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How to Resolve Printer Offline Issues

Few things are as frustrating as trying to print an important document and seeing that your printer is "offline." This common issue can affect both wired and wireless printers and usually occurs due to connection or configuration errors. Fortunately, resolving printer offline issues is often simple with the right troubleshooting steps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to fix the "printer offline" error on both Windows and macOS, whether you have a wired or wireless printer.

Why Do Printers Go Offline?

Printers may show as offline for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Network connectivity issues (for wireless printers)
  • Incorrect printer settings
  • Outdated drivers or firmware
  • Print queue errors
  • Connection issues (for wired printers)

By understanding the cause, you can more effectively troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Let’s dive into the solutions for both wired and wireless printers.

Step-by-Step Solutions for Resolving Printer Offline Issues

1. Check Your Printer’s Power and Connection

Before diving into software fixes, make sure that your printer is powered on and properly connected to your computer or network.

  • For Wired Printers: Check that the USB cable is securely plugged into both the printer and your computer. Try using a different USB port if necessary.
  • For Wireless Printers: Ensure that your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. You can check the connection status on the printer’s control panel.

Pro Tip: If your printer is off or in sleep mode, it may appear offline. Turn it off and on to reset the connection.

2. Set the Printer as Default

Sometimes, your computer may attempt to send the print job to another printer, leading to an "offline" status. Setting your printer as the default printer can prevent this.

For Windows Users:
  1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  2. Find your printer, right-click on it, and select Set as default printer.
For macOS Users:
  1. Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
  2. Select your printer and click the Default Printer drop-down menu to set it as the default.

3. Check Printer Status in the Control Panel

Your printer may be set to offline mode within your computer settings, which can prevent printing.

For Windows Users:
  1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click on your printer and select See what’s printing.
  3. In the new window, click Printer in the top menu and uncheck Use Printer Offline if it’s selected.
For macOS Users:
  1. Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
  2. Select your printer and click Open Print Queue.
  3. If your printer is paused, click Resume to bring it back online.

4. Clear the Print Queue

A stuck print job can cause your printer to go offline. Clearing the print queue can solve the problem.

For Windows Users:
  1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click on your printer and select See what’s printing.
  3. In the new window, right-click on any listed jobs and select Cancel to clear the queue.
For macOS Users:
  1. Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
  2. Select your printer and click Open Print Queue.
  3. Click the X next to each print job to cancel it.

5. Restart the Print Spooler

The print spooler is a service that manages print jobs. Restarting it can resolve the offline issue.

For Windows Users:
  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
  3. Scroll down and find Print Spooler in the list.
  4. Right-click Print Spooler and select Restart.
For macOS Users:
  1. Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities).
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
    sudo launchctl stop org.cups.cupsd
    Then type:
    sudo launchctl start org.cups.cupsd

6. Update Printer Drivers and Firmware

Outdated printer drivers or firmware can cause compatibility issues, leading to the "offline" error. Updating the drivers and firmware can restore proper functionality.

For Windows Users:
  1. Open Device Manager by typing it into the search bar.
  2. Expand the Printers section.
  3. Right-click your printer and select Update driver.
  4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software and follow the on-screen instructions.
For macOS Users:
  1. Go to System Preferences > Software Update.
  2. If there’s a printer driver update available, install it.
  3. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, etc.) to download and install the latest drivers.

7. Reconnect Your Printer to Wi-Fi (For Wireless Printers)

If your wireless printer is still showing as offline, it may have lost connection to your Wi-Fi network. Follow these steps to reconnect it.

For HP, Canon, and Epson Printers:
  1. Go to your printer’s Settings or Network Settings on the control panel.
  2. Select Wireless Setup Wizard and follow the prompts to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
For Brother and Lexmark Printers:
  1. Access the printer’s control panel and navigate to Network Settings.
  2. Select Wi-Fi Setup and follow the on-screen instructions.
For Dell and Samsung Printers:
  1. Press the Menu button on your printer’s control panel.
  2. Select Network > Wireless > Wi-Fi Setup Wizard.
  3. Reconnect to your Wi-Fi by entering your network’s SSID and password.

Pro Tip: Always ensure that your printer and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network to avoid connectivity issues.

8. Uninstall and Reinstall the Printer

If all else fails, removing and reinstalling the printer can sometimes resolve persistent offline issues.

For Windows Users:
  1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click your printer and select Remove device.
  3. After removing, restart your computer and reconnect the printer by selecting Add a Printer from the same menu.
For macOS Users:
  1. Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
  2. Select your printer and click the - button to remove it.
  3. Restart your Mac, then click the + button to add the printer again.

Common Printer Offline Error Codes and What They Mean

When dealing with printer offline issues, you might come across error codes. Here are some common ones and how to resolve them:

  • Error Code 0x00000709: This usually means there’s an issue with your printer’s default settings. To fix this, follow the steps to set your printer as the default.
  • Error Code 0x00000057: This is often a driver-related issue. Updating or reinstalling your printer drivers should fix this.
  • Error Code 0x00000002: This error means the system is having trouble connecting to your printer. Uninstalling and reinstalling the printer often resolves this issue.