Why is My Printer Offline? Also, How to Get It Back Online?

There can be various reasons behind an offline printer. However, none of them arevery hard to address. But the more important part is correctly diagnosing what is causing the issue. In this blog, we help those wondering why is my printer offline and also the ways to fix it. Let us start with a precise description of the causes.

 

Reasons Behind an Offline Printer

1.     The first reason can be a faulty wire or any connection between the printer and the system;

2.     An overloaded print queue might also cause the printer to get offline;

3.     The offline error can also be a result of using outdated driver software;

4.     The printer is in offline mode and can also cause the issue.

 

How to Bring My Printer Offline to Online?

Now that we have a clearer understanding of the problem, it will be easier to understand the fixes. Now let us cover the various ways to resolve the printer offline error.

 

Method 1 - Check the Connections

This is the first thing to do when you take the printer offline. If you use a wired printer, unplug the cable on both sides. After that, check for any leakage in the wire or on either of the ports;

If the connection is wireless, check if the router is functioning correctly. Next, move the printer and the system close to the router to ensure there is optimum functionality.

 

Method 2 - Confirm if the Printer is in Offline Mode

The printer can be set to work offline, manually. However, it can be conveniently set to move back online with a few simple steps.

1.     Click on the Windows button or Search. Then go to Control Panel;

2.    Under the Control Panel, go to Hardware and Sound > View Devices and Printers;

3.    Next, right-click on the printer that shows offline. Here check if the option Use Printer Offline has a check beside it;

4.    If there is a check beside Use Printer Offline, remove it.

 

Method 3 - Clear the Print Queue

The print queue consists of all the tasks that did not get to be on the paper. However, if the number is more than what the printer can handle, it can cause the printer to offline error. To clear the queue:

1.     Right-click on the Printer icon in the taskbar and go to See What’s Printing;

2.    Here you will find a list of all the tasks pending with the printer. Just right-click on each of them and cancel the tasks;

3.    Once the queue is clear, try to use the Printer again.

 

Method 4 - Update All Drivers

The driver updates are essential since they make crucial changes to the functioning of the printer. However, ignoring them for a long time might lead to a scenario where the printer will force you to update the driver, thus leading to the Printer's offline error. To fix the issue:

1.     Go to the official website of the company your printer belongs to;

2.     After that, navigate to the printer model, it can be found on the printer brochure or the Control Panel;

3.    Next, download the latest version of the drivers and wait for the process to finish;

4.    Finally, install the drivers and restart the system for the best result.

 

Method 5 - Remove and Add the Printer

This is a basic way to hard-reboot the printer if all else fails. To proceed with it:

1.    Navigate through Control Panel > Devices and Printers;

2.    Now select the printer with the offline error and click Remove device;

3.    Finally, add it again using Devices and Printers > Add a Printer.

 

To conclude

Printer offline error is a common occurrence, especially if using a printer for a long time. However, there is= nothing to worry about since the issue is pretty simple to resolve. So next time you find yourself asking “What to do with my printer is offline?”, just check our blog for the easiest solutions.