Why is my printer offline? How to fix it
⚡️Fast Fix
- Restart your printer, computer, and Wi-Fi router.
- Check that your computer and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Plug in USB or Ethernet cables snugly.
When you go to print something and see that your printer is listed as “Offline,” it’s like hitting a roadblock. You can’t get anything done until you get that printer back online. Why is your printer offline and what do you do?
It’s normal to feel frustrated when your devices aren’t working properly. Asurion is here to help. Our experts have seen it all when it comes to tech, so we’re ready to troubleshoot any issue you’re having. We can help you fix your offline HP® printer or connect a Brother® printer to Wi-Fi.
Discover why your printer is offline and how to fix it in this guide.
Common reasons your printer shows as offline
Printers show up as offline all the time for a variety of reasons. It may be:
- Lost connection: The printer cannot connect to the Wi-Fi network.
- Power issues: The printer is turned off or not plugged in.
- Driver issues: The printer driver is outdated or corrupted.
- Print queue: A document in the print queue is stalled and is holding up new jobs.
- Loose cables: A USB or Ethernet cable that's not fully plugged in is interrupting the connection.
You may have to check several things to figure out what the issue is to get your printer back online.
The first thing to check is that the printer you want to use is plugged in to power and turned on. When the printer is off, it will show up as offline. You may also see that your printer is offline when it's in sleep mode.
Try turning off the printer and unplugging it for 30 seconds for a power cycle. Then, plug it back in to power and turn it back on.
If you’re using a wireless printer, make sure your printer and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network. Connect your printer to Wi-Fi that’s strong and reliable. Turn off your virtual private network (VPN) if you have one, as they can block communication between printers and computers.
With a wired printer, the issue could be that your connecting USB or Ethernet cable is loose or damaged. Check that the cable is firmly plugged in to both the computer and the printer. Swap it out for a different cable to see if that's the issue.
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Change your printer settings from offline to online
Once you think you have resolved the issue, check your printer status on your computer to verify your printer offline fix worked.
In Windows®, follow these steps:
- Open Settings> Bluetooth & Devices> Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer you want to use.
- Select Set as default so you don’t have to select the printer every time you print something.
- Select Open print queue. If there are any pending jobs, choose Cancel all.
- When you click on the printer, the status should say Online where it previously said Offline.
On a Mac®, follow these steps:
- Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
- Locate the printer in the list of devices connected to your computer.
- You should see a colored dot next to the printer’s status description. A green dot means the printer is ready for new print jobs.
- Click on the printer name, then Printer Queue. Remove any jobs in the queue.
- Click Set Default Printer so you don’t have to select the printer every time you print something.
If the printer status is still offline, you may need to remove the printer and re-add it to your computer.
Troubleshoot your network and connection issues
A printer that shows as offline often has a network connection issue, especially if you’re trying to print wirelessly.
Connect your printer back to the internet by restarting your printer, your Wi-Fi router, and the device you’re using. Try placing the device and the printer closer to the Wi-Fi router if possible. Make sure there’s nothing interfering with or blocking the connection.
Even if you think you only have one local Wi-Fi network that your printer and computer must both be on, check again. Your network may have both a 2.4GHz band and a 5GHz band. Both devices have to be on the exact same one. Open the printer settings and verify that the Wi-Fi network the printer’s on is identical to the one your device is on.
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