how to fix printer offline problem

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How to Fix an Offline Printer

Last Updated: May 11, 2023

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido . Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 65,139 times.

This wikiHow teaches you how to troubleshoot your Windows or macOS printer when it appears as "offline" in your settings. This error often appears when a printer is not turned on or properly connected to the network. If you've verified that the printer is turned on and ready to print, the issue may be related to the printer service on your computer.

Troubleshooting in Windows

• If the printer is in Sleep mode, you may have to press a button on it to wake it up.

• Turn off and unplug your printer for 30 seconds. This will give your printer time to reboot and reconnect to your computer.
• Plug in and turn on your printer. After a few moments, check to see if the printer is still showing as "offline."

• The steps to check your printer's network settings vary by printer. You'll usually have to use the buttons directly on the printer to navigate its internal menus.
• If you're using a USB cable to connect to the printer, make sure it's securely plugged in. You may also want to try a different USB cable to rule out a faulty cable connection.
• 4 Make sure there is paper in the printer tray. Some printers will appear offline if no paper is available to print on. [2] X Research source

• Press ⊞ Win + S to open the search bar and type services .
• Click Services in the search results.
• Scroll down and right-click the Print Spooler service.
• Click Restart . This will restart the printer dialog, which will give the computer a chance to rediscover the printer.
• Wait a few minutes and check to see if your printer is showing up online. Because it takes a moment for the printer spooler service to restart, you'll need to wait a few minutes before the printer shows up as detected by your PC.

• Select your printer and select Open Queue .
• Select a document in the queue.
• Click Cancel under "Document."
• Repeat until the queue is empty.
• Check to see if the printer is working. If you're still having trouble, continue with this method.

• Go to the Printers & scanners menu.
• Click on the printer you want to set as the default.
• Select Open queue .
• Select Set As Default Printer in the menu for your printer's queue. This appears in the Printer menu that appears in the window with the printer queue.

Troubleshooting on macOS

• This will delete all printers and scanners connected with your Mac, so make sure to re-add any devices you still want to use after restarting your system.

• Make sure your printer is turned on and ready to connect before proceeding with this step.

• If you haven't already, make sure to connect any other devices this way to re-add them.

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about fixing computer issues, check out our in-depth interview with Luigi Oppido .

• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4496876/windows-10-troubleshooting-offline-printer-problems
• ↑ https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04249334

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How-To Geek

Why is my printer offline (and how to get it online).

Is your printer offline and refusing to print? Learn why this happens, and how to fix it.

Quick Links

What does "printer offline" mean, how to fix an offline printer, printer still offline, key takeaways.

Your printer may be offline because offline mode was enabled or because of a bad connection. Restarting your printer and computer, as well as clearing print jobs, running a troubleshooter, restarting the spooler, and updating or reinstalling your printer can all help.

There are several possible reasons your printer is displayed as Offline. In most cases, the problem is easy to fix, as long as you know where to look. Here's why your printer is offline, and how to get it online and printing again.

When a printer is showing as offline, it means it isn't currently connected to a computer, either through a cable or over a Wi-Fi network. It cannot communicate with your computer and is unable to receive the data to print.

In some cases, this might be because the printer has died or has an internal hardware fault. Thankfully, this kind of critical failure is uncommon, and there is usually an easier-to-fix reason for the offline status.

By working through the fixes here, you can quickly eliminate the more common causes of a printer being offline. In no time at all, your printer will be churning out pages on demand.

As with any troubleshooting process, start with the most basic steps. Follow our suggestions in order and you'll find the simplest solution for an offline printer fast.

Ensure the Printer Isn't in Offline Mode

In Windows, a printer can be manually put into offline mode. If the printer is shared over a local network changing this setting prevents others from using it.

Checking if the printer status has previously been changed to offline mode is simple. In Windows, open the print queue as explained above . Click the "Printer" menu and make sure "Use Printer Offline" is not selected.

If it is, unselect it and try printing again.

Check for Error Messages on the Printer

If your printer has an LCD display, check to see if any error messages are visible. There may be error icons alongside, or instead of, a screen that can also point to a specific problem.

If you are unsure what an error code, icon, or light means, check the printer manufacturer's website for information.

Check the Printer Cable or Wireless Connection

If the offline printer is connected directly to your computer, check that the cable is firmly attached and unbroken. If the printer cable looks crushed but otherwise whole, it could still be broken inside the protective outer sheathing.

Consider replacing the cable if anything looks wrong or if it doesn't attach firmly to the USB port on the printer or computer.

Related: How to See Who's Connected to Your Wi-Fi Network

If the printer is wireless, ensure it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the computer. Try refreshing the wireless connection by disconnecting it from the network and then reconnecting again.

If you have recently changed the network the printer is connected to, you might need to reset the printer's Wi-Fi settings. On most wireless printers you can force the Wi-Fi settings back to default by holding a button or a combination of buttons. Check the manufacturer's website for the correct process for your printer.

Restart the Printer and Your Computer

The advice favored by some tech support lines may seem lazy, but turning a device off and on can fix a multitude of simple errors, including an offline printer.

Turn off both the printer and the computer. Then restart your computer , and turn on the printer once the computer has finished booting.

Related: Why Does Rebooting a Computer Fix So Many Problems?

Clear All Jobs From the Print Queue

Print jobs are the queue of printing tasks that are lined up and ready to be executed. If a print job fails, it can sit in the queue and prevent later print jobs from being completed. This may occasionally make your computer think the printer isn't connected.

In Windows, you can view and clear the print queue from the printer status monitor in the system tray. You can also open Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click "Open Queue." Right-click anywhere in the print queue panel and select "Cancel All Documents."

If you are using a Mac, click the printer icon in the Dock and choose Jobs > My Jobs. You can then delete a print job by selecting it and choosing "Delete."

Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Perhaps in recognition of how common printer problems are, Windows has a dedicated Printer Troubleshooter. You can find this in Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot in Windows 10. In Windows 11 go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Trouble-shooters.

Run the printer troubleshooter and follow the instructions to fix any problems it discovers . If it does, you should have an online printer again soon enough.

Related: How to Make Windows Troubleshoot Your PC's Problems for You

Restart the Print Spooler in Windows

The print spooler is a system component that temporarily stores print jobs in the memory. If this service stops working, it can cause the printer to be shown as offline.

Search for and open the Services app. In Local Services, scroll down until you find Print Spooler in the list of services. It should be shown as Running in the status column. Right-click on it and select "Restart" from the context menu.

Update Printer Software/Firmware

If you are using the printing software that came with the printer or was downloaded later, ensure it's updated to the latest version.

You might be able to update from within the software. If not, check the manufacturer's website for software updates to install. To help you get started, here are several popular printer manufacturers' driver download pages:

There you might also find  firmware updates available from the manufacturer. Firmware is the permanent software installed on a device that enables it to function correctly. This is different from the print software installed on your computer. Corrupted or out-of-date firmware on your printer can cause it to be stuck offline.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Printer

If none of the previous steps have worked, it's time to completely uninstall the printer. You can then reset it to factory settings and reinstall it from scratch.

In Windows, open Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners, and select the device. Click "Remove Device." Now uninstall any installed print software that came with the device.

Related: How to Reset the Printing System on Your Mac

In Mac, click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Printers and Scanners. Select the printer you want to delete and click the "minus button" to remove it.

If your printer has an LCD display, you can usually use it to navigate to a reset option. Printers with no display should have an alternate process for performing a factory reset. You will need to check the manufacturer's website to learn the exact method for your printer.

Now install the printer as if it were new, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Related: How to Add a Printer on Windows 11

If your printer is still offline after trying all of the fixes here, it could mean there is a more serious problem. Find the manual online for the exact make and model you have, and make sure that there are no solutions specific to that printer. You could also search online to see if anyone else with your model has experienced the same issue.

If even that fails to provide an answer, it might be time to buy a new printer .

• Install a printer
• Add a printer
• Download printer drivers
• Install printer drivers
• Set default printer
• View printer queue
• Fix Printer Problems
• Troubleshoot offline printer

Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows

If you’re trying to use your printer and run into problems, here are some steps for common printer problems to try to get things working again.

Before you begin

Start by running the automated printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Get Help automatically runs diagnostics and takes the correct steps to fix most printer issues.

Open Get Help

If the Get Help app is unable to resolve your printer issue, try the possible solutions listed: 

Step 1. Unplug and restart your printer

Sometimes power cycling your printer can resolve the issue. Turn off your printer and unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug your printer back in, and then turn the printer back on.

If your printer still doesn’t work, continue to step 2.

Step 2. Check cables or wireless connection

Check the cables (for wired printers).  Make sure that the printer's USB cable is properly connected from the printer to your PC. If your USB isn’t recognized, see  Automatically diagnose and fix Windows USB problems .

Check the wireless connection (for wireless printers) . Do one of the following:

Make sure the printer’s wireless option is turned on and available. Many printers have a button that displays a blue wireless icon when a wireless connection option for the printer is available. To learn where this button is located on your printer and to find instructions about how to turn it on, see the instructions that came with the printer or check the manufacturer's website for instructions.

Run the printer’s wireless connectivity test. Many printers have a menu option to test the printer’s wireless connectivity. Read the instructions that came with the printer or check the printer manufacturer’s website for instructions about how to do this.

If those check out and you’re still having problems, your PC may not be connecting to your wireless network. To learn more, see Why can't I get online? For more advanced help, see Fix network connection issues in Windows .

If you're having trouble connecting to a Bluetooth printer, see Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows .

If you use wireless access points, extenders, or multiple wireless routers with separate SSIDs, make sure you're connected to the same network as the printer for your PC.

If your printer's status displays "Printer in error state," there may be a problem with the printer itself.  If these first two steps did not resolve the error, check the printer for low paper or ink, and be sure the cover isn't open and the paper isn't jammed.

If your printer still doesn’t work, continue to step 3.

Step 3. Uninstall and reinstall your printer

Try removing and reinstalling the printer.

Remove your printer

Select the Start   button, then select  Settings   > Bluetooth & Devices  > Printers & scanners  . Open Printers & scanners settings

Select the printer you want to uninstall.

Select the Remove button. Then confirm you're sure you want to remove this device by selecting Yes .

Reinstall your printer

If your printer is turned on and connected to the network, Windows should find it easily. Available printers can include all printers on a network, such as Bluetooth and wireless printers, or printers that are plugged into another computer and shared on the network. You might need permission to install some printers. To reinstall your printer, follow these steps:

Make sure your printer is turned on and connected.  Then select the Add device (or Refresh ) button.

Please wait a moment while Windows searches for the printers that are connected to the device (locally or wirelessly).  Windows will then display a list of printers connected to your device.  If you see your printer listed, select the Add device button for your printer.  If you don't see your device listed, select Add manually .

If you use wireless access points, extenders, or multiple wireless routers with separate SSIDs, make sure you're connected to the same network as the printer for your PC to find and install it.

If you have a new wireless printer that hasn’t been added to your home network, read the instructions that came with the printer and check the printer manufacturer’s website to learn more and to get up-to-date software for your printer.

Tip:  You can print a test page to make sure the printer is working correctly. If you've installed the printer but it doesn't work, check the manufacturer's website for troubleshooting information or driver updates.

Reinstall your printer manually

If the system cannot install the printer automatically, you can reinstall it manually. When you select Add manually , you will then see five options to Find a printer by other options .  Select the option that applies best for your situation and then follow the steps provided.  All of the options can apply for a printer that is connected wirelessly or through your network.  However, if your printer is connected directly to your computer locally, select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings and then select  Next .  

