PaperCut Print Troubleshooting

Issues / Questions

• My print job won't print — what do I do?
• I sent a document to the printer but nothing came out.
• My print job is stuck in the queue and won't clear.
• The printer says my job is held — how do I release it?
• I released my print job at the printer but the pages never came out.
• My print job disappeared before I could release it.
• How long does PaperCut hold a print job before it expires?
• PaperCut says I don't have enough balance to print.
• I'm getting a quota or balance error when I try to print.
• The release station screen is blank or frozen.
• I can't find my print job at the printer.
• My document printed blank pages.
• How do I cancel a stuck or unwanted print job?
• I'm printing from off campus — why isn't my job showing up?

Environment

This article covers troubleshooting for the PaperCut print workflow — sending jobs, releasing jobs at the printer, and resolving balance or queue errors. It applies to all Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff printing from Bowdoin-issued Mac computers or iPads.

• Devices: Bowdoin-issued MacBook Pros (macOS Sonoma 14.x or Tahoe 26.x), Bowdoin-issued iPads, Bowdoin-issued Windows 11 laptops
• Software: PaperCut MF, PaperCut Client, Print Deploy
• Not covered here: PaperCut Client software problems (crashes, won't open, login errors) — see PaperCut Client Troubleshooting. Personal (non-Bowdoin) devices — see Printing from a personal device.

Resolution

Job sent but nothing printed

1. Confirm the correct printer is selected. Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners and check which printer your Mac sent the job to.
2. Go to a release station (the touchscreen panel on or near the printer) and log in with your Bowdoin username and password.
3. Look for your job in the Print Release list. If it appears, tap it and select Print.
4. If your job does not appear at the printer, check the web portal instead — see Releasing a job from the web portal below.

Job stuck in the print queue on your Mac

1. Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
2. Click the printer name, then click Printer Queue…
3. Select the stuck job and click the X (delete) button to cancel it.
4. If the job won't delete, click Pause, then delete the job, then click Resume.
5. If the queue is still frozen, see Resetting the printing system in macOS for a deeper fix.

Releasing a job from the web portal

If the release station is unavailable or your job isn't showing at the printer panel, you can release from the web:

1. Go to papercut.bowdoin.edu and sign in with your Bowdoin credentials.
2. Click Jobs Pending Release in the left sidebar.
3. Locate your job and click Print next to it.
4. Select the printer you want to release to, then confirm.
5. Walk to that printer — the job will print within a few seconds.

Balance or quota error

1. Check your current balance at papercut.bowdoin.edu — sign in and your balance appears on the dashboard.
2. Students receive a $60 printing allocation each semester. If your balance is at or near zero, you will not be able to print until funds are added.
3. To add funds, update your OneCard balance — see Updating your OneCard for PaperCut.
4. Faculty and staff with department charging questions should contact their department administrator or the Service Desk.

Blank pages printed

1. Confirm the original file is not blank or corrupted — open it and check before reprinting.
2. If printing a PDF, try opening it in Preview instead of a browser, then print from Preview.
3. If you see a filter failed error when printing PDFs, see Fix the "filter failed" error when printing PDFs on macOS.

Release station screen is blank or frozen

1. Wait 30 seconds — the screen may be in sleep mode and will wake on touch.
2. If the touchscreen is unresponsive, try an adjacent printer or release your job from the web portal (see above).
3. If the release station is consistently offline, report it to the Service Desk so facilities can investigate.

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.

Additional Resources

• PaperCut Client Troubleshooting — for PaperCut Client software issues (crashes, login errors, won't open)
• Releasing a held document — full release workflow reference
• Resetting the printing system in macOS — when the print queue is frozen or printers are missing
• Fix the "filter failed" error when printing PDFs on macOS
• Updating your OneCard for PaperCut — add funds to your print balance
• Check Your PaperCut Account Balance