Troubleshooting offline printer problems in Windows (2024)

Printing and Scanning in Windows

How To

Install a printer
Add a printer
Download printer drivers
Install printer drivers
Set default printer
View printer queue

Troubleshoot

Fix Printer Problems
Troubleshoot offline printer

Windows 11 Windows 10 More...Less

Your printer might appear offline if it can't communicate with your PC. Try following these steps to get your printer back online.

Before you begin

Start by running the printer offline troubleshooter in the Get Help app.Get Help automatically runs diagnostics and takes the correct steps to fix most printer issues.

Open Get Help

If the Get Help app is unable to resolve your printer issue, try the possiblesolutions listed:

Windows 11Windows 10

To find out if your printer is connected to Wi-Fi, see if your printer's built-in menu has options for checking its Wi-Fi connection, or check the printer's manual for instructions about how to add it to a Wi-Fi network.

Sometimes power-cycling your printer can resolve the issue. Turn off your printer and unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug your printer back in, and then turn the printer back on.

Select Start > Settings >Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Select your printer and then select Set as default.
If you don't see the Set as default option, the Let Windows manage my default printer option may be selected. You'll need to turn that off before you can choose a default printer manually.

Select Start > Settings >Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Select your printer and then select Open print queue.
See Also
How To Use An HP Printer (Complete Guide)How to Print a Document, Picture, or File: Windows & Mac How to connect a printer to a laptop or desktop computer How to print using USB instead of Wireless
Under Document Name, select any documents listed, then selectDocument andselect Cancel.

Go to Search in the taskbar, type services, and then select Services in the list of results.
Scroll down to thePrint Spooler service, select and hold (right-click) it, and select Restart.

Try removing and reinstalling your printer.

Remove your printer:

Select Start > Settings >Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Select the printer you want to uninstall,select Remove, and then select Yes.

Reinstall your printer:

Select Start > Settings >Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Make sure your printer is turned on and connected. Next to Add a printer or scanner, select Add device and follow the instructions to add your printer.

Restarting your PC can sometimes help to refresh the services and components necessary for your device to communicate with your printer.

Sometimes power-cycling your printer can resolve the issue. Turn off your printer and unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug your printer back in, and then turn the printer back on.

Select Start > Settings >Devices > Printers & scanners.
Select yourprinter and then select Open queue.
Select Printer, then select Set As Default Printer, and clear Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline if they are selected.
If you see a message that says, "Windows will stop managing your default printer for you," select OK.

Note:If you select OK, Windows will stop automatically setting the last printer you used as your default printer. To turn this feature back on, select Start , and then select Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Let Windows manage my default printer.

Select Start > Settings >Devices > Printers & scanners.
Select your printer and then select Open queue.
Under Document Name, select any documents listed, then selectDocument, andselect Cancel.

Troubleshooting offline printer problems in Windows (2024)

Before you begin

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