Printer Back Online 

How do I take a printer out of offline mode?

Few things are as frustrating as trying to print an important document and suddenly seeing the message “Printer is offline.” This common issue can affect all types of printers—whether they are Canon, HP, Epson, or Brother. Luckily, taking a printer out of offline mode is usually simple once you know the right steps.

Why Does a Printer Go Offline?

A printer may show offline even though it is turned on and connected. The reasons can vary, but some of the most common include:

Connection problems: A loose cable, faulty USB port, or weak Wi-Fi connection can disrupt communication between the printer and the computer.

Wrong printer settings: Sometimes the “Use Printer Offline” option is selected accidentally in your system settings.

Driver issues: Outdated or corrupted drivers may prevent your computer from recognizing the printer.

Print spooler errors: The print spooler, which manages print jobs, may freeze or stop working.

Multiple printers installed: If there are several printers installed on your computer, print jobs may be sent to the wrong one.

Understanding the cause makes it easier to fix the problem effectively.

How to Take a Printer Out of Offline Mode

Here are several methods you can use to bring your printer back online.

1. Check the Printer’s Connection

• The first and simplest step is to check your printer’s connection.

• If you are using a wired printer, ensure the USB or Ethernet cable is plugged in securely.

• If you are using a wireless printer, make sure it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.

• Restart both your printer and your Wi-Fi router to refresh the connection.

• Reestablishing the connection is often enough to get the printer back online.

2. Set the Printer as Default

If you have multiple printers installed, your computer might be sending print jobs to the wrong one. To fix this:

• Navigate to Devices and Printers after opening the Control Panel.

• Locate your printer, then select Set as default printer from the context menu.

• Your computer will send all print jobs to this printer automatically once it is selected as the default.

3. Disable “Use Printer Offline” Option

Sometimes the offline setting is enabled by mistake. To disable it:

• Open Devices and Printers.

• To view what's printing, right-click on your printer and choose See what's printing.

• From the menu bar, click Printer.

• If “Use Printer Offline” is checked, uncheck it.

• Your printer's status should change to online right away.

4. Restart the Print Spooler Service

The print spooler is a background service that manages all print jobs. If it stops working, your printer may appear offline. To restart it:

• Type services.msc and press Enter after pressing Windows + R.

• Find Print Spooler in the list.

• Right-click and select Restart.

• After restarting, check if your printer comes back online.

5. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause communication problems. To fix this:

• Open Device Manager.

• Find your printer under Printers.

• Right-click and select Update driver.

• If updating doesn’t work, uninstall the printer and reinstall the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website.

6. Remove and Re-Add the Printer

If none of the above works, you can remove your printer and add it again.

• Go to Devices and Printers.

• Right-click your printer and select Remove device.

• Restart your computer.

• Click Add a printer and follow the steps to reconnect it.

• This resets the connection and often resolves the offline problem.

Tips to Prevent Printer Going Offline

Once your printer is back online, you can avoid the issue in the future by following these simple tips:

• Keep your printer drivers updated regularly.

• Make that the computer and printer are connected to the same wireless network.

• Avoid switching networks frequently when printing wirelessly.

• Restart your printer occasionally to clear small errors.

• To avoid confusion, always select your primary printer as the default.

FAQs

Why does my printer keep showing offline?

It may be due to unstable connections, outdated drivers, or the “Use Printer Offline” setting being enabled.

Can I fix an offline printer without reinstalling drivers?

Yes, in most cases, checking connections or disabling the offline mode setting resolves the issue.

Does restarting my printer always solve the offline problem?

Restarting often helps, but if the cause is related to drivers or spooler errors, you may need to try other steps.

Is this problem more common with wireless printers?

Yes, wireless printers are more likely to face offline issues due to weak or dropped Wi-Fi connections.

If there are no solutions that work, what should I do?

If your printer still shows offline, reinstall the printer completely or contact the manufacturer’s help team for advanced troubleshooting.

Conclusion

A printer showing as offline is a common issue that almost every user faces at some point. Thankfully, it is not as complicated as it seems to fix. By checking connections, setting the printer as default, disabling “Use Printer Offline,” restarting the print spooler, and updating drivers, you can bring your printer back online quickly.

If the problem continues, removing and re-adding the printer usually solves it. To avoid repeating the issue, always keep your drivers updated and ensure your device is connected properly. With these steps, your printer will stay online and ready to handle your tasks whenever you need it.