Reinstall a local printer manually

After selecting Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings , follow these steps:

Select Use an existing port and then select the port the printer is connected to.  Then select  Next.  If the printer is connected via USB, select it from the list. There are also options for parallel (LPT) and serial (COM) ports.

You will now see options to install the printer driver. If the printer came with a disc that includes the driver, select  Have Disk . Otherwise, select Windows Update .

Please wait while Windows updates the list of printers.  Then select the printer manufacturer from the left column, and the printer model from the right column. Then select  Next .

Note:  If there are multiple versions of a driver for your device, you might be asked which version of the driver to use.  In most cases, you should select  Replace the current driver . However, if you're confident the installed driver is correct, select Use the driver that is currently installed .

Type a name for your printer, and then select  Next . This name is only for your personal reference, so you can choose any name you prefer. 

Select Do not share this printer.  (If you want to share your printer with other devices on your network, select  Share this printer  and enter the name and location.) Select Next .

Select Print a test page  to confirm that the printer is working and then select Finish .

If your printer still doesn’t work, continue to step 4.

Step 4. Install the latest driver for your printer

Most printers require the latest driver to work well. To learn more, read  How to download and install the latest printer drivers .

If your printer still doesn’t work after you install the latest driver for your printer, continue to step 5.

Step 5. Clear and reset the print spooler

If the previous troubleshooting step is not successful, you may need to clear spooler files and restart the spooler service. The print spooler is a file that manages the printing process. To clear and reset the print spooler:

In the search box on the taskbar, type services , and then select Services  in the list of results.

Select the Standards tab, and then double-click Print Spooler in the list of services.

Select Stop , and then select  OK .

In the search box on the taskbar, enter %WINDIR%\system32\spool\printers , select %WINDIR%\system32\spool\PRINTERS  in the list of results, and then delete all files in the folder.

In the search box on the taskbar, search for services , and then select Services  in the list of results.

Select the Standards tab, and the double-click Print Spooler in the list of services.

Select Start , select  Automatic in the  Startup Type box, and then select OK .

If your printer still doesn’t work, continue on to step 6.

Step 6. Change a printer's status to "online"

If your printer displays an "offline" status, check out  Troubleshooting offline printer problems .

If you need help installing your printer in Windows 10, see  Install a printer in Windows 10 .

If your PC is running Windows 10 S, some printers might not work with it, or they might have limited functionality. For more info, see  Device support on Windows 10 S .

If a USB printer port is missing, see USB printer port missing after disconnecting printer while Windows 10 (version 1903 or later) is shut down .

If you're looking for help with a scanner, see Install and use a scanner in Windows 10 .

If you're having trouble connecting to a Bluetooth printer, see Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows 10: FAQ .

Select the Start   button, then select  Settings   > Devices  > Printers & scanners  . Open Printers & scanners settings

Under  Printers & scanners , find the printer, select it, and then select  Remove device .

You'll need to follow different steps to reinstall or add a wireless or local printer. Here's how.

Reinstall a wireless printer

Select  Add a printer or scanner . Wait for your device to find nearby printers, choose the one you want, and then select  Add device .

If your printer is turned on and connected to the network, Windows should find it easily. Available printers can include all printers on a network, such as Bluetooth and wireless printers, or printers that are plugged into another computer and shared on the network. You might need permission to install some printers.

Reinstall a local printer

If you want to reinstall or add a local printer, plug the USB cable from your printer into an available USB port on your PC, and then turn on the printer.

Under  Printers & scanners , look for your printer.

If you see your printer listed, you'll know it's installed.

If you don't see your printer listed, select Add a printer or scanner . Wait for your device to find available printers, choose the one you want, and then select Add device .

Tip:  You can confirm the printer is working by printing a test page. If you've installed the printer but it doesn't work, check the manufacturer's website for troubleshooting information or driver updates.

Connecting your printer

When you connect a printer to your PC  or add a new printer to your home network, you can usually start printing right away. Windows supports most printers, and you probably won't have to go out of your way to install special printer software. If you're using Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, additional printer support and drivers are available through Windows Update.

To install a printer

In most cases, all you have to do to set up a printer is to connect it to your PC. Simply plug the USB cable from your printer into an available USB port on your PC, and turn the printer on.

For wireless printers with Windows 8.1:

Note:  If you have a new wireless printer that hasn’t been added to your home network, read the instructions that came with the printer to learn how to add it. Check the printer manufacturer’s website to learn more and to get up-to-date software for your printer.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings , and then tap Change PC settings . (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, select  Settings , and then select  Change PC settings .)

Tap or click PC and devices , and then tap or click Devices . If your printer is installed, it should appear under Printers .

If your printer isn’t listed, tap or click Add a device , and then select your printer to install it.

To install (add) a local printer

Click the Start   button, and then, on the Start menu, click Devices and Printers .

Click Add a printer .

In the Add Printer wizard, click Add a local printer .

On the Choose a printer port page, make sure that the Use an existing port button and the recommended printer port are selected, and then click Next .

On the Install the printer driver page, select the printer manufacturer and model, and then click Next .

If your printer isn't listed, click Windows Update , and then wait while Windows checks for additional drivers.

If none are available and you have the installation CD, click Have Disk , and then browse to the folder where the printer driver is located. (For additional help, consult the printer manual.)

Complete the additional steps in the wizard, and then click Finish .

To install a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer

If you're trying to add a network printer at the office, you'll usually need the name of the printer. If you can't find it, contact your network administrator.

Click the Start  button, and then, on the Start menu, click Devices and Printers .

In the Add Printer wizard, click Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer .

In the list of available printers, select the one you want to use, and then click Next . (If your computer is connected to a network, only printers listed in Active Directory for your domain are displayed in the list.)

Tip:  Available printers can include all printers on a network, such as Bluetooth and wireless printers or printers that are plugged into another computer and shared on the network. You might need permission to install some printers. You can confirm the printer is working by printing a test page.

Note:  After your printer is installed, you can keep it up to date with automatic Windows 7 driver updates.

Troubleshoot printer problems

Start by checking your hardware.

Make sure that the printer's electrical cord is plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power switch is turned on. If you're printing to a shared printer or a printer on a network, make sure that all necessary computers and routers are turned on too. If your printer or other equipment is plugged in to a surge protector or a backup power supply, make sure that hardware is plugged in and turned on as well.

If you’re using a wired printer, make sure that the printer cable is properly connected from the printer to your PC.

For wireless printers, check the wireless connection. Make sure the printer’s wireless option is turned on and available. Many printers have a button that displays a blue wireless icon when wireless is available.

Next, run the printer’s wireless connectivity test. Read the instructions that came with the printer or check the printer manufacturer’s website for instructions about how to do this.

If your printer's status displays "Printer in error state," there may be a problem with the printer itself.  If the previous steps did not resolve the error, check the printer for low paper or ink, and be sure the cover isn't open and the paper isn't jammed.

Use a troubleshooter

A troubleshooter is an automated tool that can find and automatically fix some problems with your PC. The printing troubleshooter can fix problems with installing and connecting to a printer.

Update drivers

Most printers require driver software to work properly. If you recently upgraded from one version of Windows to another, it's possible that the current printer driver is for the previous version of Windows. If you've had recent power outages, viruses, or other computer problems, it's possible that the drivers have become damaged. Downloading and installing the latest driver for your printer can resolve these types of problems.

Three ways to find and install a driver:

Use Windows Update. Windows Update might have an updated version of your printer driver.

Install software from the printer manufacturer. If your printer came with a disc, that disc might contain software that installs a driver for the printer.

Download and install the driver yourself . You can search for a driver on the manufacturer's website. Try this if Windows Update can't find a driver for your printer, and the printer didn't come with software that installs a driver.

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020.  Technical assistance and software updates from Windows Update that help protect your PC are no longer available for Windows 7.  Microsoft strongly recommends that you move to Windows 11.  

Click here to get more info and learn what it means for you.

Related topics

Find out how to  install a printer in Windows.

Find out how to  How to download and install the latest printer drivers .

Find out how to  set up a default printer in Windows.

Find out how to  view a printer queue in Windows.

If you are having a problem changing your printer "offline" status, go to  Troubleshooting offline printer problems .

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How to Fix It When Your Printer Is Offline

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Printing a document or image is usually a quick task. Occasionally, your printer may display an offline status and not process your print job. If your printer is offline for no apparent reason, a few printer troubleshooting steps will often get it back online and printing again.

Here's a look at why your printer is offline and what you can do to fix it.

This information applies to Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7, as well as macOS Catalina (10.15) through OS X Mavericks (10.9).

Causes of a Printer Being Offline

There are several reasons why your printer might be offline. There might be a problem with the printer cables, or perhaps a printer driver is corrupted, needs an update, or isn't installed. Some printer settings might be incorrect, or an open or incomplete print job is causing an error.

Whatever the reason, restoring your printer to online status is usually a quick and easy job.

How to Fix It When Your Printer Is Offline in Windows

If you use a printer with a Windows computer, and the printer status is offline, try these troubleshooting steps in the order we present them, from simple to more complicated.

Plug in the printer and turn it on. It's important to check that the printer is operational.

Reboot the computer . Restarting a computer solves many errors and problems. Give this a try and see if it solves the offline printer problem.

Power cycle the printer . As with many electronic devices, turning a printer off and on again often fixes problems, including a printer that appears offline. Turn the printer off, unplug it, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Turn it on and try again. If it still shows offline, continue troubleshooting.

Check the network connection status. If the printer is wireless, it needs a network connection to your PC to work. If your network is offline, you've likely found the problem.

When other devices in your home or office are online, your network is up.

Make sure the printer is connected to the network or computer . If the printer isn't properly connected to the network or computer, it won't respond. If the printer physically connects to the computer, make sure the cables are securely plugged in. If it's a wireless printer, check its network connection status .

Some printers have an option to test wireless connectivity. Check the printer manufacturer's website to find out if your model has this ability. If so, run a connectivity test to ensure it's properly connected.

Change the printer status . Your printer might be set to use the printer offline. Confirm the printer isn't set for offline use. If it is, change the status to online.

Update the driver . Make sure you installed the most recent printer driver available. An outdated or incompatible driver can cause a printer to display an offline status, so updating the driver could solve the problem.

Uninstall and reinstall the printer . This process gives the printer a fresh start. After you uninstall the printer, restart the computer and then reinstall the printer.

The uninstall and reinstall process in Windows 8 and Windows 7 is a little different.

Consult the printer's manufacturer documentation. Your printer manufacturer's online documentation may provide specific guidance about error messages and what each means. You may also have a paper manual that came with the device.

Common printer manufacturers include HP , Epson , Canon , Brother , Samsung , Kyocera , Lexmark , Ricoh , and Toshiba .

How to Fix It When Your Printer Is Offline on a Mac

If you're troubleshooting an offline printer with your Mac, some of the fixes are the same as those for a Windows PC.

Turn the Mac off and back on . As with Windows PCs, many Mac problems are cured by a simple restart.

Make sure the printer is connected to the network or computer . If the printer isn't properly connected to the network, or to your computer, it won't respond. If the printer physically connects to the computer, make sure the cables are securely plugged in. If it's a wireless printer, check its network connection status .

Make sure the printer is set as the default . A different printer may be set as the default printer, which could kick the printer you want to use offline.

Delete any open print jobs . A print job could be stuck, causing a backlog and sending the printer into offline status. Delete open print jobs, then try your print job again.

