Why does my printer say offline? (Windows 11, 10 and 7 fixes)
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Short answer: Windows says a printer is offline when it can't reach it. Usually the printer has lost its connection, is on a different Wi-Fi network from the computer, or the print queue is stuck. Restart the printer, make sure it's on the same network as your computer, clear the print queue, and if that doesn't work, remove the printer and add it again.
How to fix it, in order
- Restart the printer. Turn the printer off, unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on. Wait until it's fully ready before trying again.
- Check the connection. For a USB printer, check the cable at both ends. For a Wi-Fi printer, make sure it's connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer, not a guest network. Most printers can show or print their network status from the control panel.
- Clear the print queue. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, choose Open print queue, then select the "..." menu and Cancel all. A stuck document can hold up everything behind it.
- Windows 10: turn off "Use Printer Offline". In Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, choose Open queue, then open the Printer menu and clear Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline if they're checked.
- Restart the Print Spooler. Press the Windows key, type Services and open it. Find Print Spooler in the list, right-click it and choose Restart. The spooler is the Windows service that sends jobs to printers.
- Run the printer troubleshooter. In Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run Printer. In current versions it opens in the Get Help app.
- Remove the printer and add it again. In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Remove. Then select Add device and pick it again when it appears.
- Restart the computer. A restart clears anything else that's stuck. Then try printing a test page.
Printer is on but says offline
- The printer has power but has dropped off the network, or Windows is looking for it at an old address. Print the printer's network or Wi-Fi status page from its control panel and check that it shows as connected.
- If the printer's network address has changed, which often happens after the router restarts, remove the printer and add it again (step 7) so Windows finds it at the new address. To stop it happening again, the router can be set to always give the printer the same address, called an address reservation.
- Some printers go into a deep sleep and stop answering. Press a button on the printer to wake it, then try printing again.
Why does my printer say offline when it's connected?
- Being connected to Wi-Fi isn't the same as being reachable from your computer. The printer and the computer have to be on the same network: a printer on a guest network can't be seen from the main one.
- A VPN on the computer can block it from seeing devices on your home or office network. Disconnect the VPN and try again.
- Make sure Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing are both cleared in the print queue (step 4), then restart the Print Spooler (step 5).
Printer offline on Windows 7
- Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click the printer and choose See what's printing. Open the Printer menu and clear Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing. Restarting the Print Spooler (step 5) works the same way as on newer Windows.
- Windows 7 stopped getting security updates from Microsoft on January 14, 2020, and many newer printers don't come with Windows 7 drivers. If the printer worked before and then stopped, the steps above usually fix it. If it never worked on that computer, there may be no driver for it.
- Support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, so a computer on Windows 7 or 10 no longer gets security fixes. It's worth planning an upgrade.
When to call a pro
Call a pro if the printer still shows offline after these steps, if it drops off again every time the router restarts, or if it's an office printer shared by several computers. A shared printer problem is usually one setting on the printer or router, and a Remote Fix ($69) covers most of them.
Related: Computer repair · Prices · More guides
Sources
- Microsoft: Troubleshooting offline printer problems in Windows
- Microsoft: What it means if Windows isn't supported (end-of-support dates)
- Microsoft: Deprecation of MSDT troubleshooters (where the printer troubleshooter moved)
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