Get Help: Troubleshoot Printer Error Messages

Last updated: May 1, 2026, 11:16 AM

Learn how to troubleshoot printer error messages that appear on your Toast POS. 

 

In this Article:

 

Overview steps

Before you start: confirm your Toast POS device and printer are powered on, plugged in, and on the same network. You will need physical access to the printer's power and Ethernet cables.

 

If you're seeing cloud printing errors, visit this page.

If you're seeing cloud printing errors but are not attempting to cloud print, disable cloud printing in Device Setup, then continue.

If you are seeing issues with a wireless M30 printer, and are using a Toast Managed Network, visit this page.

If you are seeing issues with a wireless M30 printer, and are using a Self Managed Network, visit this page.

 

The printers in your business are wired into a network router using an Ethernet cable, and that router may also be connected to access points that broadcast the Wi-Fi signal your handheld devices use. For receipts and kitchen tickets to print, the device sending the print job must be on the same network as the printer. If the device is on a different network, print jobs fail. This is the single most common cause of printer error messages.

 

Quickest fix (resolves some printer errors):

  1. Unplug both the power cable and the Ethernet cable from your printer. Wait 30 seconds.
  2. Plug both cables back in and power the printer on.
  3. Retry printing.
  4. If you are still seeing an error, find your specific error message in the decision tree below.

 

When a print job fails, the Toast printing error screen offers a list of networks to try and a button that opens network settings so you can connect to the correct network. Use that button to confirm the device is on the same network as the printer.

 

If the quickest fix does not resolve the error, identify your specific error message and follow the matching branch below.

 

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Troubleshoot connectivity error messages

Over half of all printer errors are caused by connectivity issues.

 

These error messages indicate a connectivity issue:

  • We couldn't connect to the printer.
  • Please reboot printer.
  • Printer is offline.
  • Unrecoverable error occurred in printer.
  • Something went wrong while printing.
  • Printer is busy.
  • Unable to resolve IP address.
  • Printer is unable to establish connection to cash drawer.

 

Try these steps first:

  1. Unplug both the power cable and the Ethernet cable from your printer. Wait 30 seconds.
  2. Plug both cables back in and power the printer on.
  3. Retry printing.
  4. Check the Toast System Status page to verify there is no Toast outage. If there is an outage, see Outages and Disruptions: Use Toast During a Local Network Outage.

 

If the error persists, try these next:

  • Reconnect your cable. Reconnect the Ethernet cable at your network source — your switch, router, or wall port, depending on your setup.
  • Replace your cable. If reconnecting does not fix it, swap in a known-working Ethernet cable. If you have two printers in the kitchen and one is working, plug the printer you are troubleshooting into the cables used by the working printer to confirm whether the cable is faulty.
  • Printing from a terminal? Make sure Wi-Fi is disabled. Terminals print over Ethernet.
  • Printing from a handheld device? Make sure the handheld is on the correct Wi-Fi network. To learn more, see Set Up Your Toast Network.
  • Printer connected but printing blank slips? Confirm you are using the correct paper type and that paper is installed properly. See Printer Paper Rolls and Ink Ribbons.

 

If these steps do not resolve the error, see the Before you contact Customer Care checklist below.

 

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Troubleshoot hardware error messages

These error messages indicate a hardware issue:

  • An error occurred on printer's receipt cutter.
  • Something went wrong while printing. Please check for paper jams, misfeeds, and cutter malfunctions.
  • Printer has no paper / no paper in printer.

 

Steps to resolve:

  1. Check the printer for paper jams, misfeeds, and cutter malfunctions.
  2. Confirm you are using the correct paper type and size, and that it is installed properly. To learn more, see Printer Paper Rolls and Ink Ribbons.

 

If you have verified there is no paper jam, misfeed, or cutter malfunction and the error persists, follow the steps in Troubleshoot connectivity error messages above — some hardware-styled errors are network-induced.

 

If those steps still do not resolve the error, see the Before you contact Customer Care checklist below.

 

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Troubleshoot additional printer error messages

Printer cover is open. Please close cover on printer.

Confirm the printer cover is securely closed. If the cover is closed and you are still receiving this error, the printer may need to be replaced — see the Before you contact Customer Care checklist below.

 

Printer was deleted. Please confirm the correct printer is selected in Device Setup or send to an alternate printer.

  1. Navigate to Device Setup on your Toast POS.
  2. Confirm the correct printer is selected under the Receipt Printer header.

 

If the printer you need is not listed, see Printer Setup Overview or contact Customer Care.

 

Printer feed button is pressed. Please make sure the feed button is released.

Confirm no one is pressing the Feed button on the printer. If the issue persists after the button is released, see the Before you contact Customer Care checklist below.

 

Printer error detected.