Uninstall and reinstall the printer . This process gives the printer a fresh start. After you uninstall the printer , restart your computer and then reinstall the printer.

Reset the Mac's printing system . If all else fails, reset the Mac's printing system. This should be a last resort because it removes several permissions and settings, so proceed with caution.

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Why is My HP Printer Offline?

You need to print an important document and a notification pops up that your HP printer is offline. Has this ever happened to you? What does this term mean? And, more importantly, how do you fix this problem?

What does it mean when your printer is offline?

• Outdated drivers
• Connection issues
• A settings error

How to change the printer from offline to online status

Option 1 - run hp print and scan doctor.

• Use the HP Print and Scan Doctor application to identify and solve errors. You can find this special version that’s designed to resolve offline issues by clicking this link .
• Open the application called HPPSdr.exe by clicking it from the download location and allowing it to run. You may need to be in administrator mode to do this
• If you are prompted, choose Yes to trust the file source because it comes directly from the HP tech support team
• Click Start and choose your printer
• If your printer is not listed, restart your printer, then click Retry in the Print and Scan Doctor application
• The application will identify potential connection issues. Follow the prompts and click Yes if asked to turn on printer updates
• Continue through the prompts and click Yes if asked to make this printer the default printer

Option 2 - Set the default printer

• Use the search box or ask Cortana to open Devices
• Select Printers & scanners
• Ensure that the box next to “ Let Windows manage my default printer ” is unchecked. Click the box to unselect it if necessary
• Choose your printer from the list provided
• If your printer is listed multiple times, select the version that is showing an idle or online status
• Click Manage
• Click Set as default

Options 3 - Confirm your printer port and Windows services status

• To determine this, search Windows or ask Cortana for Control Panel and click “ View devices and printers ”
• Next, right-click your printer and select Printer Properties
• Click the Ports tab and look to see if your printer uses a WSD port
• Search Windows or ask Cortana for Services
• Scroll through the list to find Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication
• Check the Status and Startup type columns
• If they are running and the startup type is automatic, go to the next step
• If they show up blank with a manual startup type, right-click the name and select Properties
• Change the startup type to automatic
• Then, click Start under the service status and click OK
• Go back to the Device and Printers window and press F5
• Click your printer name and check the status
• Right-click on your printer name, choose Printer Properties , and click the Ports tab .
• Select Add Port
• Select Standard TCP/IP Port and click New Port
• Use the network configuration report you ran previously to add a new port -a hostname is preferred
• Go back to the Devices and Printers window and press F5
• Check your printer status by clicking it

Option 4 - Check your connection

• Restart your printer by turning it off, waiting 10 seconds, and disconnecting the power cord from your printer
• Then, turn off your computer
• Connect the printer power cord to the printer and turn the printer back on
• Disconnect the power cord from your wireless router
• Wait 10 seconds before reconnecting it
• It may take a few minutes for your internet to come back on
• When it does, power on your computer
• Using the HP wireless setup wizard or the HP Smart software, connect your printer to your network
• Print a wireless report to see what connectivity issues may still exist
• Find this report in the Network settings or the Wireless menu of your printer

Try printing from another device

Getting your printer online quickly, about the author.

Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.

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• Main content

Check for error messages

• Make sure you're connected to WiFi 

Restart the printer and computer

• Make sure the printer isn't in Offline mode

Clear your print queue

Reset the print spooler, reinstall your printer, why is my printer offline 7 ways to troubleshoot..

• Your printer may be offline because it has many moving parts, and there are many different ways it can fail.
• Possible solutions to an offline printer include checking your printer's WiFi connection, restarting the printer, and clearing the print spooler.
• Here are seven of the most common fixes for when your printer appears offline. 

Printers remain one of the frustrating devices in the world of consumer tech. Inscrutable error messages, paper jams, smeary ink and inexplicably going offline are just some of the problems that you'll routinely encounter with many home and small office printers.

If you've ever tried to print something only to wonder, "why is my printer offline," here are seven of the most common solutions to this vexing problem. 

Sometimes in the heat of the moment it is easy to overlook the obvious. The first thing you should check if your printer appears offline and won't print is to look at the printer itself. Is it powered on? Check the paper tray to make sure it's loaded, and review the printer display to see if there are any error messages that may give you a clue to the problem. The printer might be low or out of toner, it might have a connection issue, or there might be a paper jam. Clear any problems you find. 

Make sure you're connected to WiFi 

Of course, if your printer is connected directly to your computer via a USB cable, check the cable to make sure it's secure. You might even try swapping cables and connection ports to eliminate a bad cable or USB port as a source of the problem. 

But most printers are wireless these days, and it's surprisingly easy for your printer to become disconnected from WiFi. Make sure your printer is connected to the same WiFi network as the computer you're trying to print from. The printer's display panel should show the WiFi network name and confirm you have a solid wireless connection. 

One of the first things you should do to troubleshoot your printer is restart it. If there's a temporary glitch, turning it off and back on again gives the printer an opportunity to reboot and start fresh. You can power the printer down using its power button — if it has one — or through the control panel, but the easier solution is to simply unplug the printer. Wait one minute, then plug it in again and wait for it to fully restart and connect to WiFi. 

It's not a bad idea to restart your computer at the same time to make sure both devices are refreshed. 

Make sure the printer isn't in Offline mode

Sometimes the solution is even more obvious than you think — your printer could be set to offline mode. To check, open the printer queue on your PC:

1. Click Start and then choose Settings .

2. In the navigation pane on the left, click Bluetooth & devices .

3. On the Bluetooth & devices page, click Printers & scanners . 

4. Click the entry for your printer. 

5. Click Open printer queue .

6. In the printer queue window, click Printer in the menu bar, then make sure Use Printer Offline isn't checked. If it is, click it to switch back to online mode. 

It's possible that there's a glitch with one of the documents you've sent to the printer, and it brought your printing queue to a halt. Try clearing the entire queue and then sending something to the printer. To clear your queue: 

6. In the printer queue window, click Printer in the menu bar, then click Cancel All Documents . 

There might be a deeper software issue preventing your printer from working properly. A critical service that allows the computer to communicate with the printer called the Print Spooler might have failed. Try restarting the print spooler:

1. In the Start search box, type "services." Click Services when you see it appear in the list of search results.

2. Find Print Spooler in the list of services.

3. Right-click Print Spooler and choose Restart from the pop-up menu.  

If nothing else has worked, you should try to reinstall the printer as if it were new — this might clear out a glitch or misconfigured printer setting that's preventing it from working properly. 

1. Unplug your printer and, if it's connected to your computer via USB (which is unlikely), unplug that cable as well. 

2. Click Start and then Settings .

3. In the navigation pane on the left, click Bluetooth & devices . 

4. Click Printers & scanners .

5. Select your printer from the list of devices.

6. At the top right of the printer page, click Remove . 

After the printer is uninstalled from your computer, return to the Printer & scanners page and click Add device . Follow the instructions to search for and install your printer.

Resolve Printer is Offline Or Not Responding - Windows

Description.

• Make sure the printer power is on.  Press the power button to turn on the printer.  
• If the printer will not power on, check the power cord connections. Disconnect and reconnect the power cable at both ends. Then press the power button to turn the printer on.
• Before you print, be sure you have the appropriate printer selected.  
• If the wrong printer is automatically selected, you may want to set the desired printer as the default printer. Setting the default print in Windows     Setting the default print on a Mac  
• If the same printer is listed multiple times, you may have to remove the duplicates and try to print again.  It may be necessary to remove all of the listed printers and then reinstall.
• Simply turn the printer off with the power button on the printer.  
• Once turned off, disconnect the printer's power cord from the back of the printer.  Wait approximately 30 seconds before you reconnect it.  
• Once reconnected, use the printer's power button to turn the printer back on.  

• If your printer had been connected wirelessly before, and no hardware changes have been made, you may simply need to reboot your computer.  
• You may need to reestablish the wireless connection, or set your printer up wirelessly if it has not been connected wirelessly before. If your printer has not been setup wirelessly already, or to reestablish a wireless connection, refer to this Wireless Setup article.
• If your computer is connected to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), try disconnecting from the VPN to see if it is interfering with printer communication.  
• If you continue to have Wi-Fi communication issues, set a static IP address on the printer.  
• First, disconnect the power from your router and/or modem.  
• Once a proper connection has been reestablished, if this was the issue, then communication between your devices should be restored.
• Save any needed work and close all open applications.  
• Shutdown and restart your computer.  
• Once fully rebooted, try to print or scan again.
• Make sure that the printer is not displaying any errors (flashing lights or error codes on the screen). If the printer is in an error state (paper jam, ink has run out, etc.) please address the error state first. Then, move to the next step.  
• If there have been no changes to your wireless network (new router, new password for your router, etc.), turn off and unplug your printer. Unplug your wireless router for 15 seconds, then plug it back in. After it has fully initialized, plug the printer back in and power it on. Try to print again. If there is still no response, move to the next step.  
• If the printout shows that the connection is Active  and the signal strength is less than 80%, try to move the printer and router closer. If neither the printer nor the router can be moved, try removing obstacles between the two devices, or turning off any devices that may interfere with network communication .  
• If the printout shows that the connection is  Active  and the signal strength is greater than 80%, try temporarily disabling any firewall software on your computer. If the printer responds to print commands after the firewall is disabled, you will need to open ports used by the printer for network communication . Please refer to your firewall vendor's documentation for instructions on opening these ports.  
• If the printout shows that the connection is Active and the SSID (network name) is BJNPSETUP, the printer's network settings have been reset to the factory defaults. The printer will need to be reconnected to the wireless network.  
• If the printout shows that the connection is Inactive and it shows the wrong SSID (network name), the printer will need to be reconnected to the network. This wlil happen if you got a new wireless router, or if you changed the SSID or password of your current network.  
• Depending on what's listed on the network information setting page that was printed, take the appropriate troubleshooting steps noted.  
• If your computer is connected to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), try disconnecting from that VPN and print again.
• Visit the Canon Support page.  
• Enter the model name of your printer  
• Select your model name  
• You will be directed to the Drivers and Downloads page for your printer.  
• Select and Download the driver for your printer model, and follow the on screen instructions to open and install the file.

Troubleshoot Printer Stuck in Offline Status in Windows

There are quite a few reasons why

If you have tried to print a document in Windows 10, you know that it won’t print unless the printer is online. Usually, this just involves turning on your printer and waiting a few seconds for the status to change from offline to online.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen all the time. Instead, the printer will remain in offline status even though your printer is on and connected to your computer or to the network. There are quite a few reasons why Windows may not detect that the printer is online and I’ll do my best to cover as many solutions as possible.

Step 1: Power Cycle Devices

The first thing to do before you get deep into settings and tools is to simply try power cycling your printer and computer. A lot of times that fixes the problem. Turn off your printer and turn off your computer. Then power on your printer and wait until it is connected to the network. If you’re using a USB cable, just wait till the printer is finished starting up.

Now turn on your computer and see if the printer is still showing up offline or not. Make sure the printer is fully turned off and not just in power saving mode. If you’re not sure, the best thing to do is to unplug the printer completely for about 30 seconds.

Step 2: Use Printer Software

If your printer is still showing offline, then you can try to use the printer software that came with your printer. These printer utilities can usually detect the printer on the network and fix any issues that are causing the printer to appear offline.

For example, you can check out my previous post on using HP Print and Scan Doctor to help with issues for HP printers. For Canon, go to their support site , enter your model number and then click on the Software tab. You can download their My Printer software to manage and maintain your printer.

