HP printer shows offline
Printers on Windows can have a status offline and online. I was surprised to find that because everyone wants their default printer to be available and ready for print. One should know that when the hp printer shows offline, it doesn’t mean it has been removed. It could go offline because of an error during printing or an issue with the printer driver. Windows OS can set the status of the printer as offline if it finds a problem. In this post, I will show how you can change a Printer status to online or Restore the Printer to online status.
The printer is Offline? Change a Printer status to online
There is an advantage to turning a printer offline. Nobody can misuse it, and if you have kids at home who keep printing casually, you can block the access. You may have forgotten about turning it offline. So, let’s fix it:
Restart Printer & Check for connectivity
Change Printer Status
Run Printer Troubleshooter
Remove and Add Printer
Network Printer troubleshooting.
Restart Printer & Check for connectivity
If the printer had been online for some time, it might have into an idle state. While it should not set the printer offline but you never know. Try turning off, wait about 1 minute, and then on to check if that resolved the problem
Next, check on this essential tip. Make sure the printer is connected to a power source, it is turned on, and it is connected to the computer. Check the ethernet cable or the wireless connection. It is one of the reasons why you may see it offline and sometimes disconnected. Make sure to check the USB cable and the USB port and fix this first.
Change Printer Status
Open Windows Settings (Win + 1)
Navigate to Devices > Printers and Scanners
Select the printer of which you want to change the status, and then click on Open queue
In the Print Queue window, click on Printer Offline. It will display a message saying, “This action will change the printer from offline to online.”
Confirm, and the status of the printer will be set to online.
Remove and Add Printer
Unplug the printer from the computer
Go to Devices > Printers and Scanners
Select the printer you intend to remove > click on Remove device
Plug the printer back, and Windows should add it back again, and install the driver as well.
The reinstallation will restore the Printer to online status
If it doesn’t show up, click on Add a printer or scanner and click on the link “The printer that I want isn’t listed.” You can then manually add it.
Conclusion
You may have to clear the print queue before you can change the status HP printer is offline to online. If that’s the case, then it could be because a print job had an issue, and it chose to set it offline. While this will fix most of the cases, in case it doesn’t, follow the rest of the tips to restore the Printer to online status.
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