Fix Offline HP Printer Problem: A Complete Guide

Imagine you’re ready to print, and your printer isn’t responding. It rather displays an “offline” error on its screen, and you are wondering what happened. Let me tell you, this problem is very common and can occur at any time if you’re a regular printer user. Generally, the error results from outdated printer drivers, connectivity issues, an overloaded print queue, and a number of other reasons.

However, the problem is fixable with some easy-to-follow troubleshooting methods. In this blog, I’ll be sharing the top solutions. So that if you ever encounter an offline problem, you’ll know what to do. I have been an HP printer user for seven years, during which I have learned how to deal with such situations. Today, I’ll guide you in resolving this problem and continuing to print.

Method 1: Check the Printer’s Connection

If the 'HP Printer is Showing an Offline Status', it means it may have lost its connection with the other device or the network. The offline error can occur if the printer is connected to a USB, Ethernet, or WiFi connection. Hence, check the printer’s connectivity carefully and then check if the issue gets resolved. Follow these steps.

For USB Connectivity:

• Verify if the USB cable is connected to the printer and the device securely.

• Disconnect the cable and then connect it again to both devices.

• If the problem persists, use a different USB port on the printer and the device.

For Ethernet Connectivity:

1. Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the printer and the wireless router. Then check if the wire is damaged or has any issues.

2. Connect the cable to the printer and to the router. Try to use a different port this time.

For WiFi Connectivity:

1. Confirm that the wireless light on the printer is flashing a solid color. If the light is blinking, it indicates a poor connection.

2. Keep the printer in proximity to the WiFi if the wireless light is blinking.

Check for the improvements, and if nothing happens, move on to the next method.

Method 2: Update the HP Printer Drivers

Printer drivers are a tool that helps a printer understand the print commands from the computer. They work as a mediator between the device and the printer. If they are out of date on the computer, the printer won’t understand anything and will show an offline error message. You can update the printer drivers from HP’s official website using these steps.

1. Visit support.hp.com, and click the Software & Drivers section at the top.

2. Select Printer as your product type, and enter your printer model name in the given field.

3. You’ll see a list of printer drivers. Select a driver package, and click the Download button next to it.

4. Let the driver file download on your computer. Locate the driver’s folder in the Downloads folder and double-click on the file.

Let the file install on your computer. Once it’s done, check if the printer is still showing an offline error.

Method 3: Delete the Pending Print Jobs

When the print queue is overloaded, the waiting line of print jobs is overloaded, and the printer may go offline. You can resolve this issue by deleting all pending print jobs and then restarting the printing process. Use these steps to delete them.

• Go to the Start button, and search for Settings on the computer.

• Select Bluetooth & Devices under Settings, and then select Printers & Scanners.

• Select your HP printer and click “Open Print Queue.”

• A list of print jobs will appear. Click on Cancel all to proceed.

• Confirm the cancellation by clicking Yes.

Check how the printer responds after deleting print jobs. If the issue persists, check the next method.

Method 4: Restart the Print Spooler

The print spooler is a built-in feature on Windows computers that determines the order in which print jobs are sent to the printer. When an issue arises in this setting, you may encounter an offline error message on the printer’s screen. Here is how to restart the print spooler.

• Go to the Start button on the Windows computer, and search for Services.

• Select and open Services, and scroll down to find the Print Spooler option.

• Right-click on it and select Restart.

• Alternatively, you can select Stop first, and then select Start after a few seconds.

This way, you can resolve the HP printer offline error quickly.

    Frequently Asked Questions

Question

    How Do I Resolve My Offline HP Printer?

To resolve an offline HP printer, you should check its connections, whether USB, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi. Plus, you can update its printer drivers and delete the print jobs from the queue, and restart the print spooler to resolve the offline error. 

Question

   What Makes My HP Printer Go Offline?

A number of reasons can make your HP printer go offline, such as connectivity issues, out-of-date printer drivers, too many print jobs in the print queue, etc. Additionally, a fault in the print spooler service is also a significant reason for an offline HP Printer. 

Question

  What Happens When an HP Printer Goes Offline?

The signs of an 'offline HP printer' include not responding to any print commands and displaying an “offline” error message on the screen. If the connection is wireless, the Wi-Fi light on the printer may start blinking, indicating that it’s not connected to the network. 

Source: How to Fix Offline HP Printer Problem