Issues
- My print jobs aren't showing up at the printer release station — what's wrong?
- I sent a document to print but it never appeared in PaperCut. Where did it go?
- The PaperCut Client isn't running on my Mac. How do I start it?
- I'm not getting the PaperCut popup confirmation when I print. Is something broken?
- I get an error message when I try to print — "Error occurred starting user client."
- The PaperCut "P" icon is missing from my Mac menu bar. How do I get it back?
- The PaperCut MF Client icon isn't in my Windows task tray. What do I do?
- How do I repair or reinstall the PaperCut Client when it stops working?
- My print jobs go into the queue but won't release at the MFD — is the client the problem?
- The PaperCut Client keeps closing on my computer. How do I fix this?
Environment
This article applies to anyone on a Bowdoin-issued computer whose print jobs are not appearing at the printer release station due to a PaperCut Client problem:
- Who: All Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students using Bowdoin-managed computers.
- What: The PaperCut Client (called PCClient on macOS, PaperCut MF Client on Windows 11) — the background application that routes print jobs to the PaperCut server.
- Devices: Bowdoin-issued MacBook Pro (macOS Sequoia 15.x or Tahoe 26.x) and Windows 11 computers.
Scope note: This article covers problems with the PaperCut Client software itself — when it isn't running, crashes, or produces an error. If your client is running normally but jobs still won't print or release, see PaperCut Print Troubleshooting in the Related Articles section.
Resolution
Work through the steps below in order, starting with the most common cause.
Step 1 — Check whether the PaperCut Client is running
The PaperCut Client runs in the background and must be active for print jobs to reach the release station. If it has quit or crashed, jobs will appear to send successfully but won't show up at the printer.
macOS
- Look at the right side of the menu bar at the top of your screen, near the clock.
- Look for a small black, white, or green icon that resembles the letter P. This is the PaperCut Client indicator.
- If the P icon is present, the client is running — skip to Step 2.
- If the icon is not present, proceed to Start the PaperCut Client manually on macOS below.
Note: On Bowdoin-managed Macs, a background task will automatically restart the PaperCut Client if it closes. If the client keeps disappearing, it may need to be reinstalled — see Step 3.
Windows 11
- Look in the system tray in the lower-right corner of your screen, near the clock.
- You may need to click the ^ (up arrow) to expand hidden tray icons.
- Look for the PaperCut P icon. If it is present, the client is running — skip to Step 2.
- If the icon is not present, proceed to Start the PaperCut Client manually on Windows below.
Start the PaperCut Client manually on macOS
- Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar.
- Scroll through the list and look for PCClient.
- If found, double-click PCClient to launch it.
- Confirm the P icon reappears in the menu bar, then try printing again.
PCClient not in Applications? If PCClient is missing from your Applications folder, it needs to be reinstalled. See How to install PaperCut software on a Bowdoin computer in the Related Articles section.
Start the PaperCut Client manually on Windows 11
- Click the Start button and type
PaperCut MF Client in the search bar.
- If the application appears in the results, click it to launch it.
- Confirm the P icon appears in the system tray, then try printing again.
PaperCut MF Client not found? If the application does not appear in search results, it needs to be reinstalled. See How to install PaperCut software on a Bowdoin computer in the Related Articles section.
Step 2 — Repair the PaperCut Client (Windows 11 only)
If the PaperCut Client is present but producing an error — such as "Error occurred starting user client. Please contact support for assistance" — you can try the built-in repair option before reinstalling.
macOS: There is no repair option for PCClient on macOS. If the client is installed but not working correctly, reinstall it using Self Service. See How to install PaperCut software on a Bowdoin computer in the Related Articles section.
To repair the PaperCut MF Client on Windows 11:
- Open Settings (press Windows + I).
- Go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for or scroll to find PaperCut MF Client.
- Click the three-dot menu next to it and select Modify.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to repair the installation.
- Once the repair completes, check the system tray for the PaperCut P icon. If it doesn't appear automatically, refer to Start the PaperCut Client manually on Windows above.
Step 3 — Reinstall the PaperCut Client
If the client is missing, won't start after repair, or keeps crashing, the best fix is a clean reinstall.
- macOS: Use the Self Service app to reinstall PCClient.
- Windows 11: Use Company Portal to reinstall PaperCut MF Client.
Full reinstall steps are in How to install PaperCut software on a Bowdoin computer in the Related Articles section.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.