How to Fix "Low on Memory" or "Memory Full" Printer Error

Reduce the print quality setting

Higher quality settings require the printer to process and hold more detail per page. Switching from "Best" or "High Quality" down to "Normal" or "Draft" for the problem document often resolves a memory error immediately, since it reduces how much data the printer needs to buffer at once.

Print fewer pages at a time

If the document is long, try printing it in smaller batches (for example, pages 1-20, then 21-40) rather than sending the entire job at once. This is a straightforward workaround that sidesteps the memory limit without needing to change the document itself.

Reduce image resolution or complexity

If the document contains high-resolution images or complex vector graphics, especially many of them, consider compressing images before printing, or exporting the document as a simpler PDF first. A document with images at print resolution (300 DPI) is far more demanding on printer memory than one with lower-resolution images meant for screen viewing, so trimming this down when quality isn't critical can resolve the error.

Check if a print quality or resolution setting was left too high by default

Some print drivers default to a higher resolution or color depth setting than necessary. Check your printer's advanced print settings (often under "Printer Properties" or "Advanced" in the print dialog) for a resolution setting specifically, separate from the general quality slider, and lower it if it's set unusually high for routine printing.

If this happens with most documents, not just one

If memory errors occur regularly across many different, otherwise-ordinary documents, this may point to your specific printer model having limited memory relative to typical workloads — some entry-level printers have less onboard memory than office-oriented models. Check whether your printer model supports a memory upgrade (common on some office laser printers, uncommon on consumer inkjets), or consider that consistently large, complex jobs might be better suited to a higher-capacity printer if this is a frequent, ongoing issue rather than an occasional one.