Printer is paused and nothing I do will allow it to print.

Resume the ET-2850’s entire print queue by turning off Pause Printing—restarting one paused document does not resume a queue that Windows has paused.

Resume the printer queue

1. Open Start → Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Select Epson ET-2850 → Open print queue.
3. In the queue window, open the Printer menu or the … menu, depending on the Windows 11 queue interface.
4. If Pause Printing is checked, select it to remove the check.
5. Also ensure Use Printer Offline is not checked.
6. Cancel any old jobs that remain in the queue, then send a new print job. Windows provides Cancel all under the queue’s … menu in the current interface.^1^

If only one document—not the entire printer—is marked Paused, right-click that document and select Restart.^2^

Verify the selected printer and test it

1. Return to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Turn off Let Windows manage my default printer if it is enabled.
3. Select Epson ET-2850 → Set as default.
4. Select Printer properties → General → Print Test Page.

A successful test page means Windows can communicate with the printer; if documents still fail only from one application, check that application’s File → Print screen and explicitly select the ET-2850.^3^

Since the scanner already works and both devices are connected, avoid changing the Wi-Fi configuration unless Windows reports the printer as offline.

If the queue immediately pauses again

1. Turn off and unplug the ET-2850.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds, reconnect it, and turn it on.
3. Restart the Dell laptop.
4. Open Get Help from Start, search for printer troubleshooter, and run the automated Windows 11 diagnostics.^4^

If that does not help, reset the Windows Print Spooler, which manages queued print jobs:

1. Press Windows key + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Right-click Print Spooler → Stop.
3. Open File Explorer and go to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
4. Delete the files inside that folder, not the folder itself. This permanently removes every queued print job.
5. Return to Services.
6. Double-click Print Spooler, set Startup type to Automatic, select Start, and then OK.
7. Restart the printer and PC, then print another test page.^5^

Windows may request administrator approval when stopping the service or deleting spool files.

If the test page still fails

Remove and reinstall only the ET-2850:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Select Epson ET-2850 → Remove → Yes.
3. Restart the PC.
4. Return to Printers & scanners and select Add device.
5. Add the ET-2850 and print a test page. If it is not found, select Add manually.^4^

If reinstalling does not restore test-page printing, install the current ET-2850 Windows 11 driver/software package from Epson’s support site. If that also fails, contact Epson support for device-specific diagnosis.

References

1. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/printer/troubleshooting-offline-printer-problems-in-windows#general-troubleshooting)
2. How to restart or delete one print job in the print queue in Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A
3. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/printer/fix-printing-problems-in-word-excel-or-other-apps#step-6-restart-printer-spooler-service)
4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/printer/fix-printer-connection-and-printing-problems-in-windows)
5. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/printer/fix-print-job-stuck-in-queue-errors-in-windows)