This pretty much applies to all printer manufacturers. If you have a Dell printer , go to the Dell drivers and downloads page, search for your printer and then download the printer application.

Above is an example of Kyocera Print Center software running on my Windows 10 machine. It will show you the status of the printer and give you additional details like ink levels, etc. If you’re not sure whether or not printer software is installed on your machine, you can check by going to Settings , then clicking on Devices and finally clicking on Printers & Scanners .

Windows 10 will list out the printers on the right-hand side and if there is a software package installed to manage the printer, it will say App available for this device .  If you click on the printer, then click on Manage , you’ll see an Open printer app button.

In my case, I didn’t even know I had the software already installed on my system, so this was helpful.

Step 3: Set Printer Online

Sometimes, even though the printer is online and connected, the settings are incorrectly configured. Open the printer queue by going to Devices and Printers in Control Panel and double-clicking on the printer.

Here you want to click on Printer in the menu bar and then make sure to uncheck Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline .

Step 4: Run the Troubleshooter

If the problem is with the Windows printing subsystem, then running the troubleshooter might help. You can run the troubleshooter by following the steps in Step 2 to get to the Manage your device screen for the printer. Once there, you’ll see the Run the troubleshooter link. Click on that and it will check the spooler service, the network settings, etc.

The troubleshooter usually works if the problem is related to Windows.

Step 5: Check Printer Port

If nothing has worked till now, the problem is probably related to the port configuration. This will most likely only apply to a networked printer, which has an IP address. The most likely cause is that the IP address of the printer has changed, but the port configuration still points to the old IP address.

First, find out the IP address for your printer by printing out a network configuration page. If you can’t figure out how to do that, then check out my previous post on how to use some simple and free tools to scan your network and view the IP address of all devices on your network.

Once you have the IP address, go to Control Panel, Devices and Printers and right-click on the printer. Make sure to select Printer Properties , not Properties at the bottom.

Click on the Ports tab and then scroll down the list until you see the one port that is checked. Select it and then click on Configure Port .

This dialog will tell you the current IP address that it thinks the printer has. If the IP address of the printer is different than the one listed here, then that’s your problem. Simply update the IP address here and you should be good to go.

If you get any kind of error, like the one shown below, when trying to configure the port, then it’s probably because it’s configured as a WSD port.

A WSD port, which stands for Web Services for Devices,  is an automatically configured port that you cannot edit. If this is the case and you can’t connect to your printer, you have to add a new TCP/IP port (via Add Port button). You can read my previous post on adding a network printer by creating a TCP/IP port . You can also read my article on how to troubleshoot wireless printers , which gives some extra tips.

The other less technical option is to follow Step 6, which is to delete the printer and then re-add it, thereby automatically using the new IP address.

Step 6: Remove and Re-Add Printer

If you can’t get the printer working yet, then your best option might be to remove it and then re-install it. When Windows installs a printer, it will detect it, check all the settings, and make sure the driver for the printer is installed properly.

You can remove the printer by going to Control Panel, Devices and Printers, right-clicking on the printer and choosing Remove Device .

It’s also a good idea to restart the computer once before you reinstall the printer. Note that this will not remove the driver for the printer from your system. If there is some issue with the driver, follow Step 7.

Once you have restarted, click Add Printer and Windows should automatically detect the printer connected locally on connected to your network.

Step 7 – Reinstall Printer Driver

Sometimes the issue can be associated with the current print driver. If this is the case, you should download the latest driver for your printer from the manufacturer’s website. However, before you do that, it’s a good idea to remove the current print driver.

Read my guide on how to remove a printer driver from Windows . Note that the article still applies to Windows 10.

Hopefully, you’ve been able to print by now. If not, I recommend reading my other general guide to troubleshooting printers . In addition to everything above, it’s always a good idea to install the latest Windows updates as those usually contain newer print drivers, which could make your printer work better with Windows 10. If you have any questions, post a comment. Enjoy!

Founder of Help Desk Geek and managing editor. He began blogging in 2007 and quit his job in 2010 to blog full-time. He has over 15 years of industry experience in IT and holds several technical certifications. Read Aseem's Full Bio

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How to Fix the "Printer is Offline" Problem: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Dealing with a printer that won't do what you want it to do can be stressful. We've all been there: you need to print an important paper right away, but the device says "Printer is offline." You are not the only one with this problem. We get asked to fix this common problem a lot at ManagedPrint . In this post, we'll show you step-by-step how to fix the "printer is offline" problem for popular printer brands like HP, Lexmark, Canon, Brother, and Xerox.

Step 1: Make sure the printer is hooked up

The first thing you should do is make sure your printer is connected properly. If you have a wired printer, make sure that both ends of the USB or Ethernet cable are firmly plugged in. Make sure your printer is hooked up to the right Wi-Fi network. This is especially important if you have recently changed your network or password.

Step 2: Turn on the printer again

Sometimes, all it takes to fix the "printer is offline" message is to restart the computer and printer. Stop any copy jobs or active work and unplug it from the power source. Wait a minute and then plug it back in and turn it back on.

Step 3: Verify printer status

Check the printer for error codes or blinking lights that could mean something is wrong. Check the printer's manual or online help page to find out what these signs mean.

Step 4: Look at how the printer is set up

Go to 'Printers & Scanners' in your computer's settings. If your printer is set as the default and its state is still offline, right-click on the printer name and choose "See what's printing." Click "Printer" in the menu bar and uncheck the box next to "Use Printer Offline."

Step 5: Update printer drivers

If the printer driver is out of date or doesn't work with the printer, the printer may stop working. Check the HP, Lexmark, Canon, Brother, or Xerox pages for the most recent driver updates. Follow the steps on the site to download and set them up.

Step 6: Remove the printer and put it back in place.

If the printer is still showing as offline, deleting and reinstalling it might help. Remove the printer from "Printers and Scanners" in your computer's settings, restart your computer, and then add the printer again.

Step 7: Talk to a professional

If nothing else works, it's time to bring in the professionals . As part of our controlled print services , ManagedPrint can quickly and effectively figure out why a printer is offline and fix it. Our trained technicians have worked with top names like HP, Lexmark, Canon, Brother, and Xerox for a long time.

Step 8: Contact ManagedPrint Today

With this full guide, you should be able to fix the "printer is offline" problem quickly. Don't be afraid to get in touch with us at ManagedPrint if the problem keeps happening. We are experts in managed print services, which help businesses take care of their printers and fix problems that slow down work. 

When you work with ManagedPrint, you can spend more time doing what you do best, which is running your business, and less time making sure your printers are working.

Remember that you do not have to deal with printer problems on your own. Contact ManagedPrint right away and let us handle the upkeep and repair of your printers.

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7 Ways to Fix Printer Offline Status on Windows 10/11

• Printer Offline Status overview
• Why is My Printer Offline?
• How to fix a Printer that is Offline on Windows 10?

Printer Offline Status Overview

Windows 10/11 says the printer is offline? No matter you are using an HP, Epson, Canon or Brother printer, it is extremely common that your printer is offline, which means you cannot print files for your work or study.

In some cases, Windows 10/11 thinks the printer is offline, which is why your printer isn’t printing, but actually the printer is online but won’t print for you.

Since the printer must be online in order to print as usual, you have to change the printer from offline to online on Windows 10 if you feel like to print using your Canon, HP, Samsung, Brother, or Epson printer.

Why does your Printer Go offline?

Mostly, your printer has to be connected to the Internet (wired or wireless) or by USB cable. Only in this way can the printer get online and work smoothly with your PC on Windows 10/11.

And you can see from the issue that the printer is offline that the main cause lies in connection problems. Sometime, it may be due to the disconnected printer. On the other hand, the offline printer appears because of the network issues.

How to Fix Printer Offline Status on Windows 10/11?

Simply put, you are recommended to solve this laser or 3D or wireless printer offline from the perspective of Network connecting, driver issue and printer settings.

Prior to more advanced solutions, sometimes, reconnecting the printer and restarting your PC may be efficient to solve printer keeps going offline on Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11.

• 1: Check Hardware
• 2: Change the Printer Status
• 3: Restart the Spooler Service
• 4: Disable SNMP Protocol
• 5: Update the Printer Driver
• 6: Run Printer Troubleshooter
• 7: Add a New Printer

Solution 1: Check Printer Hardware

Printer offline on Windows 10/11 means that your Epson or Canon or HP printer cannot communicate with your PC. Therefore, it is required that you make sure there is nothing wrong with the connection between your computer and printer. Manage to check some things for the purpose of getting printer online on Windows 10.

For different connections between the PC and the printer, USB printer or wired or wireless printer, you need to check different network connections.

1. Shut down your printer for a few minutes and boot it again.

2. Check if your printer is plugged in properly.

3. Login to Windows 10 with a local administrator account.

4. If you are connecting the printer to the PC via the USB cable, try to make sure the cable is in good shape with a good USB port.

5. If you are making use of the wireless network, make sure the indicating light is on.

Or if it is the wired network, check the Ethernet network condition.

All checked you can know exactly what makes your printer offline on Windows 10. If there are no connection issues with your printer, you can read on to solve the driver and settings problem for your offline printer.

Solution 2: Change the Printer Status

You may have carelessly or accidentally set the printer offline on Windows 10. So to change your HP, Epson or Canon printer from offline to online, you should get into the printer settings to have a try.

It is likely that you can find out the related settings to get a printer online and make it respond, work on Windows 10.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Devices .

2. Under Printer & Scanner , locate and right click the icon with a green checkmark to See what’s printing .

If the icon has no green mark, you should right click it to Set as default printer and then right click it to See what’s printing .

Then you can see the printer queue popping up on Windows 10.

3. Under Printer , uncheck the box for Pausing printing and Use Printer Offline .

Then you are able to use the printer online on Windows 10. And the printer offline will no longer exist on Windows 10.

Solution 3: Restart the Spooler Service

The Spooler Service is a windows system service. It sends jobs to the printer. When you are printing a file or some documents, the print spooler feeds the printing image to the background at a lower speed.

However, the print spooler would stop working automatically for unknown reasons, thus making your printer status offline on Windows 10. Now get down to restart it to resolve printer showing offline like Canon or Brother printer on Windows 10.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run .

2. Input service.msc in the box and stroke OK to enter Services window.

3. In Services window, pick out Print Spooler and click Restart the service.

Once restart the spooler service, you can try to print again, this time it will not show you the printer is offline on Windows 10. Your printer will start printing.

Solution 4: Disable SNMP Protocol on Printers

From reports of many users, it is found that the printer goes offline when SNMP is enabled in Printer Properties. Here, SNMP is short for Simple Network Management Protocol used to collect and organize information of the devices on the same network and to adjust the information to change the device behavior.

Hence, there is a high probability that this SNMP standard changes the network printer and urges it to go offline on Windows 10.

Now you would better disable this network protocol to see if Brother or Canon or HP or Epson printer offline will go online after that.

1. In Control Panel > Hardware and Sound , find out and right-click the printer to open Printer Properties .

2. In Printer Properties window, under the Ports tab, scroll down to locate the Port whose box checked and then hit Configure Port .

3. Then find out and then uncheck the box of SNMP Status Enabled to disable SNMP network monitoring.

4. After clicking OK to save changes, you can try to use your printer and the offline printer will not get stuck in not responding or not connecting on Windows 10.

Solution 5: Update the Printer Driver

To change the offline printer to online or simply to improve the printer performance on Windows 10, it is strongly recommended to update the HP, Epson or Canon drivers.

