FixPrinters and Scanners

Printer offline: how to get it back online

Your computer says the printer is offline although it is switched on. Work through these checks in order, from a restart to the print spooler.

  • Updated
  • 12 min
  • Beginner
Applies to
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10
  • Mac

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Your printer is switched on, yet Windows or macOS says it is offline and nothing prints. Work from the quickest checks to resetting the link between the printer and your computer.

Before you start

Offline means your computer cannot talk to the printer. It does not always mean the printer is broken. Common causes are a loose cable, a printer that lost its Wi-Fi connection, a setting on the computer, or a stuck print service. It can happen with USB and Wi-Fi printers.

These fixes take about 12 minutes in total, and you need no tools. Stop as soon as the printer prints.

Fixes to try, in orderA top-to-bottom flow chart with 10 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.Fixes to try, in orderNoNoNo1Check power, paper, inkand error lights2Turn the printer off andon again3Does it print now?Yes: You are done4Check the USB cable orthe Wi-Fi connection5Works now?Yes: You are done6Clear Use Printer Offline,or resume the queue7Works now?Yes: You are done8Restart the Print Spooler(Windows)9Remove the printer andadd it againStill offline? Use themaker's support page foryour model.
Stop as soon as the printer prints.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: Check power, paper, ink and error lights
  2. Step 2: Turn the printer off and on again
  3. Question 3: Does it print now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  4. Step 4: Check the USB cable or the Wi-Fi connection
  5. Question 5: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  6. Step 6: Clear Use Printer Offline, or resume the queue
  7. Question 7: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  8. Step 8: Restart the Print Spooler (Windows)
  9. Step 9: Remove the printer and add it again
  10. If nothing worked: Still offline? Use the maker's support page for your model.

Try these fixes in order

Fix 1: Check the printer itself

This takes about 3 minutes.

  1. Look at the printer's screen or lights. Clear any error, such as a paper jam, an open cover, or an empty ink or toner cartridge.
  2. If the printer is asleep, press a button on its control panel to wake it.
  3. Turn the printer off, unplug it from the wall, and wait 30 seconds.
  4. Plug it back in and turn it on. Wait until its screen or lights stop changing.
  5. Restart your computer, then try to print again.

Not sure what a light means? See printer error lights and codes explained.

Fix 2: Check how the printer connects

This takes about 3 minutes. Use the part that matches your printer.

  • USB cable: push both ends in firmly. Try a different USB port on the computer.
  • Wi-Fi: check that the printer and your computer use the same Wi-Fi network. Use the printer's own menu, often called Setup, Network or Wireless, to see its network status. If it has a wireless test, run it. If your home has a Wi-Fi extender or two network names, make sure both devices are on the same one.
  • Network cable: check that it is firmly in the printer's Ethernet port and in the router.
Back of a typical printerThe back of a typical printer: a rear access door in the upper part, and below it a panel with a power inlet, a square USB socket and an Ethernet socket. It has 3 numbered markers, explained in the list under the picture.123Back of a typical printer
  1. Power: check the cable is firmly in
  2. USB port: the cable to your computer goes here
  3. Ethernet port: for a network cable, on some models
Port positions differ between models.
Text version of this diagram

The back of a typical printer: a rear access door in the upper part, and below it a panel with a power inlet, a square USB socket and an Ethernet socket.

  1. Power: check the cable is firmly in
  2. USB port: the cable to your computer goes here
  3. Ethernet port: for a network cable, on some models

If the printer lost your Wi-Fi after you changed the router or the Wi-Fi password, it needs to join again. See how to connect a printer to Wi-Fi.

Fix 3: Clear the offline setting or resume the queue

This takes about 3 minutes.

On Windows 11 or Windows 10

  1. Open the printer list. On Windows 11, open Settings then Bluetooth & devices then Printers & scanners. On Windows 10, open Settings then Devices then Printers & scanners.
  2. Select your printer, then select Open print queue (Windows 11) or Open queue (Windows 10).
  3. In the queue window, open the Printer menu.
  4. If there is a tick beside Use Printer Offline, select it to remove the tick. Do the same for Pause Printing.
  5. Close the window and try printing again. The status should no longer say Offline.

On a Mac

  1. Open Print Center. It opens by itself when you send a print job. Otherwise, open the Utilities folder inside Applications and double-click Print Center.
  2. Select your printer in the sidebar.
  3. If you see a Resume button in the toolbar, the printer is paused. Click it.
  4. If one job shows an error and blocks the others, select it and click Delete Job.
  5. Try printing again.

Check the status before you print

On a Mac, choose File then Print and look at the icon beside the printer's name in the Printer menu. It shows when the printer is paused, offline or unavailable.

Fix 4: Restart the Print Spooler (Windows)

The Print Spooler is the Windows service that passes documents to the printer. Restarting it often clears a printer stuck on Offline. This takes about 2 minutes.

  1. Select the search box on the taskbar, type Services, and open the Services app. If Windows asks for permission, select Yes.
  2. In the list, scroll to Print Spooler and right-click it.
  3. Select Restart. If Restart is grayed out, select Start instead.
  4. Check that the Status column says Running. Then close the window and try printing again.

If you prefer typing, open a Command Prompt as administrator and run these two commands, one at a time. Each prints a message saying the Print Spooler service stopped or started successfully.

net stop spooler
net start spooler

Restarting the Print Spooler does not change your printer settings or delete your files. If stuck jobs remain in the queue, see printer won't print or the queue is stuck.

Fix 5: Remove the printer and add it again

This takes about 5 minutes and makes a fresh link between the computer and the printer. Make sure the printer is switched on and connected first.

On Windows 11 or Windows 10

  1. Open the printer list, as in Fix 3.
  2. Select your printer, then select Remove (Windows 11) or Remove device (Windows 10). Select Yes to confirm.
  3. On Windows 11, next to Add a printer or scanner, select Add device. On Windows 10, select Add a printer or scanner.
  4. When your printer appears, select it and follow the prompts. If it does not appear on Windows 11, select Add manually.

On a Mac

  1. Open System Settings then Printers & Scanners. On macOS before Ventura, open System Preferences instead.
  2. Control-click your printer in the Printers list, choose Remove Printer, then click Remove Printer again.
  3. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax. A printer can take a minute or two to appear.
  4. Select your printer in the list, then click Add.

If your computer asks for a driver, use one from the printer maker's website. Do not use driver-updater programs. See how to install printer drivers safely.

If it still does not work

Frequently asked questions

Why does my printer say offline when it is switched on?

Your computer cannot reach it. The cause may be a cable, a lost Wi-Fi connection, the Use Printer Offline setting or a stuck Print Spooler. The fixes above cover each one.

My phone can print but my computer says offline. What does that mean?

The printer is working and on the network. The problem is the link between the computer and the printer, so try Fix 3, Fix 4 and Fix 5.

Do I need a new driver?

Usually not. Try the fixes above first. If you do need a driver, get it from the printer maker's website or from Windows Update. Do not use third-party driver programs.

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