Tips & Tricks Windows

How to Fix Printer Offline Status in Windows 10

Printer Offline Status

If you guys are facing some issues with your printer then generally restarting the printer can pretty much fix most of these issues actually. However, if your printer is offline even after being fully connected to the PC then this issue can’t be fixed via a simple restart. Users are now complaining that they can’t use the printer as their printer is offline even though their printer in ON. You have to connect to the PC and fully operational. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Fix Printer Offline Status in Windows 10. Let’s begin!

If your printer is not working, or the print command doesn’t really seem to respond then you guys can check if your device status if offline or not. To verify this, tap on Windows Key + R then type control printers and click on Enter. Or you could navigate to the Devices and Printers in Control Panel and then choose the desired printer. And then under the ribbon, at the bottom, you guys will see something like this “Status: Offline”. If this is the case then your printer is offline and until you guys resolve this issue the printer won’t work.

How to Fix Printer Offline Status in Windows 10

There is no specific cause for this error but the issue could be caused due to outdated or incompatible drivers, conflict of printer spooler services. Also, a problem with physical as well as hardware connection of the printer to PC, etc. So without even wasting any time let’s see How you can Fix Printer Offline Status in Windows 10 with the help of the below tutorial.

Change the Printer Status

  • Tap on Windows Key + R then type control printers and click on Enter to open Devices and Printers.

Note: You could also open Devices and Printers in control panel via navigating to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.

  • Just right-click on your printer and choose “Set as default printer” from the context menu.
  • Then again right-tap on your printer and then choose “See what’s printing“.
  • You will see the printer queue, then see if there are any unfinished tasks and also make sure to remove them from the list.
  • Now from the printer queue window, just choose your Printer and uncheck the “Use Printer Offline” option.
  • Just like that, uncheck the “Pause Printing” option, just to make sure everything works fine actually.

Check Printer Connection

Before doing anything, first, you guys should check if the communication between the printer and PC is properly set up. There can be something wrong along with the USB cable or USB port, or network connection if connected wirelessly as well.

  • Shutdown your PC and power off your printer now. Remove all the cables connected to the printer (even the power cable) and then click & hold the power button of the printer for 30 seconds.
  • Again connect all the cables and then just make sure the USB cable from the printer is properly connected to the USB port of the PC. You guys could also switch the USB port in order to see if this resolves the problem or not.
  • If your PC is connected via Ethernet port then just make sure the Ethernet port is working and the connection to your printer & PC is proper as well.
  • If the printer is connected to PC via a wireless network then just make sure the printer is connected to your PC network. Also, check if this Fixes Printer Offline Status in Windows 10, if not then continue.

Update Printer Driver | Printer Offline Status

  • Tap on Windows Key + R then type “services.msc” and click on enter.
  • Then find Print Spooler service then right tap on it and choose Stop.
  • Now again press Windows Key + R and then type printui.exe /s /t2 and click on enter.
  • In the Printer Server Properties window, just search for the printer which is causing this issue.
  • Next, remove the printer and whenever asked for confirmation in order to remove the driver as well, then select yes.
  • Now again go to services.msc and right-tap on Print Spooler and choose Start.
  • Next, navigate to your printers manufacturer website, download and then install the latest printer drivers from the website as well.

For example, in case you guys have an HP printer and then you have to visit HP Software and Drivers Downloads page. Where you can easily download the latest drivers for your HP printer aswell.

  • If you’re still not able to fix Printer Offline Status then you can also use the printer software that came along with your printer. Mostly, these utilities can detect the printer on the network and fix any issues that are causing the printer in order to appear offline.

For example, you can aso use HP Print and Scan Doctor in order to fix any issues regarding HP Printer.

Restart Print Spooler Service

  • You have to click on Windows Key + R then type services.msc and click on Enter
  • Then find Print Spooler service in the list and double-tap on it.
  • Just make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic and the service is running, then tap on Stop and then again click on start in order to restart the service.

Printer Offline Status

  • Tap on Apply followed by OK.
  • After that, again try to add the printer and then see if you’re able to Fix Printer Offline Status in Windows 10.

Add a Second Printer | Printer Offline Status

NOTE: This method will only work if your printer is connected through a network to the PC (rather than the USB cable).

  • Tap on Windows Key + I to open Settings and then tap on Devices.
  • Now from the left-hand menu tap on “Bluetooth & other devices“.
  • Then from the right window pane tap on “Devices and printers“.
  • Right-click on your printer and then choose Printer properties from the context menu.
  • Now switch to Ports tab then tap on the “Add Port…” button.
  • Choose “Standard TCP/IP Port” under Available port types and then tap on New Port button.
  • Then, on the Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard, just tap on Next.
  • Now type in the Printers IP Address and Port name and then click on Next.

Note: You guys could easily find the IP address of your printer on the device itself. Or you could also find these details on the manual that came along with the printer.

  • When you successfully added the Standard TCP/IP Printer, then tap on Finish.

Printer Offline Status

See if you guys are able to Fix Printer Offline Status in Windows 10 Issue, if not then you have to reinstall your printer drivers.

Run Printer Troubleshooter

  • Just type “troubleshooting” in Control Panel then tap on Troubleshooting from the search result.
  • Next, from the left window pan, just click on View all.
  • Then from the Troubleshoot computer problems list just choose Printer.
  • Now follow on-screen instruction and let the Printer Troubleshooter run.
  • Just restart your PC and you guys may be able to Fix Printer Offline Status in Windows 10.

Reinstall your Printer Drivers | Printer Offline Status

  • Tap on Windows Key + R then type control printers and click on Enter to open Devices and Printers.
  • Right-click on your printer and then choose “Remove device” from the context menu.
  • Whenever the confirm dialog box appears, then just tap on Yes.
  • Now after the device is successfully removed, download the latest drivers from your printer manufacturer website as well.
  • Then reboot your PC and when the system restarts, click on Windows Key + R and then type control printers and click on Enter.

Note: Make sure your printer is connected to the PC trough USB, ethernet or wirelessly.

  • Tap on the “Add a printer” button that is under Device and Printers window.
  • Windows will automatically detect the printer, just choose your printer and tap on Next.

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  • Set your printer as default and then tap on Finish.

Conclusion

Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.

Have a Great Day!

About the author

Windy Moore

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