Before you start updating driver for your printer, go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printer & Scanner > Remove device .

The moment you uninstalled the offline printer from Windows 10, try to connect it to the PC or the network. And then it is high time that you updated the driver for your Ricoh, Canon, HP, Epson printer.

It is natural that you can go to the printer manufacturer’s website to download the newly released Windows 10 printer drivers. But to avoid inconvenience and difficulties, you can make full use of Driver Booster to help you update the printer drivers on Windows 10. Convenient enough, Driver Booster is capable of downloading and installing printer driver automatically.

1. Download , install and run Driver Booster on Windows 10/11.

2. Click Scan button to let Driver Booster search for the missing, outdated and even faulty driver.

If the printer driver is incompatible and causes printer offline in Windows 10, you need to update it in Driver Booster.

3. Locate the Printer Driver and then allow Driver Booster to Update it for you.

After Driver Booster helped you install the latest Epson, Canon, or HP printer driver, your offline printer can turn into online on Windows 10 as well.

Solution 6: Run Printer Troubleshooter

It is available and feasible for you to take advantage of the Windows built-in tool to troubleshoot the reasons why your printer is offline on Windows 10. What’s more, it is capable of identifying and fixing the printer issue.

1. Search Troubleshoot in the search box and hit Enter to navigate to Troubleshoot .

2. Under Troubleshoot , locate Printer and choose to Run the troubleshooter .

If there are any problems with your printer on Windows 10, the printer troubleshooter would let you know. And if possible, it will also fix the printer offline issue for you automatically.

Solution 7: Add a New Printer

Designed only for the printer using network connecting to PC. On the basis that the above ways are helpless for you to resolve the printer offline status on Windows 10, you can check if you are able to add another printer for this PC.

Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printer & Scanner > Add a printer .

Then you can struggle to add a second printer on your own by way of increasing an IP address and printer port.

To conclude, from this article, you can get the most common but effective solutions towards the printer offline problem for Windows 10. For some specific printer users, such as HP, Epson or Canon, you can go to the official site to gain the specific suggestions about this printer won’t print error.

More Articles:

Fix Printer Not Working on Windows 10/11

Fix Print Management Issues on Windows 10/11

Fixed: Another Computer is Using the Printer on Windows 11. 10, 8, 7, and Mac

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Home › Knowledge Base › Printer Issues

What To Do When Your Printer is Offline

It’s a weekday and you need to print out a file for an important meeting in 30 minutes. You open the file and click the Print button, and wait for the printer to work. Nothing. Then, a message pops up at the bottom-right corner of your PC desktop saying that your printer is offline. 

You then check the printer status in the Devices and Printers window, and you see this: 

Well, you’re not the only one who are bugging by this issue. But no worries, it’s not a hard problem to fix. As a matter of fact, you can easily fix it following the methods below. 

Here are 5 solutions for you to try. You may not need to try them all; just work your way down until you find the one works for you. 

• Check Printer Connection
• Update Printer Driver
• Check Printing Status
• Restart The Print Spooler Service
• Add a Second Printer

Method 1: Check Printer Connection

The printer offline status is your printer’s way of telling you that something is wrong with the communication between your computer and your printer, via USB cable or network connection (wireless and wired). So one of the first things you check is your printer’s connection with your PC. 

• Power off and then power on your printer to restart it. Wait for a while for it to be fully ready. 
• If your printer is connected via USB cable : make sure the cable to your printer is well connected. Then make sure you’re connecting the cable to your computer via a working USB port.
• If your printer is connected via wired network : make sure the cable to your printer is well connected to the Ethernet port. Then make sure the port your printer connect to on your router is working well. Check if the network signal on your printer is flashing. Note: Your printer could go offline if the connected cable is loose, too old, or broken, you may need to replace them if needed. 
• If your printer is connected via wireless network : Check your printer and make sure that it’s connected to your PC network. The lit-up wireless icon on your printer usually indicates that you’re connected.

Method 2: Update Printer Driver

The problem can be caused by faulty printer drivers. So you can update the printer driver and see if this works.

There are two ways for you to get the right drivers for your printer: manually or automatically. 

Manual driver update  – You can update your printer driver manually by going to the manufacturer’s website for it, and searching for the most recent correct driver. Be sure to choose only driver that is compatible with your variant of Windows 10. 

Automatic driver update  – If you don’t have the time, patience or computer skills to update your printer driver manually, you can, instead, do it automatically with  Driver Easy . Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct driver for your exact printer, and your variant of Windows 10, and it will download and install them correctly: 

• Download  and install Driver Easy.

• After updating the printer driver, check to see if the offline problem is resolved.

Method 3: Check Printing Status

Auto-updated printer driver provided by Windows Update could change your printer settings without notifying you. So you need to make sure that your printer status is problem-free: 

• Turn your printer off and then turn it back on again. 

See if you can print now.  If this issue persists, try the next fix, below.

Method 4: Restart The Print Spooler Service

Your printer will refuse to work if the Print Spooler service is not working well. In some case, this service is somehow turned off. You need to check if it’s running first, then decide whether or not to restart it: 

• Close the Properties window.

Check if your printer is online now. If not, move on to the next fix, below.

Method 5: Add a second printer 

If none of the above methods work, you can still set a manual IP address for your printer and add a port on your PC for them to match.

You need to have an IP address for your printer. You can usually find it in your printer manual. If you don’t have the manual, try to search for it on the manufacturer website. 

As mentioned, finding the IP address for your printer differs from one printer to another. If you still have the instruction of your printer, go fetch it and see if you can find the way. If not, go to the manufacturer’s support website and search for detailed instructions.

If you need more assistance regarding the printer offline problem, feel free to leave us comments and we’ll see what more we can do to help.

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I'm a technical writer for Driver Easy. Before finding my love for writing tech posts, I had passion for technology goes back much further. I love tinkering with computers, smartphones, and other tech toys. I write articles to help people solve their problems, whether it's a hardware issue or system error. I'm inspired when my articles are of help, and that's what I have been aiming for. All I do every day is to write articles that are easy to read, and I do hope you find instructions in my posts easy to follow.

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Why does my printer say "offline" and how to fix it

Printers continue to be a requirement in many households. Many banks, government services, schools, and other businesses ask for physical copies of forms and other documents, and many people still prefer using paper to study or work. The artistically inclined might also want to print physical copies of their photos or digital art. Nowadays you can even print from your Android phone or tablet . But printers also find a way to stop working at the most inopportune moments. If you are getting a “printer offline” error, here’s how to fix it and bring it back online.

QUICK ANSWER

To fix the "printer offline" error, you can try various troubleshooting steps like checking physical cables or network connectivity, resetting the print queue, restarting the essential printer service, running the printer troubleshooter, and more to bring your printer back online.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

• Why does my printer say "offline?"

How to get your printer back online

Why does my printer say “offline”.

You will know when your printer is offline, either because you see the error message or it isn’t working. There are different reasons why your printer might be offline. There might be problems with the physical cable connecting the printer to your computer or network connectivity issues if you have a wireless printer. You might have made a mistake while installing the printer and the necessary software, or the printer drivers need to be updated. Printers will also stop working because of a full print queue, empty ink cartridges, and no paper.

You can still fix these issues relatively quickly. However, if the printer has a hardware problem, your only option is to contact customer service to get the printer repaired or replaced.

Check cables and network connectivity

The first thing to do is check whether the cable connecting your computer and the power cable aren’t damaged. Check for torn or frayed cables. Test the USB cable with other devices, if possible, to see if it’s in working condition. It’s best to replace a damaged power cable even if it works, but you can use some electric tape if the damage is minor.

If you have a wireless printer, check if the Wi-Fi works on your phone or computer. Check out our guide on how to fix Wi-Fi issues if you notice any network problems. Use the printer companion app or desktop software to ensure that the printer and your device are on the same Wi-Fi network. This can be a problem for dual-band routers with separate 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz connection options.

Restart your printer and computer, phone, or tablet

Simply rebooting the connected devices might be enough to bring your printer back online. Unplug the router and turn off your device for at least 30 seconds before restarting them. Wait for the printer to reboot, re-establish the network connection fully, and see if the “printer is offline” error is gone.

Check the printer companion app

Most printers now come with companion apps that enable you to manage your printer settings, check ink and paper levels, and adjust other controls. Run the troubleshooter in the companion app to see if it can bring your printer back online.

Ensure that the printer isn’t in offline mode

On Windows 11, go to Start (Windows icon)  > Settings (gear icon) > Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners .

Select your printer, go to  Open print queue,  and under the  Printer dropdown, make sure  Use printer offline isn’t selected. You might not see this option on some printers with a companion Windows app. Open the app to check the printer settings in that case.

Set your printer as the default printer

Go to Start (Windows icon)  > Settings (gear icon) > Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners.  Click on your printer and select  Set as default .

You will have to change another setting if you don’t see the default setting option. Go back to the Printers and scanner page, scroll down, and toggle off  Let Windows manage my default printer . You should now see the Set as default option in your printer settings.

Clear the print queue

Head back to Start (Windows icon)  > Settings (gear icon) > Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners,  select your printer and go to Open print queue . Select all the documents listed under  Document name , select  Document , and click Cancel .

Reset the print spooler service

The print spooler is the essential service that manages the printer queue. Resetting the service might help end the “printer is offline” error. Use the search bar, type Services, and select the  Services (local) tab if it isn’t open by default. Scroll down to  Print spooler . Right-click on the service and click  Restart , or click  Restart this service in the left-hand menu.

Update the printer firmware

Firmware bugs and glitches might cause your printer to go offline. Ensure you are running the latest software version on your printer to avoid issues. You can download updated firmware for your specific printer model from the device manufacturer’s website.

Run the printer troubleshooter

Windows can troubleshoot and fix your printer problems and bring it back online. Go to Start (Windows icon)  > Settings (gear icon) >  System > Troubleshoot > Other trouble-shooters and click  Run next to  Printer . The troubleshooting tool will check the Print Spooler service, fix print queue errors, check the printer’s network settings, and more. Windows will recommend any solutions to fix the printer’s offline issue if it detects errors.

Remove and reinstall your printer

If nothing works, your only option might be to uninstall and reinstall the printer to get it back online. Start (Windows icon)  > Settings (gear icon) > Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners,  select your printer, and click Remove . Unplug and restart your printer. Go to the Printers and scanners page and click  Add device in the  Add printer or scanner section. For Mac users, check our guide on how to add a printer to any Mac for more details.

Select registration option

Personal accounts.

• Save your personal devices and preferences
• Easy access to support resources

Business/IT accounts

• Managing contracts and warranties for your business
• Submitting and managing support cases

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Hp-contact-secondary-navigation-portlet, select your model, let hp find my products.

HP can identify most HP products and recommend possible solutions.

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Hp-concentra-wrapper-portlet, hp laserjet pro - printer status is "offline" and the printer does not print (windows).

• The printer is turned off
• The network cable or USB cable is disconnected
• The printer is set to "Use printer offline"
• Printer does not respond
• Printer icon(s) status is offline or greyed out
• The default printer driver has been changed
• Unable to find printers or other devices on the network
• File and printer sharing is disabled
• Network port IP address changed or is reset
• Network loses connection with the printer after it enters sleep mode

Applicable printers

note: Some of the steps below apply only to network-connected printers. If your printer is connected via a USB cable, skip any steps that are intended only for network-connected printers.

