Yous've sent several files to your printer but it doesn't print any document. You lot check the printer's status in the Windows Settings menu and it reads "Offline." What does this hateful and how tin can you fix a printer that's stuck in offline status on your PC?

For the near part, a printer will announced "Offline" if your computer is unable to establish communication with the device. This could be due to factors similar loose cable connections, outdated printer drivers, problems with important system services, etc. Follow the recommended fixes beneath to get your printer online.

Bank check the Printer's Cable or Network Connectedness

Before you jump to tweaking your PC'south settings, make sure the printer is correctly plugged into the ability outlet and powered on. For wireless printers, ensure your PC and printer are on the aforementioned network.

Some printers go into "Sleep mode" after minutes of inactivity. In Sleep mode, the printer will announced offline on your computer. Press the printer's power push button (or whatsoever button) to "wake" it up. Wait for some seconds and bank check if that changes the printer status to "Online" on your computer.

Yous also want to ensure that the cable connecting the printer to your estimator or router fits correctly in the appropriate port. As well, connect the printer directly to your PC's port, not through a USB hub. If the printer continues to announced offline, switch the printer to a different port on your computer or router.

For wireless printer connections, reboot the router, and reconnect the printer to the network.

Get Hints from the Printer's Condition Light

Windows will characterization your printer "Offline" if in that location's a problem with the device. One like shooting fish in a barrel fashion to tell if in that location's an issue with your printer is to check its status lights. For case, if the Wi-Fi light on a wireless printer flashes red, there'due south nigh probable a problem with the Wi-Fi connection.

Status lights could also bespeak other bug similar firmware update failure or jammed paper in the cassette. Refer to your printer'due south instruction manual or the manufacturer's website to learn more than about its status calorie-free indicators.

Disable Printer Offline Way in Windows

Moving on, you likewise need to verify that the printer isn't in "Apply Printer Offline" mode.

  1. Head to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners and select the afflicted printer in the "Printers & scanners" section.
  1. Select Open queue.
  1. Select Printer on the menu bar and ensure "Use Printer Offline" is unchecked. If there'southward a checkmark next to the option, select Use Printer Offline to bring the printer dorsum online.

Restart the Printer

If cypher's worked so far, shut down the printer, look for a minute or two, and plow it back on. Alternatively, unplug the printer from the power source, look for a infinitesimal, and plug it back in.

Reboot Your Figurer

The problem could too be due to a temporary system glitch on your reckoner. Unplug or disconnect the printer, shut down your figurer, plow it on once again, and reconnect the printer.

Update the Printer Firmware

Your printer can malfunction if there's a trouble with its firmware. If a firmware problems is the root crusade of the problem, install the latest firmware version for the printer. You can download a firmware update straight from the printer, the manufacturer'south website, or via the printer software.

Run the Printer Troubleshooter

If you still oasis't establish a fix to become your printer online, let the Printer Troubleshooter assist yous out. It's a built-in tool that finds and fixes printing-related problems on Windows devices.

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot and select Additional troubleshooters.
  1. Select Printer and click the Run the troubleshooter push button.

The tool volition cheque the Spooler service and impress queue for errors, examine your network printer's configuration, and run other troubleshooting checks. If information technology diagnoses any problem with the afflicted printer, it'll recommend the appropriate solutions.

Troubleshoot with the Printer's Software

Many printer brands accept dedicated software that fixes printing-related issues on a calculator. HP, for example, has a "Impress and Scan Doctor" tool that diagnoses problems with HP printers on Windows devices.

Contact your printer manufacturer'southward to confirm if there's an app for your printer model. Better nonetheless, visit the "Back up" or "Downloads" section of the manufacturer's website to download the printer direction app.

Restart the Windows Impress Spooler

The Print Spooler is an important system component that powers the execution of print jobs and the discovery of printers on Windows devices. Your printer may announced as "Offline" if the Print Spooler service isn't running. Head to the Windows Services Director and make sure everything's in gild.

  1. Correct-click the Start menu icon and select Run.
  1. Blazon or paste services.msc in the dialog box and click OK. That'll launch the Windows Services Manager.
  1. Scroll through the list of services, right-click Impress Spooler, and select Restart.

The Windows Services Manager will finish the process and restart it immediately. If the "Restart" is grayed out on the context carte, that means the Printer Spooler wasn't running in the first place. Select Start to launch the service.

  1. One last matter: make certain the service starts automatically. Double-click the Impress Spooler service, gear up the "Startup type" to Automatic, click Utilize, and and then select OK.

Head to the Windows Printer menu (Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners) and check if your printer'due south now online.

Change the Windows Function Discovery Services

If your (network) printer uses the Web Services for Devices (WSD) engineering, ensure the Windows Function Discovery services are running correctly on your Windows computer. These services help your computer notice network devices.

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc in the dialog box, and press OK.
  1. Locate the Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication.
  1. Double-click Function Discovery Provider, Start the service, alter its "Startup blazon" to Automatic, click Utilise and then select OK.
  1. Repeat the same steps for the Role Discovery Resource Publication.

If the printer stays offline, disconnect or unplug the printer, restart your PC, and check over again.

Remove and Reinstall Printer from Scratch

Sometimes, the best choice is to remove and reinstall the printer from scratch. Unplug or disconnect the printer from your PC and follow the steps below.

  1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the problematic printer, and select the Remove device button.
  1. Select Aye on the confirmation prompt to proceed.

Restart your estimator, plug in the printer cable or connect it to your router/Wi-Fi network, and proceed to the next pace.

  1. Select Add together a printer or scanner and follow the instructions on the next page.

If y'all're having trouble installing your Ethernet or wireless printer, refer to this comprehensive guide on connecting a network printer in Windows.

Install Windows Updates

Windows automatically downloads and installs the latest drivers for your devices. If your printer is stuck in "Offline" condition due to an outdated or buggy driver, installing the latest Windows Update could resolve the problem. Get to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click the Check for Updates button.

We're confident that one of these steps will get your printer back online. Otherwise, refer to our guide on fixing common printer issues. This tutorial on troubleshooting Wi-Fi printers is also worth a read.