Why Is My Printer Offline? Find the Cause and Fix It
“Offline” means your computer can’t reach the printer, even though it is switched on. Most often the printer changed network address, sits on a different Wi-Fi network, or a stuck queue or print spooler is blocking it. Answer three questions below to find which, then follow the steps for your system.
Check the printer and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Set it as the default printer.
Cancel every job in the print queue.
Restart the Print Spooler, or remove the printer and add it again.
Still offline? The questions below find the cause.
Find why your printer shows offline
Most likely
Check the cable, then the computer’s printer settings
Over USB, “offline” usually means the computer lost the printer: a loose cable or port, a printer in an error state, or a queue set to pause or work offline.
What to do
Turn the printer off and unplug it, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on.
Check the USB cable at both ends and try a different USB port.
Clear any error on the printer’s screen: paper, jams, covers, ink or toner.
Open the print queue, cancel every job, and make sure printing is not paused or set to “Use Printer Offline”.
Still offline: remove the printer from the computer and add it again.
The computer can’t reach a printer that has no network address. An address starting 169.254 is one a device gives itself when no router hands out an address.
What to do
Restart your router, then turn the printer off and on.
On the printer’s screen or in the maker’s app, run its Wi-Fi setup again and pick your network.
Print the network configuration page again and check it now shows a normal address.
Enter that address in the checker below, then remove and re-add the printer on the computer if it still shows offline.
The printer is still on the old network, or its address changed
A new router or Wi-Fi password disconnects the printer, and the computer may still point at its old address. Microsoft also notes that extenders and routers with separate network names can put the PC and printer on different networks.
What to do
Reconnect the printer to the new Wi-Fi from its screen or the maker’s app.
Make sure the computer is on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer, not a guest or extender network with another name.
Remove the printer from the computer and add it again, so it picks up the new address.
Updates can leave a stuck queue, reset the default printer, or swap in a different driver. Windows can print with its built-in driver, but Microsoft notes some printer features need the maker’s own driver or app.
What to do
Run the printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app (Windows), or check Print Center (Mac).
Cancel every job in the queue and restart the print spooler.
Set the printer as the default again.
Remove the printer and add it again. If it is still offline, install the maker’s current driver or app.
The printer’s address changed, or the queue paused
When it works at first and then drops, the usual suspects are a printer that changed network address while idle, or a queue that a failed job has paused. If the address changed, the computer keeps looking for the printer at the old one.
What to do
Wake the printer by pressing a button on it, then try again.
Print the network configuration page and compare the address with the one in the checker below. If it changed, remove and re-add the printer.
If the address keeps changing, the maker’s network guide shows how to keep it fixed. Brother’s steps below include setting a static address.
Open the print queue and make sure it is not paused, then clear any stuck jobs.
With no clear trigger, the usual causes on Windows are a stuck job, a paused queue, the wrong default printer or a stalled print spooler. Microsoft’s own checklist covers them in order.
What to do
Run the printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
Turn the printer off, unplug it for 30 seconds, then turn it on.
Open the print queue and select Cancel all.
Restart the Print Spooler service, then set the printer as default.
Remove the printer and add it again, then restart the PC.
On a Mac, a printer that hit an error can pause its queue, and it stays paused until you resume it. A changed network address also leaves the Mac looking in the wrong place.
What to do
Open Print Center, select the printer and resume it if it is paused.
Delete any stuck jobs.
Remove the printer in System Settings > Printers & Scanners and add it again.
Last resort: reset the printing system, which removes all printers.
For Wi-Fi and network printers. Print the printer’s network configuration page (the brand steps below show how) and copy its IPv4 address here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Opens in a new tab. If it loads, the computer can reach the printer over the network. A certificate warning there is common for printers.
How do I fix a printer that shows offline on Windows?
Microsoft’s order starts with the printer troubleshooter, then a printer restart and a check that the PC and printer share one Wi-Fi network. Next, set the printer as the default, cancel every job in the queue and restart the Print Spooler. If it still shows offline, remove the printer and add it again.[1] Stop when it comes back.
How do I fix a printer that shows offline on a Mac?
Apple’s first check is whether the printer shows as paused, offline or unavailable. For a network printer, make sure the Mac and the printer are on the same network. In Print Center, click Resume if the printer is paused, delete any job that blocks the queue, and add the printer again if it still won’t respond.[2]
Queue and printer
View and clear the print queue on Mac
Click the Print Center icon in the Dock (or open Print Center from Applications > Utilities).
Select the printer in the sidebar to see its jobs.
To remove a stuck job, select it and click Delete Job.
To pause or resume one job, use Hold Job or Resume Job; to pause/resume the whole printer, use Pause or Resume in the toolbar.
Open System Settings and click Printers & Scanners in the sidebar.
Control-click the printer in the Printers list, choose Remove Printer, then confirm with Remove Printer.
Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax, select the printer and click Add (or click IP to add it by IP address/host name with AirPrint, IPP, LPD or HP Jetdirect - Socket).
Wait a minute or two for it to appear and install any software it asks for.
macOS uses CUPS for printing, and by default CUPS stops a printer when a job fails, so one bad job can leave the printer stopped until you resume it.[3]
How do I fix an offline printer on a Chromebook?
Google’s Chromebook help suggests checking the printer’s saved details for typos, then removing the printer and setting it up again. The steps below link to that page. Work or school Chromebooks may block adding printers, so ask the administrator.
ChromeOS
Fix printer setup problems on a Chromebook
Open the printer's Edit option in Printers and scanners and check the details for typos.
If the details are right, choose Remove and set the printer up again.
If it still won't print, update the printer's firmware from the manufacturer's site.
If it won't join Wi-Fi, turn the printer off and on and try again.
Make sure the printer and Chromebook are on the same network (or connect by USB; Bluetooth printing isn't supported).
Select the time at the bottom right, then Settings.
Under Device, scroll to Printers and scanners, then choose Print.
Under Other available printers, click Save next to your printer; it should now show under Your saved printers.
To add by IP: Print > Other available printers > + Add printer manually; enter a name, IP address, protocol (usually IPP) and queue (usually ipp/print), then Add.
Each maker’s own fix, including how to print the network page that shows the printer’s address.
HP printer offline
Turn the printer off and unplug it. Restart your computer or phone and your router, then turn the printer back on and print again.
Check the printer and your computer or phone are on the same network.
Open the HP app and run Diagnose & Fix: the wrench icon at the bottom left on Windows, or the printer menu in the top bar on a Mac.
Find the printer’s address
OfficeJet Pro 8020, 9010 and 9020 series: swipe down the Dashboard, touch Setup > Reports > Network Configuration Page. Other models: look for the same report in the printer’s Reports or Setup menu, or check the model steps on our HP page.
Print a nozzle check from the control panel. If it fails, clear the printer’s errors first.
Turn the printer off and on.
Delete pending jobs in the Epson print queue, then open its Printer menu and clear Use Printer Offline.
If the Wi-Fi light shows a connection, unplug the router, wait, plug it back in and print. Then try restarting the computer.
If it shows no Wi-Fi connection, reset the printer’s network settings and set it up again with Epson’s Drivers and Utilities Combo Package.
Find the printer’s address
Settings > Network Settings > Network Status > Print Status Sheet (XP-4200 menu). The sheet lists the IP address; type it into a browser on the same network to open the printer’s Web Config page.
Restart the printer and check whether it still shows offline.
Check the printer name matches its MP Drivers, and set those MP Drivers as the default.
Windows 11: Printers & scanners > your printer > Print settings > Maintenance > View Printer Status > Display Print Queue > Printer menu, and clear Use Printer Offline.
On Wi-Fi, run Canon’s Wi-Fi Connection Assistant to diagnose and repair the connection.
Uninstall and reinstall the MP Drivers, then restart the computer (Restart, not Shut down).
Find the printer’s address
HOME > OK > Device settings > LAN settings > Print details > Yes (TS6400 series). The printout lists the IP address. Menu names differ by model; older models use LAN settings > Print LAN details.
Clear any error on the display: paper jam, ink or toner.
USB: connect straight to the computer, not through a hub.
Network: print the network configuration report, check the IP address, and make sure the computer and machine use the same Wi-Fi network (SSID).
Windows: in Printer properties > Ports > Configure Port, clear SNMP Status Enabled and click OK. Brother’s Network Connection Repair Tool can also update the address in the driver.
Set the Brother machine as default and cancel all jobs. If you see a “(Copy 1)” duplicate, use the copy that shows Idle, not Offline.
Find the printer’s address
Settings > All Settings > Print Reports > Network Configuration > OK (HL-L2380DW menu). If the IP address shows 0.0.0.0, wait a minute and print it again.
If the address is still wrong, Brother says to set it manually, which switches the printer to a static address.
The checker above can compare the printer’s address with your computer’s. On Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet, select Wi-Fi and your network (or Ethernet), and read the IPv4 address.[13] On a Mac, open System Settings > Wi-Fi and click Details next to your network to see the IP address.[14]
Why is my printer offline?
The printer and your computer talk over a USB cable or your network. “Offline” is the computer saying it sent a request and nothing answered, so the fault is the link, not the printer’s power. On a network, these are the usual reasons, roughly from most to least common:
The address changed. Routers hand out addresses and can give the printer a new one after a restart. The computer keeps looking at the old one.
Different networks. Microsoft points out that with extenders or routers that use separate network names, the PC and printer can end up on different networks.[15]
No address at all. An address starting 169.254 means the device couldn’t get one from the router.[16]
A paused or offline setting. Windows 10 has Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline in the queue’s Printer menu.[1] On a Mac and Linux, a failed job stops the printer’s queue by default until it is resumed.[3]
What about the tips about ports and SNMP?
