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Printer says “offline”? How to get it printing again

Turn the printer off, unplug it for 30 seconds and turn it back on. Make sure it is on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer, set it as the default printer, and cancel any stuck print jobs. If it still says offline, restart the Print Spooler service, then remove the printer in Windows and add it again.

By the Tech Support Bundle team · Published · Updated · 2 min read

“Offline” means Windows can't talk to the printer right now. The printer itself is often fine.

Four checks at the printer

WeldonPC's quick list comes first, because it takes two minutes:

  1. Is the printer turned on, and does it have paper?
  2. Does it have ink or toner?
  3. Restart the printer.
  4. Print a test page from the printer's own menu. If that prints, the printer works and the problem is the connection.

Steps

  1. Restart the printer properly. Turn it off, unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in and turn it on.
  2. Check the connection. For a cable: make sure the USB cable is firmly connected at both ends. For wireless: make sure the printer's wireless is on and that the printer is on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. If your home has extenders or two network names, the PC and the printer must be on the same one.
  3. Set it as the default printer. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer and select Set as default. If you don't see that button, turn off Let Windows manage my default printer first.
  4. Clear the print queue. On the same page, select your printer, then Open print queue. Select … and Cancel all if anything is waiting.
  5. Restart the Print Spooler. Select the search box on the taskbar, type services and open Services. Find Print Spooler, right-click it and select Restart.
  6. Remove the printer and add it again. In Printers & scanners, select the printer, select Remove, then Yes. Then, next to Add a printer or scanner, select Add device and follow the instructions.
  7. Restart your PC.

If that didn't work

On Windows 11, the Get Help app has an automated printer troubleshooter that runs these checks for you. If the printer still won't connect, look for a newer driver on the printer maker's website. If the printer's own screen shows an error, the problem is in the printer: check for low ink, an open cover or jammed paper.

A note for newer laptops

Microsoft says that on some PCs with ARM processors, the installer from the printer's maker may not work. Add the printer through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners instead.

Sources

We check these steps against the sources above and review this guide by April 6, 2027. Software changes; if a screen looks different from what we describe, trust the source.

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