Step one: Turn off Smart Install

• From the Home screen on the printer control panel, select the Service menu.
• Navigate to the Smart Install option and select Off .
• Restart the computer.
• Try to print. If the issue persists, continue to the next step.

Step two: Perform a power reset and check connections

• If the printer starts printing jobs from the print queue, then the printer is back online and you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
• If the computer still shows the printer status as "Offline," continue to the next step.
• With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer and from the wall outlet, and then wait at least 60 seconds.
• Make sure the USB or network cable is securely connected and not damaged.
• Make sure the router or switch cables are securely connected.
• Restart your computer and wait for it to reboot.
• Reconnect the power cable to the rear of the printer and into the wall outlet.
• If the printer does not turn on by itself, press the Power button to turn it on.
• If you are able to print, the printer is online again. If the printer goes offline again when trying to print another job, continue with the next steps in this document.
• If the printer remains offline and you are unable to print, continue to the next step.

Step three: Use HP Print and Scan Doctor

• Go to HP Print and Scan Doctor .
• If this resolves the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
• If the issue persists, continue to the next step.

Step four: Manually set the default print driver

• On your computer, right-click the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen, and then click Search .

• In the Printers & scanners window, click the name of the printer you are trying to print to, and then click Manage .

• If the Printer status is already set to Default , skip to Step five: Make sure the printer is connected to the network (Network-connected printers only) .
• If the Printer status is not set to Default , continue to the next step.

Windows 8 or 7

• On your computer, open the Control Panel , and then click View devices and printers to open the Devices and Printers window.

• If the printer that you are trying to print to is already set as the default printer, skip to Step five: Make sure the printer is connected to the network (Network-connected printers only) .
• If the printer that you are trying to print to is not set as the default printer, continue to the next step.
• Right-click the printer that you want to set as the default, and click Set as Default Printer .

Step five: Make sure the printer is connected to the network (Network-connected printers only)

note: The following steps apply only to network-connected printers . If your printer is connected via USB cable , skip to Step six: Check the "Use printer offline" setting .

• For wireless connections, make sure Wi-Fi is turned on the computer or tablet, and make sure you are connected to the correct wireless network (SSID).
• HP LaserJet, HP OfficeJet, HP PageWide - Solve network problems
• HP LaserJet, HP PageWide Enterprise - Solve wireless network problems
• If the IP address is assigned and valid, then continue to the next step.

• If the EWS Home page displays, it indicates that the printer is connected to the network. Skip to Step six: Check the "Use printer offline" setting to continue troubleshooting.
• If the EWS Home page does not display, continue to the next step.
• On your computer, click the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen, click Run , type " cmd " in the text-field, and the click OK . The command-line prompt will open and display on the screen.
• If the printer returns a response time, the network is working. Skip to Step six: Check the "Use printer offline" setting to continue troubleshooting.

note: If you have been experiencing intermittent loss of network connectivity, update the firmware on your printer. For instructions on how to update the firmware, click the following link: HP LaserJet Pro - Update the printer firmware

Step six: Check the "Use printer offline" setting

• Right-click the printer and then click See what's printing .

Step seven: Make sure the network connection settings were not recently changed (Network-connected printers only)

note: The following steps apply only to network-connected printers . If your printer is connected via USB cable , skip to Step eight: Make sure the correct port is selected .

Step eight: Make sure the correct port is selected

note: The first video applies to Windows 10, and the second video applies to Windows 8 or 7.

• Right-click the printer, and then click Printer Properties .
• In the Properties window, click the Ports tab. A list of ports will display.
• Make sure the port-type has " network " or " IP " in the description.
• If you see multiple listings for the same port-type, change the Port selection to a different port.

• If the port selected is " WSD ," skip to Step nine: Uninstall the printer software .
• If the port selected is a network port (the printer name or IP address), skip to Step nine: Uninstall the printer software .

note: If you do not know the printer's IP address, print a Configuration Page from the printer control panel. The printer's IP address is listed on the Configuration Page.

• Click Apply and then click OK to save the settings.

Step nine: Uninstall the printer software

Method one: uninstall from windows 10.

• In Windows, search for and open Apps & features .
• Scroll through the list until you find your printer model.
• Click your printer model, and then click Uninstall .
• Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall the printer software.
• After uninstalling the software, restart your computer and then return to this document and proceed to Step ten: Install the most current printer software .

Method two: Uninstall from the HP printer folder

• From the Start menu, open All programs > HP > HP printer , and then select Uninstall Product Software .
• Restart the computer, return to this document, and then proceed to Step ten: Install the most current printer software .

Method three: Uninstall from the Devices and Printers window

• From the Start menu, open Devices and Printers , right-click the printer icon, and then select Remove device .

Step ten: Install the most current printer software

• Go to www.support.hp.com/drivers .

• In the Enter your product name text-field, type your printer model (e.g. LaserJet M528), and click Submit . The Software and drivers page for your printer will display. The website will automatically detect your computer operating system and queue up a list files (specific to your printer model) that are available for download.

note: HP recommends the Full Solution or Full Feature Software and Driver option to optimize printer performance and features.

• Click the file name in the list to review the details, and then click Download next to the file name.

note: If you save the file on your computer, make note of the file location. When you are ready to install, navigate to the .exe file and double-click the file to start the installation process.

• Follow the on-screen instructions to install the printer software.

note: If the issue persists, and you are using HP Full Feature Software, a compatibility problem might exist. Uninstall the HP Full Feature Software and try installing the Basic or PCL6 driver from www.support.hp.com/drivers .

Step eleven: Try connecting the printer to another computer

• HP Printers - Driver and software support for Windows 7
• HP Printers - Driver and software support for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• HP Printers - Printers compatible with Windows 10

Step twelve: Contact HP Customer Support

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Europe, Middle East, Africa

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• All Support
• Software, Drivers and Updates
• Troubleshooting
• Product Information
• User Guides

Search help

Tips for better search results.

• Ensure correct spelling and spacing - Examples: "paper jam"
• Use product model name: - Examples: laserjet pro p1102, DeskJet 2130
• For HP products a product number. - Examples: LG534UA
• For Samsung Print products, enter the M/C or Model Code found on the product label. - Examples: “SL-M2020W/XAA”
• Include keywords along with product name. Examples: "LaserJet Pro P1102 paper jam", "EliteBook 840 G3 bios update"

Need help finding your product name or product number?

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How to Fix Epson Printer Offline Problems on Windows and Mac

You've just hit 'Print' for that important document, but instead of your trusty Epson printer whirring to life, it decides to go "offline" out of the blue. Annoying, right?

But don't fret; we've got your back! This guide on fixing Epson printer offline issues is tailor-made for situations like these. Let's get started!

Inside this Article:

• My Epson Printer is Offline: What Should I Do?
• Printer Configuration Needs Refreshing
• Printer Is Not Set to Default Mode
• Enabled "Use Printer Offline" Mode
• Need to Clear Print Queue
• Spooler Service Needs Restarting
• Enabled SNMP
• Printer Driver Problem

The Epson printer offline problem happens for various reasons, including basic issues like power, cable connections, or network problems, as well as more complex factors like printer configuration or outdated hardware. To address these issues and ensure a smooth printing experience, starting with some basic checks before diving into troubleshooting is crucial.

To fix Epson printer offline problem, start with these steps:

• Check for Error Messages or Blinking Lights Investigate any error messages or blinking lights on the printer to identify specific issues like low ink, toner, or paper jams.
• Inspect Cable Connections Ensure all cable connections are secure and not damaged. Consider trying different ports or cables if needed.
• Verify Network Connection If you're facing network-related problems, check for network stability and ensure the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. Restart both the printer and router if necessary.
• Reboot the Printer and Computer A simple restart of both the printer and computer can often refresh configurations and establish a proper connection.

If the initial checks above did not fix the Epson printer offline problem, check our tips below and follow the one that best describes your situation.

• How to Fix Epson Printer Offline Problem: 7 Factors & Solutions

1. Printer Configuration Needs Refreshing

To refresh your printer configuration by removing and reconnecting it to your computer, follow these steps for both Windows and Mac:

For Windows:

To Remove the Printer:

• Step 1: Unplug your printer from the computer.
• Step 2: Open the Windows search bar and type "printer" , then select "Printer & scanners" from the results list.
• Step 3: Find and select the printer you want to remove.
• Step 4: Click "Remove device" and confirm with "Yes" .

To Reinstall the Printer:

• Step 1: Connect your printer back to the computer and turn it on.
• Step 2: Again, open the Windows search bar, type "printer" , and select "Printer & scanners" .
• Step 3: Click on the "Add a printer or scanner" or "Add device" button.
• Step 4: Windows will search for printers connected to your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process, which may include automatic driver installation.
• Step 1: Open "System Preferences" from the Apple menu.
• Step 2: Click on "Printers & Scanners" .
• Step 3: Select the printer you want to remove from the list.
• Step 4: Click the "-" (minus) button below the list and confirm the removal.

To Add the Printer:

• Step 1: Ensure your printer is powered on and connected to your Mac.
• Step 2: Open "System Preferences" from the Apple menu.
• Step 3: Click on " Printers & Scanners".
• Step 4: If your printer isn't automatically detected, click the "+" (plus) button below the printer's list.
• Step 5: A window with available printers will appear. Select your printer and click "Add".
• Step 6: If your printer isn't listed, choose "The printer I want isn't listed" or "Add printer or scanner".
• Step 7: Follow the on-screen instructions to manually add the printer, which may involve providing the printer's IP address or other details.
• Step 8: Once added, your printer should appear in the list of available printers.

These steps should help refresh your printer configuration on Windows and Mac computers.

2. Printer Is Not Set to Default Mode

Sometimes, the solution is as straightforward as setting your printer as the default. Follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open the Run Dialog Box from Windows search, type "control" , and press the enter key on your keyboard.
• Step 2: Navigate to "Devices and Printer" .
• Step 3: Then right-click on your printer. Ensure there's a check mark on "Set as Default printer" . If not, select it.
• Step 4: You should see a green check mark on your printer icon, meaning it is now the default printer.
• Step 1: Click the Apple menu, and then go to System Preferences .
• Step 2: Once in System Preferences , select Printers & Scanners .
• Step 3: Choose the printer you want to set as the default.
• Step 4: Click the "Set Default Printer" button. You should see a green check mark on your printer icon, meaning it is now the default printer.

3. Enabled "Use Printer Offline" Mode

If your printer is set to "Use Printer Offline" mode, it won't communicate with your computer for printing tasks. Turning off this mode restores the printer's online status.

• Step 1: Go to the Windows search bar and type "control panel" , then select "Control Panel" from the results.
• Step 2: In the Control Panel , choose "Hardware and Sound" or "Devices and Printers" .
• Step 3: Locate your printer in the list, right-click on it, and select "See what's printing" or "Open print queue" .
• Step 4: In the print queue window, click on the "Printer" menu at the top.
• Step 5: If the printer is offline, there should be a checkmark next to "Use Printer Offline" . Click it to turn off offline mode.
• Step 6: Your printer will switch to online mode and should be ready for printing.
• Step 1: Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
• Step 2: Select "System Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
• Step 3: In System Preferences, click on "Printers & Scanners" or "Print & Scan" .
• Step 4: Choose your printer from the list on the left.
• Step 5: Click the "Options & Supplies" or "Open Print Queue" button.
• Step 6: In the print queue window, click on the "Printer" menu at the top.
• Step 7: If the printer is in offline mode, look for an option to "Resume" or "Unpause" printing. Click it to disable offline mode.