Many guides say to switch the printer port from WSD to Standard TCP/IP or to turn off “SNMP Status Enabled”. We checked Microsoft’s support and Learn pages and none of them gives that advice. Brother does: its offline FAQ tells you to clear SNMP Status Enabled for Brother machines,[10] so that step appears in the Brother list above. For other brands, follow the maker’s own network guide rather than a generic tip.
“Offline” means the computer can’t reach the printer, not that the printer is off. Common causes are a changed network address after a router restart, the printer or computer on a different Wi-Fi network, a stuck or paused print queue, or a stalled print spooler on Windows.
How do I get my printer back online in Windows 11?
Run the printer troubleshooter in Get Help, restart the printer, check it is on the same Wi-Fi as the PC, set it as default, cancel all jobs in the queue, restart the Print Spooler service, and if needed remove the printer and add it again. That is Microsoft’s own order.
How do I turn off “Use Printer Offline”?
In Windows 10, open the printer’s queue, open the Printer menu and clear Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing. Microsoft lists that step for Windows 10; for Windows 11 its offline checklist starts with the printer troubleshooter in Get Help.
Why does my printer keep going offline?
Often because its network address changes, so the computer keeps looking for it at the old one, or because a failed job pauses the queue. Print the printer’s network page and compare the address over a few days; if it changes, follow the maker’s steps to give it a fixed address, and remove and re-add the printer.
Does printing a test page fix an offline printer?
No, but it tells you where the problem is. If the printer prints its own network configuration page, the printer works and the problem is the network or computer. If the computer’s test page prints afterwards, the connection is fixed.
Sources
[1]Troubleshooting offline printer problems in Windows (Microsoft Support)Microsoft’s checklist for a printer that shows offline while on and connected: troubleshooter, restart the printer, same Wi-Fi network, set as default, cancel all jobs, restart the Print Spooler, remove and re-add, restart the PC. The Windows 10 steps also clear Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline.
[2]Solve printing problems on Mac (Apple Support)Apple: check whether the printer shows paused, offline or unavailable; for a network printer make sure the Mac and printer are on the same network; in Print Center click Resume, delete a blocking job, and add the printer again if needed.
[4]HP Printer Offline Issues - How to Fix (HP Support)HP’s offline fix: restart the printer, computer or phone and router; check the printer and device are on the same network; run Diagnose & Fix in the HP app.
[6]“Printer is Offline” error when printing wirelessly in Windows (WF-2960) (Epson)Epson’s fix for “Printer is Offline” over Wi-Fi in Windows (WF-2960 FAQ): clear printer errors, power-cycle, delete pending jobs and clear Use Printer Offline, restart the router and computer, or reset the network settings and reinstall the Drivers and Utilities Combo Package.
[7]How do I check my product’s network status? (XP-4200) (Epson)Epson network status sheet (XP-4200): Settings > Network Settings > Network Status > Print Status Sheet. The sheet lists the IP address, which opens Web Config in a browser on the same network.
[8]Network Solution 1-2-3: Change to Offline/Cannot Communicate (Canon Inkjet Manuals)Canon’s steps when an inkjet changes to offline (Windows): restart the printer, set the matching MP Drivers as default, clear Use Printer Offline in the print queue, run Wi-Fi Connection Assistant, reinstall the MP Drivers, then restart the computer.
[9]Printing Network Settings (TS6400 series) (Canon Inkjet Manuals)Canon network settings printout (TS6400 series): HOME > OK > Device settings > LAN settings > Print details > Yes. It lists the IP address. Menu names differ by model.
[10]I cannot print because my machine is offline or paused. (Brother)Brother’s fix for a machine that is offline or paused (MFC-J6960DW FAQ): clear errors, USB direct without a hub, check the IP on the network configuration page and use the same SSID, run the Network Connection Repair Tool, clear SNMP Status Enabled in Configure Port, set as default, cancel all jobs, and use the copy of the printer that shows Idle.
[11]Print the Network Configuration Report (Brother)Brother Network Configuration Report (HL-L2380DW): Settings > All Settings > Print Reports > Network Configuration > OK. If the IP address shows 0.0.0.0, wait one minute and print it again.
[14]Wi-Fi settings on Mac (Apple Support)On a Mac, System Settings > Wi-Fi > Details shows the IP address for the Wi-Fi connection.
[15]Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows (Microsoft Support)With wireless access points, extenders or several routers with separate network names (SSIDs), make sure the PC is on the same network as the printer.
[16]Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows (Microsoft Support)An IP address that looks like 169.254.x.x means the device couldn’t get an address from the router; check DHCP is enabled on the router.
Checked 2026-10-13. The step lists in the Windows and Mac tabs link to their own sources.