Printer Showing Offline

If your printer says “offline”, it usually means your device can’t reach the printer over USB or Wi-Fi. This page covers common causes and general troubleshooting steps.

Educational steps Typical time: 5–15 min

On this page

Quick checks

These steps resolve many “offline” situations without deeper troubleshooting.

Power + status

Confirm the printer is on, shows “Ready”, and has no warning lights.

Restart devices

Restart the printer and your computer/phone to refresh connections.

Connection type

Check whether you’re using USB or Wi-Fi, then troubleshoot that path.

Tip: If this happened right after installation, review the main basic printer setup steps and the wireless setup guide.

Wireless connection causes

Common Wi-Fi reasons

  • Printer connected to a different Wi-Fi network than your device
  • Router changed (new Wi-Fi name/password)
  • Weak signal (printer far from router)
  • Network temporarily down

If the printer can’t connect to Wi-Fi at all, follow: Wireless printer can’t connect to Wi-Fi.

What to try (general)

  1. Confirm the printer is on the correct Wi-Fi (SSID).
  2. Move the printer closer to the router for setup.
  3. Reconnect Wi-Fi on the printer (enter password again).
  4. Try a small test print from one device.

Windows & Mac general steps

These steps describe the general approach for most systems.

Windows (general)

  1. Open SettingsPrinters & scanners.
  2. Select your printer → check status (pause/offline options).
  3. Remove and re-add the printer if it remains unavailable.

Mac (general)

  1. Open System SettingsPrinters & Scanners.
  2. Select the printer and verify it appears online.
  3. Remove and add again if it is stuck as unavailable.
Note: This is an educational website. It does not provide technical support, repair services, or live assistance.