Is your printer showing as offline even when it’s powered on and connected to your computer? This is a common issue, especially for users with ARM PCs, but it can happen on any Windows device. Don’t worry, you can usually resolve this problem with a few straightforward troubleshooting steps. This guide will walk you through the most effective methods to bring your printer back online and get you printing again.
Basic Troubleshooting Steps to Bring Your Printer Back Online
Often, the “printer offline” status is a temporary glitch that can be fixed with simple solutions. Start with these quick checks:
Power Cycle Your Printer
A simple power cycle can often resolve communication issues between your printer and computer.
- Turn off your printer. Press the power button to turn it off completely.
- Unplug the power cord. Disconnect the power cord from the back of your printer and the wall outlet.
- Wait for 30 seconds. This allows the printer’s internal memory to reset.
- Plug the power cord back in. Reconnect the power cord to both the printer and the wall outlet.
- Turn your printer back on. Press the power button to power it up.
- Check printer status. See if your printer now shows as online on your computer.
The power button on a printer is typically located on the front or side panel. Refer to your printer’s manual if you are unsure of its exact location.
Verify Your Printer’s Wi-Fi Connection
If you are using a wireless printer, ensure it is properly connected to your Wi-Fi network.
- Check printer’s display. Many printers have a built-in menu that displays Wi-Fi connection status. Look for Wi-Fi icons or network settings in your printer’s menu.
- Consult printer manual. If your printer doesn’t have a display, refer to its manual for instructions on how to check or re-establish a Wi-Fi connection.
- Restart your router. If your printer is connected to Wi-Fi, restarting your Wi-Fi router can sometimes resolve network connectivity issues.
Most Wi-Fi printers offer options to check their network connection status directly from the printer’s control panel.
Set Your Printer as the Default Printer
Sometimes, Windows may not be directing print jobs to the correct printer, especially if you have multiple printers installed. Setting your printer as the default ensures documents are sent to the intended device.
- Open Printers & scanners settings.
- Windows 11: Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Windows 10: Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select your printer. Find your printer in the list of installed printers.
- Set as default.
- Windows 11: Select your printer and then select Set as default.
- Windows 10: Select your printer, then select Manage and then Set as default. If you don’t see the “Set as default” option, check if “Let Windows manage my default printer” is turned on. If it is, you’ll need to turn it off to manually set a default printer.
The “Set as default” option in Windows printer settings ensures your chosen printer is prioritized for print jobs.
Clear the Print Queue
A buildup of pending print jobs can sometimes cause a printer to appear offline. Clearing the print queue can resolve this.
- Open Print queue.
- Windows 11: Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer and on its page, select Open print queue.
- Windows 10: Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer, then select Open queue.
- Cancel pending jobs. In the print queue window, if you see any documents listed, click on … (ellipsis in Windows 11) or Printer (in Windows 10) and select Cancel All Documents or Cancel all.
Canceling pending print jobs in the queue can resolve conflicts and bring your printer back online.
Restart the Print Spooler Service
The Print Spooler is a Windows service that manages print jobs. Restarting this service can often fix printer communication problems.
- Open Services app. Go to Search in the taskbar, type services, and select Services from the results.
- Locate Print Spooler. Scroll down the list of services and find Print Spooler.
- Restart the service. Right-click on Print Spooler and select Restart.
Restarting the Print Spooler service can resolve issues related to print job management and printer status.
Remove and Reinstall Your Printer
If other troubleshooting steps don’t work, removing and reinstalling your printer drivers can establish a fresh connection and resolve software-related issues.
Remove your printer:
- Open Printers & scanners settings.
- Windows 11: Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Windows 10: Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select your printer. Choose the printer you want to uninstall.
- Remove the printer.
- Windows 11: Select Remove and then Yes to confirm.
- Windows 10: Select Remove device and then Yes to confirm.
Reinstall your printer:
- Open Printers & scanners settings. (Same steps as above for Windows 10 & 11).
- Add a printer or scanner. Click on Add device or Add a printer or scanner.
- Follow instructions. Windows will search for available printers. Select your printer from the list and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reinstallation. Ensure your printer is turned on and connected during this process.
Reinstalling your printer ensures you have the latest drivers and a clean connection setup with your computer.
Restart Your PC
A PC restart can refresh system services and resolve temporary software conflicts that might be causing the “printer offline” status. After restarting, check if your printer is back online.
Still Facing “Printer Offline” Issues?
If you’ve tried all these steps and your printer is still showing as offline, there might be a more complex issue. Consider checking:
- Printer manufacturer’s website: Look for specific troubleshooting guides or updated drivers for your printer model.
- Hardware issues: In rare cases, the problem might be with the printer hardware itself.
- Contact support: Reach out to your printer manufacturer’s support or Microsoft support for further assistance.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the “printer offline” issue and get back to printing smoothly.
