Estimated Time to Fix: 3 minutes

Summary

This article guides you through troubleshooting and fixing a common issue where your printer is physically turned on and connected to the network, but Windows stubbornly reports its status as "Offline."

Symptoms

• You send a document to print, but nothing happens.
• When you check your printer settings in Windows, the printer status says "Offline."
• The printer's physical screen indicates it is awake and connected to the Wi-Fi.
• Your documents are stuck in the print queue and never come out.

Before You Start

• Ensure the printer is physically turned on and loaded with paper.

Instructions

1. Uncheck "Use Printer Offline"

1. Sometimes Windows accidentally sets the printer to an offline mode.
2. Click the Start button, type Control Panel, and press Enter.
3. Under "Hardware and Sound," click View devices and printers.
4. Find your printer in the list, right-click it, and select See what's printing.
5. In the new window, click the Printer tab at the top left.
6. Look for Use Printer Offline in the drop-down menu. If there is a checkmark next to it, click it to remove the checkmark.
7. Your documents immediately begin printing. If they stay stuck in the queue instead, clear the jammed jobs with How to Clear a Stuck Print Queue on Windows, then print again.

2. Restart the Print Spooler Service

1. The Print Spooler is the Windows service that manages all print jobs. Restarting it can often fix offline errors.
2. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type services.msc and press Enter.
4. Scroll down the list until you find the Print Spooler service.
5. Right-click Print Spooler and select Restart.
6. Wait a few seconds for the service to restart, then try printing again.

3. Remove and Re-add the Printer

1. If the printer still shows offline, the connection profile may be corrupted.
2. Click the Start button, type Settings, and press Enter.
3. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
4. Click your printer, then click the Remove button.
5. Click Add device (or Add a printer or scanner) to let Windows find the printer on the network and reinstall it automatically. If Windows does not find it, How to Add a Network Printer on Windows (No Admin Required) walks you through adding it back yourself.

Troubleshooting

WARNING

If you are working from home and connected to a corporate VPN, the VPN may block access to your local home printer. Try disconnecting from the VPN, starting the print job, and then reconnecting.

Symptom / Error	Potential Cause	Solution
Printer keeps going offline every day	Dynamic IP Address	Set a Static IP address for the printer via its network menu, or ask your IT department to re-map the network printer.
Windows can't find the printer to re-add it	Wi-Fi network	Ensure your computer and the printer are connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network (e.g., both on the 2.4GHz band).

Related Articles

• How to Fix Common Printer Issues (No Admin Required)
• How to Clear a Stuck Print Queue on Windows
• How to Add a Network Printer on Windows (No Admin Required)
• How to Manage Default Printers and Print Settings on Windows

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