4. Need to Clear Print Queue

Your printer can sometimes act like that car stuck in traffic. Clearing the path is often all it needs.

• Step 1: Begin by opening the run box from Windows search , type "services.msc" , and press enter to access the service window.
• Step 2: Right-click the spooler to open the properties, then click 'stop' .
• Step 3: Open Windows File Explorer and input this — %windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS in the address bar.
• Step 4: Delete all the files in the Printer folder.
• Step 5: Revisit the spooler properties, click 'start' , and hit 'OK' .
• Step 6: Restart your computer, and voila! The print jobs should be straightforward, and your printer should function seamlessly.
• Step 1: Click on Apple menu, and then select System Settings .
• Step 2: From System Settings window, click on Printers and scanners .
• Step 3: Select your preferred printer and click the "Open Print Queue" button.
• Step 4: Next, choose the print job you want to cancel and click the close button (X) next to it.

If you want to clear the printer queue completely, you have two options:

• Press "Command + A" to select all print jobs, then press "Command + delete" to cancel them.
• Click on "Printer" in the menu bar and select "Cancel All Documents" .

5. Spooler Service Needs Restarting

Here's a simple way to fix it:

• Step 1: Hit the Windows key + R , type "Services.msc" , and press Enter.
• Step 2: In the service window, find and select "Print Spooler" . If it's sleeping (read: Stopped), right-click and hit "Start" .
• Step 3: Give it a moment, then check if your Epson printer is working.
• Step 1: Click on Apple menu, and then go to System Settings .
• Step 2: In System Settings , select Printers & Scanners (scroll down if needed).
• Step 3: Right-click on any empty space within the printer list area and select "Reset printing system" .
• Step 4: A confirmation pop-up will notify you that resetting the printing system will delete all printers. If you wish to continue, click the "Reset" button.
• Step 5: If prompted, enter your administrator password and click the "OK" button.
• Step 6: Once you've reset the printing system, you can re-add your printers by clicking the "+" button in the Printers & Scanners window and following the on-screen instructions.

6. Enabled SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

SNMP is often not needed for regular home users and may cause issues with printer communication. Disabling it can resolve printer offline problems.

• Step 1: Search for "printer" in the Windows search bar and select "Devices and Printers" .
• Step 2: In Devices and Printers , ensure the Printers section is expanded to see your printers.
• Step 3: Right-click on the problematic printer and choose "Printer Properties" (not "Properties").
• Step 4: In the Printer Properties window, click on the "Ports" tab at the top.
• Step 5: Find the default port (indicated by a checkmark) and click "Configure Port" .
• Step 6: In the new window, uncheck "SNMP Status Enabled" if it's checked. Click OK to save the changes.
• Step 7: Restart your computer and printer.
• Step 1: Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences" .
• Step 2: In System Preferences , click on "Printers & Scanners" or "Print & Scan" .
• Step 3: Choose your printer from the list on the left.
• Step 4: Click the "Options & Supplies" or "Options & Supplies" button.
• Step 5: In the Options tab, look for an SNMP-related option like "Enable SNMP" and disable it.
• Step 6: Close the Printer Options window.
• Step 7: Restart your Mac for the changes to apply.

7. Printer Driver Problem

An outdated or corrupted driver might be the problem. Here’s how you solve it:

• Step 1: Start by opening the 'Control Panel' .
• Step 2: Navigate to 'Add or remove program' , right-click on the Epson printer driver, and click 'Uninstall' .
• Step 3: Head to 'Device and Printers' and click 'Add printer' .
• Step 4: Click 'Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer' .
• Step 5: Install the software that matches your Epson printer's model number.
• Step 6: Restart your system. This simple process might solve why your Epson printer keeps going offline on Windows 10.
• Step 1: Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner and choose "System Preferences" .
• Step 2: In the System Preferences window, select "Software Update" .
• Step 3: Check if your printer name is listed among the available software updates.
• Step 4: If your printer is on the list, click the Update button to install the latest printer drivers and software.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to fix the Epson printer offline problem, you can make your printing experience more efficient. If you ever find yourself facing the same problem again, remember these key solutions:

• Do Initial Checking: Before troubleshooting, check for error messages, ensure cable connections are secure, verify network stability, and reboot both your printer and computer.
• Refresh Your Printer Configuration: Remove and reconnect your printer to your computer to ensure a fresh and stable connection.
• Set Your Printer as the Default: Ensure your Epson printer is set as the default option for seamless printing.
• Clear the Print Queue: Eliminate any stuck print jobs that might be causing the offline status.
• Restart the Spooler Service: Restarting the print spooler service can often resolve printer issues.
• Disable SNMP: Turn off SNMP if you're experiencing communication problems with your printer.
• Update Printer Drivers: Keeping your printer drivers up to date is essential for optimal performance.

If you're still facing the "My Epson printer is offline" problem, even after trying the tips mentioned earlier, don't hesitate to contact your printer manufacturer's support or seek help from professional technicians. They're ready to assist you in getting your printer back online and ensuring it works smoothly.

Need help with ordering ink? Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to our toll-free helpline at 1-833-465-6888! Our dedicated support team is available Monday to Friday, 6am-4pm PT. Get the support you need for a happy printing experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some steps to get your Epson printer online:

• Check the cables and cartridges.
• Ensure both the computer and printer internet connections are stable.
• Restart both the computer and printer.
• Run a nozzle check pattern to ensure the print heads aren't clogged.
• Cancel any stuck print jobs.
• Set your printer to online mode through the control panel.
• Choose your printer as the default on your system.
• If all else fails, remove and reinstall your printer software.

Epson printers may display an offline status due to various reasons, such as network issues, cable problems, or incorrect printer settings. Check out our guide above for the factors and tips on how to address them.

Just because your Epson printer is connected to wifi doesn't mean it can't go offline. Ensure both your PC and printer are on the same network.

Additionally, printers tend to slip into "Sleep mode" when not in use for a while. Your computer will detect it as offline if it's in Sleep mode. Just open it up by pressing the power button or any other button on the printer. Check our tips above if doing so still does not fix the issue.

Related articles:

• Epson Firmware Reset
• Reset Epson Ink Cartridge
• Troubleshoot Epson Printer
• Why is My Printer Offline?

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• United Kingdom
• FAQs & Troubleshooting
• Cannot Print (via Network)
• faq00002646_000
• Register your device
• Go to Brother UK
• Date: 19/04/2023
• ID: faq00002646_000

The printer status is Offline or Paused.

Follow the steps below to resolve this issue:

STEP A: Verify the Brother machine is powered on and there are no errors

• If your Brother machine's screen (hereinafter called LCD) is blank, the machine may not be powered on. Check the machine to see if it wakes from sleep mode. If it does not, then make sure it is plugged into a working socket and any power switches are turned ON. NOTE: If you are unable to power on the machine, this solution does not apply. Troubleshoot this hardware issue.  
• Check the LCD for any error messages. An example would be "Paper Jam" or "Ink/Toner Empty" . If the LCD shows an error, troubleshoot the error to clear the issue indicated.

STEP B: Make sure the printer is connected to the computer

• If using a USB cable, make sure the cable is connected to both the printer and computer. Try connecting it directly to the computer and not via a hub.
• If using an ethernet cable, make sure the cable is connected to both the printer and the hub/switch/router. Print the network configuration page to check the IP address.
• If using a wireless connection, print the network configuration page to check the IP address.

If the issue continues, go to STEP C .

STEP C: Check the following points applicable for your operating system

Step c (windows): make sure your brother machine is set as the default printer.

Open the printers folder and make sure there is a check mark on your Brother machine's icon:

(Windows 11 or later)

Make sure your Brother machine is selected to print in your application.

(Windows 8, Windows 10)

• Open the Control Panel . ( Click here to see how to open the Control Panel. )

(Windows 7)

Click Start > Devices and Printers .

If the check mark is not on your Brother machine, right-click the icon for your Brother machine and select Set as default printer .

STEP D (Windows): Delete all print jobs

• Click Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners .
• Select your Brother machine, and then click Open print queue .

(Windows 10 or earlier)

Right-click the icon for your Brother machine > See what's printing > Printer > Cancel All Documents .

STEP E (Windows): Check the printer status in the Devices and Printers window

This step is available until Windows 10. If you use Windows 11 or later, go to STEP F .

Right-click the icon for your Brother machine > See what's printing > Printer > Use Printer Offline (remove the checkmark).

If Use Printer Offline is greyed out, click Open As Administrator . Enter your administrator password, and then click Yes .

If the printer status is Paused

Right-click the icon for your Brother machine > See what's printing > Printer > Pause Printing (remove the checkmark).

If Pause Printing is greyed out, click Open As Administrator . Enter the password for an administrator and click Yes .

STEP F (Windows): If a copy of your Brother machine's icon (For example: Brother [model name] (Copy 1)) is listed in the printer list

A copy of your printer with the same printer name may be created if you:

• Connected the Brother machine to a different USB port on your computer.
• Installed the same printer driver multiple times.

This may lead to some copies of your printer driver not working correctly. To print, select a printer driver that you know is working.

To check which printer driver is working, do the following:

(Windows 11)

(Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10)

• Turn the Brother machine on. If any other machines are connected, only turn the Brother machine on that you want to use.
• Select your Brother machine.

(Optional) To change the printer name, do the following:

• Click Printer properties .
• Change the printer name in the Printer Properties window, and click OK .
• Open the printers folder: (Windows 8, Windows 10) Open the Control Panel . ( Click here to see how to open the Control Panel. ) Click Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers . (Windows 7) Click Start > Devices and Printers .

(Windows 7 or later)

• Right-click the printer icon.
• Click Printer Properties .

STEP G (Windows): If the issue still continues...

Check the solution applicable for your case:

 (For USB connection) > Click here to see how to resolve the issue of being unable to print using my Brother machine on a USB connection.

(For network connection) > Click here to see how to resolve the issue of being unable to print using my Brother machine on a network connection.

STEP C (macOS): Make sure you are using the correct Printer Driver for the Brother machine.

This step is available until macOS 10.15. If you use macOS 11 or later, go to STEP D .

• Select Apple Menu > System Preferences > Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners .
• Select your Brother machine in the Printers section.

If you find CUPS printer driver, the CUPS printer driver is installed correctly.

• Select Quit System Preferences from the Apple Menu .
• > Go to STEP D .

• Click the Default icon which is located at the top of the dialogue box.
• Select your machine from the Name list.

If you cannot find "[model name] + CUPS" , the CUPS printer driver is not installed. Download the latest Full Software Package and install it. The installation instructions are available on the download page. > Click here to download the  Full Software Package in the Downloads section.

If the  Full Software Package is not available for your model, select the  CUPS Printer Driver or Printer Driver .

• The printer is now available in the Printers section.

STEP D (macOS): If the issue still continues...

Related faqs.

• I'm using Windows Vista or Windows 7 and trying to use a Brother machine connected to the network, but the machine stays offline and I cannot print.

If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

• Go to the Top page in the FAQs & Troubleshooting section
• See other FAQs in this category

Have you checked the manuals?

