Why does my printer say offline?
An offline printer does not always mean the printer is broken. Most of the time, it means the printer and your computer, phone, tablet, or Wi-Fi network are not talking to each other correctly.
The quick answer
Your printer may say offline because of a Wi-Fi connection problem, a paused print queue, the wrong default printer, outdated printer software, a router change, or a lost connection between the printer and the device you are printing from.
Common reasons a printer shows offline
The printer lost Wi-Fi connection
Wireless printers can disconnect after a router reboot, password change, weak signal, or network name change.
Your device is on a different network
Your phone, tablet, or computer may be connected to a guest network, hotspot, or different Wi-Fi band than the printer.
The print queue is stuck
A failed job can hold up everything behind it and make the printer look unavailable.
The wrong printer is selected
Computers sometimes keep old printer entries, duplicate printers, or virtual printers as the default option.
Printer software or drivers are outdated
After computer updates, printer software may need to be repaired, updated, or reinstalled.
The printer has an internal error
Paper jams, low supplies, scanner errors, sleep mode, or stuck control panel messages can stop printing.
What to try before replacing the printer
Before buying a new printer, try these simple steps. They solve many common offline printer problems without needing to replace the device.
- 1. Restart the printer. Turn it off, wait about 30 seconds, and turn it back on.
- 2. Restart the device you are printing from.This can clear a stuck connection or print queue.
- 3. Check Wi-Fi. Make sure the printer and your computer or phone are connected to the correct network.
- 4. Clear old print jobs. Cancel stuck jobs and try a fresh test page.
- 5. Confirm the default printer. Make sure your device is not sending the job to an old printer or a duplicate printer entry.
When it is time to get help
It may be time to get help if the printer keeps going offline, will not reconnect to Wi-Fi, will not print from your phone or tablet, or if the setup screens become too confusing. Printer issues can involve the printer, router, computer, phone, software, drivers, and account settings all at once.
Bedsun Tech helps with printer setup and troubleshooting in the Las Vegas area, including wireless printer setup, offline printer fixes, printing from phones and tablets, scanner setup, and home office printer support.
Need help getting your printer working?
Bedsun Tech provides patient local technology help for printers, Wi-Fi, phones, tablets, smart TVs, email, passwords, and everyday home tech issues.
Printer offline FAQs
Why does my printer say offline when it is turned on?
A printer can show offline even when it has power if the computer, phone, router, printer queue, driver, or Wi-Fi connection cannot communicate with it correctly.
Should I restart my printer or router first?
A safe first step is to restart the printer and the device you are printing from. If the printer is wireless and other devices also have connection issues, restarting the router may help too.
Can a printer be offline because of Wi-Fi?
Yes. Wireless printers often show offline when they are connected to the wrong network, have a weak signal, lost their saved Wi-Fi connection, or the router settings changed.
When should I get help with an offline printer?
Get help if the printer keeps going offline, will not reconnect to Wi-Fi, will not print from your phone or computer, or if setup screens and printer settings become frustrating.