Is your printer showing offline? Multiple reasons can be responsible for your printer offline error. But with some effective troubleshooting methods, you can bring your printer back to online mode. So, if your printer is offline - how to get your printer back online guide is here!
Get Your Printer Online from Offline'
To bring your printer back online, first try to reboot your computer. Moreover, install the latest Windows updates and try reinstalling your printer from scratch. However, if your printer is still showing offline error, follow the given methods to fix it quickly.
Check Your Printer's Connections
If your printer is offline, your first step should be to check the physical cable connections. Make sure your printer is connected properly to the power outlet. Moreover, the USB cable that you use to connect your printer and computer should not be faulty. Ensure both the ends of the sable are correctly inserted. For wireless printers, you need to make sure that your printer and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Also, try to reboot your router and reconnect the printer to your network to fix the offline error.
Turn Off Printer Offline Mode
Probably you are dealing with an offline printer error because you have enabled the 'Use Printer Offline' mode. Go to Settings and verify if that is the case. If yes, follow these steps to know how to get your printer offline.
- Proceed to Settings
- Select Devices and then click on Printers & Scanners
- From the Printers & Scanners section, choose the printer
- After selecting the Printer on the menu bar, verify if the 'Use Printer Offline' is unchecked.
- If you see a checkmark, click Use Printer Offline and get your printer back online.
Run the Troubleshooter
Another effective way to bring your printer back online from an offline state is to run a printer troubleshooter. A printer troubleshooter is an in-built tool that detects and fixes your printer-related issues on Windows. You can follow the given instructions to use this method to resolve the printer offline issue.
- Move to Settings and tap on the Update & Security option.
- Then, click on Troubleshoot and select Additional troubleshooters.
- Then, choose Printer and press the Run the troubleshooter button.
- It will now perform various checks to diagnose the problem and will automatically come up with an appropriate solution for you.
- You can then follow the instructions to get your printer back online.
Restart Windows Print Spooler
If you do not know, Print Spooler is an essential system element that helps in the discovery of printers on Windows and executes the print tasks. Your printer can be in an offline state if the Print Spooler feature on your device is not running. To ensure your Windows Print Spooler is working properly, you can go along with the given steps.
- Go to the Start menu and click on Run
- In the dialog box, enter services. msc and press OK.
- It will open the Windows Services Manager
- Scroll down to locate Print Spooler and right-click on it
- Now, tap on Restart
- If you see that the Restart option is in grey, it means that your Printer Spooler was not working
- Choose Start, and the service will start automatically
- You have to now double-click on the Print Spooler service and set it to Automatic
- Lastly, tap on Apply and press OK.
So, if your printer goes offline, you know how to get your printer back online. Also, ensure to use the latest printer software to avoid such printer issues. However, if the problem persists, it means there is a technical glitch for which you need the professional help of your printer manufacturer's customer support service.