Cannot print items from my Photos

On my iMac 27" I cannot print photos in my Photos app.


iMac 21.5″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Dec 21, 2023 2:55 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 24, 2023 11:22 AM

As a test launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new, test library.  Import a photo and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it? This tells us if the problem is limited to your current library or is more wide spread.


If you can print from the test library close it and open you current library and try printing again.


If it still fails to print create and log into a new, basic, admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.


Note:  do not launch any 3rd party apps in the account so as to not install any of the supporting files that most create.


If the problem isn't present then your original account has software installed that is causing the problem.  




4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 24, 2023 11:22 AM in response to Tganas

As a test launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new, test library.  Import a photo and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it? This tells us if the problem is limited to your current library or is more wide spread.


If you can print from the test library close it and open you current library and try printing again.


If it still fails to print create and log into a new, basic, admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.


Note:  do not launch any 3rd party apps in the account so as to not install any of the supporting files that most create.


If the problem isn't present then your original account has software installed that is causing the problem.  




Dec 24, 2023 7:44 AM in response to Tganas

Can you print from other apps?


Have you tried these things?

  • Restart the computer (of course)
  • Make a new user and see if the same problem recurs with it
  • Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens.
  • Start in Safe Mode (different for different computers) This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes.

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 


They may help us decide what's going on.


Dec 21, 2023 8:46 PM in response to Tganas

Can you supply more details? Why can't you print photos from Photos?

Can you not select one or more photos?

Can you not issue the Print command from the File menu?

Can you not select your printer?

Do you get an error message of some sort? If you do, what does it say?

Do you get a blank sheet of paper?

Was it working previously? If so, what changed?

Dec 23, 2023 12:44 PM in response to markwmsn

When I am in the Photos app, I select a photo I want to print and press command/O (or Print in the File menu). A whirling red ball appears and the entire program is frozen. The only way out is to Force Quit.

Originally, I had selected 4 photos and then pressed Print and that's when the red beach ball appeared for the first time.

I don't know what, if anything is different now. In the past I have printed many many photos without trouble. I am stuck!

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Cannot print items from my Photos

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