On MacOS I keep trying to print and get Hold for Authentication error

Scenario 1

User prints, is asked for credentials, but gets error in print queue “Hold for Authentication”

Make sure you are using your PTC username and not the default local computer account username.
(Example of Student PTC username: amc10) (Faculty and Staff will be lastname.firstname for their PTC usernames)

If the username is correct, then it’s a password issue.

  1. Open your most used web browser like Google Chrome and go to MyPTC.    https://admin.ptcollege.edu/mypti/
  2. See if you can login manually typing in your username and password. DO NOT use a saved password if it’s saved. If you can login to MyPTC manually, try printing again using the same password. If you can’t login to MyPTC, look under the browser settings for passwords and see what password you have set for blackboard, MyPTC, adfs.ptcollege.edu, etc. if the saved password works. Once you find the password, use that password for printing.
  3. Remember, for network accounts, if you fail authentication 3 times, it will lock you out for 5 minutes. So, if you got your saved password and know it now and it’s still not working, you are most likely locked out. Wait 5+ minutes and try printing again.

Scenario 2

User prints, IS NOT asked for credentials, but gets error in print queue “Hold for Authentication”

  1. Find and Open the Keychain application in “/Application/Utilities” or under the “Go” menu select “Utilities” and open Keychain application. Once you are in Keychain app, click “Login” in left column. Then click on “Passwords” along the top of the window or may show at bottom of left column. Find the printer’s name in the list to the right and right click and delete the saved printer’s password and try printing again making sure you’re asked for credentials. Make sure you’re using the correct username and password. (Example of Student PTC username: amc10) (Faculty and Staff will be lastname.firstname for their PTC usernames)
  2. If you get “Hold for Authentication” in the print queue again, then it’s a password issue. Follow step 3 in scenario 1.

Last Resort:

If you can’t login to MyPTC, can’t find a saved password in your web browsers settings, have waited 5+ minutes after 3 failed login attempts for your account to auto unlock to try passwords again, then you probably need a password reset. Call the helpdesk at 412-809-5397 pressing option 1 and ask for a network password reset.

Scenario 3

User prints a PDF, but it doesn’t reach the print queue at the printer release station or is corrupted in one way or another.

  1. If you’re having problems printing PDF files, when you’re in the printing window for "Acrobat", click the “Advanced” button and select the
    option to “Print as Image”. It may throw off colors a little, but is the workaround we have always used when having issues with PDF files and printing.