Many professionals and students encounter the problem of “Printer Offline“. Don’t worry, it is a general issue with most of the printers, but it becomes troublesome when it comes to submitting a printed document on a deadline. This is seemingly a difficult issue to address, but it has a simple solution. Let’s start to understand the problem of getting the printer online, and find out a possible solution to resolve it.
If you are looking to fix this issue then you are in the right place, this article is for queries like yours.
Printer Offline issues
A failed connection between the printer and your computer is the primary cause of an offline printer, whereas there can be a software issue with the printer driver. Also, there is a possibility of a hardware problem. The issues are briefly highlighted in the following sections:
Connection Issues
- Wi-Fi problem: if your printer is playing a hide-and-seek game, make sure your device and printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi. Also, check for the strength of the Wi-Fi signals. Go to “control panel” and then “confirm network settings”.
- USB cable problem: check your printer cable connection on your device and unplug and re-plug the cable to ensure a smooth connection. Similarly, change the cable to another USB port if necessary.
Software issues
- Printer settings: Make sure that your printer is selected in the default settings. Otherwise, go to your computer settings and select your printer as your default printer. Also, uncheck the “Use Printer Offline” option.
- Outdated Driver: Ensure that the driver for your printer is up-to-date or not. Otherwise, you should visit the website of the printer manufacturer, to download the latest and up-to-date driver for your printer.
- Pending Prints: If the problem with ‘Offline’ persists, make sure you have canceled all pending print tasks.
- Printer Service Problem: You can simply restart your computer to resolve the connection problem with your printer.
- Other software issues: Sometimes an antivirus or firewall can be troublesome for the connection of the printer. Therefore, for the time being, you can disable them, just to check if the problem persists or not.
Hardware issues
- Printer on-off: First of all make sure the power supply to your printer and the USB cable of the printer is properly connected to your computer, this would save you precious time.
- Paper Jams: Make sure that there is any paper jammed inside the printer or not.
- Toner problem: Have a look at the ink level in the cartridge and check to clean the blockage of printhead. Also, you would know to either clean or replace the cartridge.
- Mechanical problem: However, if all the above options do not address the printer’s offline problem. You can also visit the printer manufacturer’s support website or consult a professional printer mechanic.
How to fix Printer Offline problem?
Printer Offline Fix: Cancel pending prints
Sometimes a complex task of multiple pages print can be difficult for a printer to perform. As a result, the connection between the printer and your computer drops. However, you don’t need to be worried if you encounter an “offline printer” issue in such a scenario. Following are the one-by-one steps in Windows and Mac systems to address this problem.
Windows 11/10/8/7
- Go to “Control Panel”
- Select “Devices and Printers” option
- Right-click on your printer
- Click “See What’s Printing”
- A print task list will appear, now right click to on each task to “cancel”
Mac Operating System
- Go to “Apple Icon”
- Select “System Preferences”
- Choose your printer and click “Open Print Queue
- Now, select each print task to “Cancel”
Set your Printer as Default to fix Offline
Most of the time people face the problem of “printer offline“. This problem is associated with the simple issue that users do not set their printer as “Default Printer”.
The following table will help you in five simple steps to set a printer as the default printer on both Windows and Mac operating systems.
- Windows Operating System
i. Open the “Control Panel”
ii. Click “Device and Printers”
iii. Choose your Printer and open queue
iii. Right click on your printer
v. Select “Set as Default Printer”
vi. Also, you can take a Print Test Page just to confirm - Mac Operating System
i.Open Apple icon
ii. Click on “System Preferences”
iii. Select “Print and Scan”
iv. Click “Default Printer”
v. Choose “your Printer”
vi. Similarly, take a print of Test Page to make sure the offline issue solved.
Remove and Reinstall to fix Printer Offline
If the “offline” issue persists despite all efforts, then a simple solution for this problem is to remove the driver application from the computer and reinstall it. Similarly, having a fresh start is the easiest trick to address this issue. Follow the steps below to remove and re-install your printer using Windows or Mac OS.
Install Printer on Mac
- Go to the “Apple Icon”
- Click “System Preferences”
- Select “Print and Scan”
- Choose “Resetting Printing System”
- Select “Add Printer or Scanner”
- Finally, follow the instructions to “reinstall printer”
Install Printer on Windows
- To begin with, Go to “Control Panel”
- Click on “Devices and Printers”
- Choose an existing printer
- Right-click to “Remove Device”
- Now choose “Add a Printer”
- Your printer will “reinstall”
- Besides, “Print a Test Page” to check
Tips to Set printer online
- Firstly, restarting is the easiest way to resolve the printer online.
- Secondly, let the built-in troubleshooter fix the offline issue.
- Thirdly, consult the manufacturer’s support manual to fix the problem specific to your printer model.
- Lastly, check for proper connections between the power wire and USB cable.
Conclusion
Consequently, whenever you encounter a problem, your printer shows itself off. It is a general problem of a communication connection between the printer and the device used for printing. Firstly, check properly the connection between the printer and the device. Secondly, a paper jamming can trigger the “offline” issue. Thirdly, an empty ink cartridge or an overflow of ink can set the printer off as a precautionary measure. Fourth, a corrupt driver or outdated software can cause printer errors. Likewise, a conflict between the driver and the operating system can set the printer offline. Lastly, if all the above options don’t work, then switch off the firewall and any antivirus software.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It is a common issue faced by most printer users. It generally arises due to a connection problem between the printer and the computer. Firstly, check for a cable connection or Wi-Fi connection (if you have a wireless printer). Secondly, an outdated driver can cause this issue, simply go for an update or check your printer settings to set your printer as “default”. Lastly, hardware problems like paper jams, toner problems, or any other mechanical problems can cause this issue.
It simply means that your printer is not connected to your computer. This could be a software, hardware, or general connection issue.
Generally, there is a problem of loose cable connection or Wi-Fi connection problem, and there is no such case of an outdated driver with an HP printer. If you are a Windows user then you can solve this issue by downloading the “HP Print and Scan Doctor” program. Remember, this is not for Mac users.
First of all, check the printer cable or connection with Wi-Fi (for wireless printers). Second, restart your printer, if this does not work then cancel the pending printing tasks. Third, choose your printer as the default printer. still, if you can’t fix the problem, you may remove and then reinstall the printer driver as discussed in our article. Lastly, sometimes setting off a firewall or antivirus (if any) can fix this issue in some printers.
a. Set your printer as the default printer
I. Firstly, open the Apple icon
ii. Click on “System Preferences”
iii. Select “Print and Scan”
iv. Click “Default Printer”
v. Lastly, choose “your Printer”
b. Cancel Pending Prints
1. Firstly, go to “Apple Icon”
2. Select “System Preferences”
3. Choose your printer and click “Open Print Queue
4. Finally, select each print task to “Cancel”
c. Remove and reinstall the printer
I. Go to the “Apple Icon”
II. Click “System Preferences”
III. Select “Print and Scan”
IV. Choose “Resetting Printing System”
V. Select “Add Printer or Scanner”
VI. Similarly, follow the instructions to “reinstall printer”
Read our article and follow the steps to address this issue in the Brother printers. If you still face the same problem, you can get help from Epson Support by using the product name or serial number.