powered off or unplugged from an electrical outlet and that the printer is still connected to your PC.

If the printer was powered off, unplugged, or disconnected from your computer power it on and reconnect it. Then, reboot your PC.
Verify that you can print a Windows test page to the printer.
- Open the Windows Control Panel.
- Launch Devices and Printers.
- Right-click on the icon for your printer and select Printer Properties.
- Click the Print Test Page button.

After checking your printer, were you able to print a Windows test page?

Yes! Next, make sure that the Stamps.com printer setup is correct.
No: Since you have verified that the printer is on and is connected to your computer and Windows still cannot print to the printer, please contact your IT department or the manufacturer of your printer for support.

macOS

Check that your printer has not accidentally been powered off or unplugged from an electrical outlet and that the printer is still connected to your computer.

If the printer was powered off, unplugged, or disconnected from your computer, power it on and reconnect it. Then, reboot your PC.
Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
Select the printer from the list and click Options & Supplies.
Select the Utility tab.
Click Print Test Page.

After checking your printer, were you able to print a test page?

Yes! Next, make sure that the Stamps.com printer setup is correct.
No: Since you have verified that the printer is on and is connected to your computer and you still cannot print to the printer, please contact your IT department or the manufacturer of your printer for support.

2. Check Your Printer Setup

Online

For the best experience, make sure that Stamps.com Connect is installed and running properly. Without Stamps.com Connect, you may not be able to print all types of postage or use all types of printers.

Follow the steps in the Using Stamps.com Connect help article to download and install Connect. Installing Connect will ensure that you are running the latest version.
After installing Connect, reboot your computer.
Log into Stamps.com and print a sample label, NetStamps sheet, or envelope.

Did reinstalling Stamps.com Connect resolve your printing issues?

Yes! Great! You're all set.
No: Try reinstalling the printer's driver.

PC Software

The steps in this section will guide you through the steps to ensure you are prompted to select the correct printer each time you print from the Stamps.com software. This will allow you to verify that the correct printer and printer settings are selected prior to printing. It may be that the wrong printer is selected as the default printer.

Go to File > Preferences.
Verify that the option to verify your printer settings before each print is enabled:

General Printer Settings

Select the General tab. Then, make sure that the Prompt for printer settings before each print option is checked.

Printer Settings for Orders

Select the Orders tab. Then, click the Print drop-down and select Settings.

Check the option for Confirm printer settings before each print.
Follow the steps to configure and print a sample label, NetStamps sheet, or envelope.

After clicking the Print Sample button, you will be prompted to select the correct printer and will be able to verify that the printer settings are correct prior to printing.
Click the Print button. Verify that the print job was successful.

After making sure that the correct printer was selected, were you able to print a sample?

Yes! Great! You should be good to go, but you might wish to double-check that the correct default printer is selected:
1. Select the Orders tab. Then, click the Print drop-down and select Settings. Select the correct printer in the Printer Name drop-down menu.
2. Next, click the Tools menu and select Configure Printer. Select the default printer from the Default Printer drop-down menu. Click the Next button and follow the steps to ensure your printer is configured correctly.
No: OK, let's try reinstalling the printer's driver.

3. Reinstall the Print Driver

The steps to reinstall a print driver will differ depending on the type of printer you are using. We've included a few links and suggestions in this section to help.

Follow the steps in our Reinstall a Printer Driver in Windows help article for detailed steps on manually reinstalling drivers for inkjet, laser, or Zebra branded thermal printers.

Check Your Printer Manufacturer's Website

In many cases, the printer manufacturer's website will allow you to download software specific to your printer. The software will guide you through the process of reinstalling your printer. Try checking the Support, Support and Downloads, or Downloads section of the printer manufacturer's website.

Helpful Resources for Stamps.com Supported Thermal Printers

Zebra ZSB 4" Thermal Printer: Visit the Zebra ZSB Support Page for a Quickstart Guide and additional tutorials related to your printer.
Zebra ZD220 Thermal Printer: Visit the ZD220 Support Page for a Getting Started Guide and additional tutorials related to your printer.
ProLabel Express Printer: Follow the steps in our Stamps.com ProLabel Express help article for detailed steps on how to reinstall your printer.
DYMO LabelWriter 5XL: Download the DYMO LabelWriter 5XL manual for detailed instructions on how to reinstall your printer.

Did reinstalling the print driver resolve the printing issue?

Yes! You're all set!
No: Please reach out to support so we can help.
- Stamps.com PC Software users: We also suggest verifying that you are running the most recent version of the PC software.

4. Install the Latest Stamps.com Software Version

If you are using the Stamps.com PC software, it is a good idea to ensure that you are running the latest version. Updating to the latest version may fix your printing issues.

Open the Stamps.com software, go to the Help menu, and select About Stamps.com. Check the version number of the software.
Go to the Stamps.com download page. Compare the version number of your software to the latest version on the download page. If you are not on the latest version, we recommend that you download and install the latest version.
Reboot your computer, then launch the Stamps.com PC software and try to print.

Yes! You're all set!
No: Reach out to our support team. We are happy to help.

Additional Printer-Specific Troubleshooting

DYMO Printer Troubleshooting: Helps you troubleshoot several common issues specific to DYMO printers.
HP OfficeJet Printer Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot issues related to printing to OfficeJet printers from the Stamps.com PC software.
Stamps.com C210 Combo Device Not Printing: Troubleshoot issues related to using the scale and printer functions of the C210 combo device in the Stamps.com PC software.
Zebra & Eltron Printer Issues: Troubleshoot issues related to printing thermal labels with Zebra or Eltron printers.
Seiko SLP 440/450 Thermal Printer Issues: Troubleshoot issues related to printing to the Seiko SLP 440/450 printer from the Stamps.com PC software.
How to Install a Printer Driver in Windows: Guides you through manually reinstalling print drivers for inkjet, laser, or Zebra branded thermal printers.