• Go to the Manuals section

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

• Go to the Contact Us section

Related Models

DCP-310CN, DCP-315CN, DCP-8045D, FAX-1940CN, HL-1210W, HL-1212W, HL-1270N, HL-1470N, HL-1670N, HL-1870N, HL-2070N, HL-2135W, HL-2150N, HL-2170W, HL-2250DN, HL-2270DW, HL-2600CN, HL-2700CN, HL-3040CN, HL-3070CW, HL-3260N, HL-3450CN, HL-4000CN, HL-4200CN, HL-5070N, HL-5170DN, HL-5350DN, HL-5370DW, HL-5380DN, HL-6050DN, HL-7050N, HL-8050N, MFC-3320CN, MFC-3340CN, MFC-3820CN, MFC-410CN, MFC-425CN, MFC-5440CN, MFC-5460CN, MFC-5840CN, MFC-5860CN, MFC-620CN, MFC-7225N, MFC-7820N, MFC-8840DN, MFC-9420CN

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Rahul Vithala / Oct 17, 2017

How to Fix Printer Offline Problem in Windows 10

Sometimes you will get printer is offline message on your Windows 10. Although both your PC and Printer are in the online state, due to some communication error, the printer will appear as it is still in the offline state. If you are faced printer offline problem in Windows and looking for a fix, this article is must read for you.

How to change printer status from offline to online? To fix printer offline problem in Windows 10, you need to adjust some settings in Control Panel. Follow the below steps to fix printer offline issue.

Method 1 To Fix Printer Offline Problem

• Open Control Panel by searching in the taskbar.

• Now, again right click on the printer to see What’s printing .

• Here, you will see “Use Printer Offline” enabled.
• All you have to do is, uncheck the option “use printer offline”.

Method 2 to Solve Offline Printer Issue

• Now, write services.msc in the text field and enter.

• Just click on it and select it. Now, look to the left near the top right. Click on start the service.

Alternatively, you can fix printer offline issue by installing Windows 10 update:  KB3147458 (Windows 10 only). Microsoft released KB3147458 update exclusively for Windows 10 users only. This update helps improve the notification of printers when a device wakes up from sleep mode. This update prevents your printers from going offline, especially when you’re using wireless connections.

This will fix the issue, and now onwards you don’t get printer offline error on your Windows PC.

If you still get the Printer Offline message

If you still receive the printer offline message whenever your print an email or document, you have to investigate this further. In most of the cases, any of the above fixes will do the trick. If not, there are few more things that you should try.

• Check if the printer is properly connected : Make sure that your printer is properly connected to your PC. A bad connection can result in such errors while accessing the printer.
• Install any driver CDs of the printer : If you recently changed your Windows or forgot to install the driver CD with the printer, do that. Most of the modern-day printers need the drivers to be installed.
• Simply restart your computer : The next thing you can do is trying to fix printer problem by simply restarting your PC. If you have luck, it may solve the issue.
• Find any hardware problems : Inspect your printer or the port for any hardware problems. Also, try changing the ports to see if the problem is caused by the ports.

• Sign up / Sign in
• × Information Need Windows 11 help? Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes. Windows 11 Support Center.

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• Printer Wireless, Networking & Internet
• My printer is offline and I have used every trick that i kno...

My printer is offline and I have used every trick that i know and I can not get it online

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‎11-07-2023 09:29 AM

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These 5 iPhone 15 problems are annoying. Here’s how to fix them

Apple launched the iPhone 15 lineup in September, and it seems to have been a big hit among the public. The standard iPhone 15 is one of the biggest upgrades for the regular model in quite some time, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max now has one of the best camera systems available on a smartphone today.

iPhone 15 overheating issues

Titanium durability concerns, burn-in issues with the iphone 15 pro max, poor battery life, camera launching with a black screen, the iphone 15 series is great but not perfect.

But not everything in the Apple garden has been rosy. There have been news reports of some problems in the iPhone 15 lineup, like overheating and durability problems, that make people wary. Don’t fret! No matter what the problem is, there is typically a solution.

We’ve rounded up some of the more common iPhone 15 problems here and offer advice on what you can do to fix them.

• Apple used this free iPhone app to shoot Monday’s Scary Fast event
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• The best iPhone 15 cases in 2023: our 16 favorites

One of the biggest issues with the iPhone 15 launch has been overheating . However, this problem was originally reported around the release of the phone, when a lot of people were receiving their new iPhones and setting them up — that’s when most of the overheating issues occurred.

It’s pretty typical for a new phone to heat up more than usual when you’re getting everything set up and transferred over. When I got my iPhone 15 Pro and began the restoration process, which involves over 300GB of data, my device got very hot and was still getting warm over the next few days as everything was indexing.

However, the fix for this is pretty easy. Rebooting is the default solution for a lot of technical issues, and it usually works. Another quick fix involves enabling auto-brightness so it’s not always on maximum brightness and instead adjusts to ambient light. Other things that could help are turning off Bluetooth unless you need it, quitting apps that use location services, turning off Wi-Fi and AirDrop, or turning on airplane or Low Power mode.

You might also be using a case on your phone, which can trap excess heat. Removing it temporarily may help it cool down.

I also experienced my iPhone 15 Pro getting very hot in my hand while using it in direct sunlight. If you are outside often in sunny conditions, try to keep the iPhone out of direct sunlight, which would increase the air temperature and, as a result, the heat generated by your phone from normal processes.

Lastly, make sure you’re running the latest version of iOS. Apple was aware of the overheating issue and released a software update with iOS 17.0.3 , which “addresses an issue that may cause iPhone to run warmer than expected.”

If all of that still doesn’t help with the overheating issue, you might just want to give your phone (and yourself) a short break.

For the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple made a change to the material used in the frame, going from stainless steel to brushed titanium. This change, along with a much more rounded design on the edges, means the iPhone 15 Pro is more lightweight and ergonomic.

However, as it turns out, the titanium design is actually not as durable as the previous stainless steel, as demonstrated in various drop tests over YouTube and elsewhere on the internet.

According to 9to5Mac , the flat design of the stainless steel frame on the iPhone 14 Pro could absorb the impact from a drop, which is a trait of the material. Titanium, however, is more rigid, so any impact needs to be dispersed to other areas on the device, which in this case would mean the front and back glass via spiderweb cracking.

Another issue with the titanium frame that people have noted was what appears to be “discoloration” from fingers touching the frame. This goes away with a simple wipe, though, so it’s not as big of an issue as many people made it appear to be.

Still, if you’re concerned about the durability of the titanium frame, the best fix is to put your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max in a case. We have recommendations on the best cases for both the regular iPhone 15 Pro and the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max .

Another option is to get AppleCare+, which can cover unlimited incidents of accidental damage, as well as up to two incidents of theft or loss coverage, every 12 months depending on the plan you choose. There’s a cost for each incident, but if you don’t like to use cases, this is your best bet.

This issue has been popping up, mostly specific to owners of the most expensive iPhone 15 Pro Max model. The problem is OLED burn-in, which is not just an iPhone-specific problem since it can occur on any device with an OLED screen. However, it has become a concern for iPhone 15 Pro Max users.

What is OLED burn-in? It’s basically a ghosting effect, where remnants of whatever was on the screen remain on-screen even after you go to something else. For iPhone users, the burn-in problem shows remnants of keyboards, wallpaper images, app icons, videos, and other static visuals.

But what causes it? The primary cause for this is leaving a fixed image on the screen for an extended period of time, and this is only made worse if the display brightness goes higher. So unless you just constantly leave a static image on your iPhone 15 Pro Max screen for hours at a time, this should be a rare occurrence.

However, sometimes it’s just a defect in the display or a quality control issue. If you are experiencing burn-in issues on your iPhone 15 display, the only real fix is to take it to an Apple Store and get it repaired or replaced.

To make sure that this doesn’t happen to you, don’t leave an image on your screen for too long, especially when you’re outside and the brightness can go to max setting.

This seems to happen every year, but the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have definitely had slightly poorer battery life than their predecessors.

If you’re experiencing not-so-great battery life on your iPhone 15 , you could try a few things. Enabling auto-brightness can help, as this setting adjusts your screen brightness depending on ambient lighting, so you don’t need to have it on max brightness all the time, which would drain the battery faster. Having dark mode also helps reduce battery drain.

Other settings that can help extend battery life throughout the day are disabling background app refresh, turning off location services unless it’s absolutely necessary (Maps, for example), and disabling/limiting notifications. It’s also beneficial to use Wi-Fi as much as possible over cellular data since searching for a good cellular signal takes a toll on battery life.

If all else fails, you can also try restarting your iPhone 15 — a reboot usually helps for a lot of various situations. Lastly, there’s Low Power mode, which disables things like the always-on display and limits the display refresh rate to 60Hz on ProMotion devices to save battery power for essential tasks.

It’s also recommended to check your iPhone 15’s battery health by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and Charging . This will let you know what your battery’s maximum capacity is; a lower capacity can result in reduced battery life between charges. If it’s below 80% within the first year, then it’s most likely a defective battery, and Apple should replace it.

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have the new Action button , which replaced the silent/ring toggle. Though the default action for the button is still silent/ring, you can change it to something else if you prefer, and one of those actions is launching the Camera app. Of course, those who have the regular iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus don’t have the Action button, but you can still quickly launch the Camera app from the lock screen shortcut.

But have you ever encountered a black screen once your camera launched? I have my Action button set to the Camera, and I’ve gotten that annoying black screen more than once in my time with the iPhone 15 Pro.

The only way to fix it is to quit the Camera app or lock the device and try again, unfortunately. It’s unclear why this happens in the first place, as it seems to be random. While the fix is easy enough, it is annoying to deal with as that moment you were trying to capture may be gone by the time you get the camera working again.

There’s always hype surrounding Apple’s new iPhone releases, and the iPhone 15 series is no exception. It seems to be a commercial success, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. As you can see, there have been several issues with the devices already, and it’s only been out since September.

The good news is that most of the problems are pretty easy fixes that you can remedy yourself. The only one that we mentioned that requires a trip to the Apple Store is the burn-in issue, but that one should not be one to really worry about unless your display is defective.

Editors' Recommendations

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• Apple Events and Announcements
• Apple iPhone

Let's face it, a charger is probably the most important accessory you'll ever buy for your iPhone. After all, most of us need to charge our iPhones at least once a day — sometimes even more — so it's important to have the right chargers around to get the job done.

Thankfully, the popularity of the iPhone means there's no shortage of options for both wired and wireless charging — and you have even more now that the iPhone 15 has finally made the switch to USB-C.

Apple raised the bar again at its latest fall event. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the two new top ways to experience Apple's smartphone world. These are the greatest iPhones available, with all of the new features and — excitingly for anyone who travels with a laptop or iPad — a USB-C port at the bottom. The iPhone 15 Pro is the phone to get if you want strong performance paired with a more manageable 6.1-inch display, and many would argue it's the perfect blend of size and power.

The iPhone 15 Pro is easier to handle than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, it’s crucial to protect your device from accidental drops and scratches, especially since it is an expensive phone that costs $1,000. Luckily, you can easily safeguard your investment by using a protective case that can withstand the usual hazards of daily use, such as bumps and scratches. We offer a wide range of case options to choose from, including slim cases and rugged cases for maximum protection. Take a look, and you’re sure to find something you’ll love.

Apple's iPad is undoubtedly one of the most popular tablets on the market right now. There are several different models to choose from, but no matter which one you go with, you'll be getting one of the best tablets out there. Still, Apple provides an abundance of choice here, and with so many different versions — and nearly annual updates — it can be tricky to know which one is the best to get.

All of Apple's iPads are pretty great, and they're each designed with a slightly different audience in mind, so it's hard to pick a single one as "the best." That's why we've broken the list down by categories; after all, there's an ideal iPad for nearly every situation. Whether you're looking for the best overall iPad, the best iPad on a budget, something in the middle of the pack, or even the best small iPad, we've got you covered.