How Do I Get My Canon Printer Back Online? (Tutorial Steps)

Have you ever tried to print something important and suddenly your Canon printer shows “Offline”? It can be really frustrating, especially when you need the printout right away. The good news is that bringing your 'Canon printer back online' is quick and easy once you know the right steps. Here, I am going to walk you through the main cause of this offline issue, along with easy solutions to help you get everything working smoothly again. Let’s get your printer back online without any stress.

Common Reasons Why Canon Printers Go Offline

Canon printers go offline because something is blocking the connection between the printer and your computer. This can happen for several reasons, like a loose cable or a weak Wi-Fi signal, but sometimes the issue comes from software settings or network problems.

1.   Connection Issues

If the Canon printer is linked with a USB cable, the cable might be loose or damaged. For Wi-Fi users, the printer may disconnect if the signal is weak, the router is reset, or the printer accidentally connects to a different network than your computer.

2.   Driver or Software Problems

Your computer needs an up-to-date printer driver to communicate with the printer. If the drivers are outdated/corrupted, the printer may show as offline. Sometimes, the print spooler service, which handles print jobs, can stop working and cause the same issue.

3.   Printer Settings and Status

Your computer might have the “Use Printer Offline” option turned on without you noticing. Also, the printer may go offline if it isn’t set as the default printer or if there are too many stuck print jobs in the queue. Even simple issues like paper jams or low ink can trigger an offline status.

4.   Network and Security Issues

Firewalls or security software can sometimes block your computer from talking to the printer. There may also be IP address conflicts on the network, which can interrupt the printer connection.

Solution 1: Check Basic Connections

When your printer goes offline, the first thing you should do is check all the basic connections. Many times, the problem is small and can be fixed in a minute.

• Check cable connections: Make sure the USB or Ethernet cable is plugged in and not damaged.

• Confirm Wi-Fi connection: Ensure the printer is linked to the same wireless network as your computer and the signal is strong.

• Restart devices: Turn off the printer and router, wait a few seconds, then turn them back on to refresh the connection.

• Check for printer errors: Look for blinking lights or messages that may indicate paper jams, low ink, or other issues stopping the connection.

Solution 2: Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode (Windows & Mac)

Sometimes your Canon printer shows offline simply because your computer is set to “Use Printer Offline.” Turning this off brings your printer back online in seconds. Here’s how to do it on your Windows and Mac system:

On Windows

• Firstly, open the Settings tab and go to Devices > Printers & scanners.

• After that, select your printer’s name and click the Open queue button.

• At the top, click the Printer menu and uncheck “Use Printer Offline.”

If you use an older version of Windows, then you have to open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click your printer, choose See what’s printing, and uncheck the same option.

On Mac

• Open System Settings and go to Printers & Scanners.

• Next, choose your printer model name and click Open Print Queue.

• In the menu bar, make sure “Use Printer Offline” is not selected.

Once this option is disabled, your printer should reconnect and start working normally.

Solution 3: Set Canon Printer as Default

Sometimes your printer shows “offline” because your computer is sending print jobs to a different printer. Setting your printer as the default makes sure all documents go to the right device every time.

On Windows 10/11

• On your computer, open Settings (press Windows key + I).

• Next, go to Bluetooth & devices and then Printers & scanners.

• Afterward, you will need to choose your printer from the list.

• Now, click Set as default and confirm if Windows asks for permission.

On Older Windows (or Using the Control Panel)

• In the beginning, you have to open the Control Panel.

• On the following screen, click Devices and Printers.

• Right-click your printer’s name and then choose Set as default printer.

• Now, you will see a green checkmark when it’s set.

Once your printer is set as the default printing device and not in offline mode, it should start working normally again.

Solution 4: Update or Reinstall Canon Printer Drivers

If your printer keeps showing “offline,” the problem may be related to outdated drivers. Printer drivers help your computer and the printer communicate, so keeping them updated is important. You can either update the existing driver or reinstall a fresh one.

Option 1: Update the Driver (Windows)

• Press the Windows key + R key at the same time, type devmgmt.msc, then hit Enter to launch Device Manager.

• After that, find Printers or Print queues and expand the section.

• In the following step, right-click your printer and choose Update driver.

• Now, select Search automatically for updated printer driver.

• Perform the steps on the screen and restart your computer when it’s done.

Option 2: Reinstall the Driver (Windows)

1. Go to the official Canon support website https://ij.start.canon/ and download the latest driver for your exact printer model.

2. Hold the Windows key and R, type devmgmt.msc, and open the Device Manager window.

3. On the following screen, expand Printers or Print queues.

4. Right-click your printer and choose Uninstall device.

5. Now, restart your computer so Windows can install a basic driver.

6. After that, run the driver setup file you downloaded to complete the installation.

Updating or reinstalling the driver fixes an offline issue and helps your Canon printer connect again.

  Frequently Asked Questions

Question

How Do I Get My Canon Printer Back Online?

Learn How to get your printer back online, start by checking your computer settings. Open your printer’s queue, then go to the Printer menu, and make sure “Use Printer Offline” is not selected.

If the printer still appears offline, then restart the printing device and computer to refresh the connection. Also, check things like loose cables, a low Wi-Fi signal, or the printer being connected to a different network. Make sure your drivers are updated, because outdated drivers can stop the printer from communicating with your computer.

Question

How to Reconnect a Canon Printer to a Wi-Fi Network?

Learn 'How to Reconnect your Canon printer to a Wi-Fi Network', start by opening the Setup or Network menu on your printer’s screen. Next, select Wireless LAN Setup, and the printer will search for nearby Wi-Fi networks. Choose your home Wi-Fi name from the list and type in the password. Once the printer connects, the Wi-Fi light should turn solid.

If your Wi-Fi router has a WPS button, then you can also press WPS on the router and select WPS Setup on the printer for a quick connection. Another option is to connect through the Canon PRINT app or your computer’s setup tool.

Question

Why Does My Canon Printer keep Going Offline?

Your printer may keep going offline for a few different reasons. Most of the time, it happens because the connection between the printer and your computer isn’t stable. This can be due to weak Wi-Fi, a loose USB cable, or the printer connecting to a different network. Sometimes, outdated/damaged drivers can also cause the printer to disappear from your system.

Another common issue is wrong settings - your computer might switch the printer to “Use Printer Offline” mode. Restarting the printer and computer, checking all cables and Wi-Fi settings, updating the drivers, and making sure the offline mode is off helps fix the problem.

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