This error typically appears when:

  • Printers experienced a power outage and now have duplicate IP addresses, or
  • There is an unresolved print error in the printer queue.

 

If the cause is an IP conflict: the POS prompts you to reboot the printer. Follow those prompts, or use the steps in Troubleshoot connectivity error messages above.

 

If the cause is an unresolved print job: the POS prompts you to review the queued job. You can either delete the queued job or resolve the underlying error before retrying.

 

If the error persists, see the Before you contact Customer Care checklist below.

 

There was an issue printing the Closed Cash Drawer Report.

  1. Navigate to Device Setup on your Toast POS.
  2. Confirm the correct printer is selected under the Receipt Printer header.
  3. Try printing the report again.

 

If the printer you need is not listed, see Printer Setup Overview. If the report still does not print, see the Before you contact Customer Care checklist below.

 

We don't recognize this printer. We can't support third party printers.

Confirm you are using a Toast-branded or Toast-compatible printer. To check, see Toast Compatible Printers.

 

If you are using a third-party printer, your printer may also print "ICICICICICIC". Toast cannot support third-party printers — switch to a Toast-compatible printer to resolve the error.

 

Printer error reference codes (for example, code 410)

[Information missing: requires input on printer error reference codes — when each code appears, what causes it, and what the user should do. Several escalated conversations referenced specific reference codes that are not documented in any source article. SME, please confirm the canonical list.]

 

If you see a reference code on screen, capture the exact code text and see the Before you contact Customer Care checklist below.

 

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Frequently asked questions

Why is my printer green-lit but not printing?

A green power light means the printer has electrical power, but it does not confirm the printer is connected to your network or able to receive print jobs. Run through the steps in Troubleshoot connectivity error messages above to confirm the printer is reachable on the network. If the printer is an Epson kitchen printer (TM-M30, TM-T20, or TM-U220B), see Get Help With Epson Kitchen Printers for model-specific guidance.

 

My printer prints blank slips — what's wrong?

Blank slips are usually caused by the wrong paper type or incorrect paper loading.

  • Confirm you are using the correct paper for your printer model. Thermal printers use thermal paper (shiny coating, marks if scratched with a fingernail). Impact printers use standard paper.
  • Confirm the paper roll is loaded correctly and is not jammed. The paper should feed from the bottom of the roll.
  • For impact printers (the gray TM-U220B model that uses a ribbon), confirm the printer ribbon cartridge is firmly seated. Push down gently — you should hear a click as it settles into place. If the ribbon is old or worn, it may need replacement.

 

To learn more, see Printer Paper Rolls and Ink Ribbons and Get Help With Epson Kitchen Printers.

 

My printer is online but the POS won't find it during setup. What should I do?

Your POS detects printers by scanning the network the device is connected to. If the printer is on a different network or a different subnet, your device will not detect it on the setup screen.

  1. Confirm the printer and the POS are on the same network and same subnet.
  2. Print a test page from the printer and compare its network info to your device's network info. To find your device's network info, on your POS select the three dots in the top right corner of the screen to view the Device Status page.
  3. If the printer is on a different subnet, it is either plugged into a different network, or an additional router is plugged into your network. Cable trace and correct any issues before retrying. See Set Up Your Toast Network or Set Up Your Meraki Router.

 

My printer is making a clicking sound and not printing.

A clicking sound usually points to a hardware issue specific to the printer model. Identify the model from the label on the printer and follow the matching guide:

 

If the model-specific guide does not resolve the issue, see the Before you contact Customer Care checklist below.

 

My printer keeps printing the same ticket twice.

Double printing is typically a printer-assignment configuration issue, not a hardware error. To resolve it, see Troubleshoot Double Printing.

 

Where do I see my printer's status?

On the Toast POS, navigate to Setup > Printer Setup. You will see the overall health of every printer, including any that are showing offline. Select Check status to refresh the page. Select a specific printer to view its settings, print a test ticket, or print a test receipt. To learn more, see Printer Setup Overview.

 

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Before you contact Customer Care

If the steps above do not resolve the error, gather the following before contacting Customer Care to speed up your interaction:

 

  • The exact error message text shown on your POS screen (a photo or screenshot is best).
  • The printer model — for example, TP200, TM-M30, TM-T20, TM-U220B, or T88V. The model is listed on the label on the printer.
  • The printer serial number — found on the Printer Setup page on your POS, or on the label at the bottom of the printer.
  • Whether the printer is wired (Ethernet) or wireless (Wi-Fi).
  • Which Toast device you are printing from — terminal, handheld, or KDS.
  • The steps you have already tried.
  • Whether other printers in the same location are working normally.

 

To contact Customer Care, see How can I contact support in the Toast app?.

 

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This content is for informational purposes and is not intended as legal, tax, HR, or any other professional advice.