How to Troubleshoot Printer Offline Issues in Windows 11
Printing a hard copy of a document is a common need, but sometimes printers fail to respond, resulting in a print process that doesn’t initiate and consequently, no document printout. This issue can be due to network connectivity problems or, more commonly, the printer being offline. In some cases, a complete reinstallation of the printer may be necessary. In this technical guide, we will discuss various methods to bring the printer back online and resolve any printing issues.
Check Printer Connectivity and Network Settings
Verify that your printer is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your other devices. Restart the printer and your PC to reset the network connection and eliminate any temporary glitches.
Method 1: Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode
Step 1: Access Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I keys simultaneously.
Step 2: Select “Devices” from the menu.
Step 3: Choose “Printers & Scanners” from the left-hand menu.
Step 4: Identify the printer in question from the list on the right.
Step 5: Open the print queue.
Step 6: Ensure that the “Use Printer Offline” option is disabled.
Method 2: Clear the Print Queue
Step 1: Open Windows Settings by using the Windows + I shortcut.
Step 2: Select “Devices” from the menu.
Step 3: Navigate to “Printers & Scanners” on the left.
Step 4: Choose the specific printer.
Step 5: Open the print queue.
Step 6: Cancel any documents in the queue that may be causing issues.
Method 3: Restart the Print Spooler Service
Step 1: Open the Run prompt using the Windows + R shortcut.
Step 2: Type “services.msc” and press Enter to open the services window.
Step 3: Scroll down to locate the Print Spooler service.
Step 4: Right-click on it and select “Restart.”
Method 4: Set the Printer to Online Manually
If the printer is set to offline, follow these steps:
Step 1: Access Windows Settings using Windows + I keys.
Step 2: Select “Devices” from the menu.
Step 3: Choose “Printers & Scanners” from the left-hand menu.
Step 4: Identify the printer in question.
Step 5: Open the print queue.
Step 6: Select the printer and choose “Use printer online” from the options.
Method 5: Reinstall the Printer
Uninstall the Printer:
Step 1: Open Windows Settings using Windows + I keys.
Step 2: Select “Devices” from the menu.
Step 3: Navigate to “Printers & Scanners” on the left.
Step 4: Select the problematic printer and click on “Remove Device.”
Step 5: Confirm the removal by selecting “Yes.”
Reinstall the Printer:
Step 6: Open Windows Settings using Windows + I keys.
Step 7: Select “Devices” from the menu.
Step 8: Navigate to “Printers & Scanners” on the left.
Step 9: Ensure the printer is connected and powered on.
Step 10: Click on “Add a Printer” or “Scanner.”
Step 11: Follow the on-screen instructions to install the printer. Verify whether the issue is resolved after the installation process.
We hope these steps have helped you resolve the printer offline issue. Thank you for reading!