Printer and scanner troubles can be very stressful and time-consuming especially if you are someone who isn't tech-savvy and familiar with electronics. Taking the printer to a computer repair shop can cost you a lot of money for a very simple issue. Here are a few ways through which you can get printer back online without wasting too much money at the brand’s service center or even at a PC repair shop -
Restart the power cycle
Basically what you need to do is switch off your PC and your printer and then unplug the printer from the PC. If your printer is wireless, then a basic unplugging from the electricity output can help. Wait for a few seconds and re-plug all the devices and restart them. This usually helps in the case of a minor bug or software mismatch within the two electronic devices.
Check your computer’s firewall settings
The firewall settings of computers usually interfere with any software installing and this can be one of the reasons for your printer to crash. If you are wondering ‘why is my printer offline?’ on the PC despite being connecting to the electrical outlet and the PC, checking the firewall settings will definitely help. Try troubleshooting your firewall settings to check if there are any issues with your printer.
Reinstall the printer drivers
Enter your PC’s operating systems folder where all the installation and setup folders are added. You can remove your device there and have it reinstalled. Reinstallation is another excellent way to remove any bugs or even any software glitches in the PC and will help your device run smoothly. This is definitely one of the best options for online computer repair and printer repair if you are facing troubles with your printer and scanner devices.
Check the manual provided with the printer
If you have access to the manual provided with the printer on the time of purchase, this can be of additional on how to get your printer online. Most of the manuals have a detailed breakdown of all the steps which makes it easy to follow for people who aren’t tech savvy too. The manual also comes with an easy installation and uninstallation CD which makes it easier to install the device and reinstall it.
Run an anti-virus scan
Sometimes, virus infections in software programming can cause the printer to keep crashing on your PC and not come back online. Running an anti-virus check will help you find all the bugs in the PC as well as the printer software making it easier to fix these. Invest in good anti-virus software always as it helps to prevent virus infections in PC and corresponding devices.