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Your printer is on, but Windows or macOS can no longer reach it, so documents sit stuck in the print queue. Most often the computer has lost the connection (USB cable not detected, Wi-Fi dropped) or a setting has paused the printer. Allow 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the fix.
Common symptoms and causes
- The printer is on, but Windows shows “Offline”: the computer can no longer reach it (USB not detected, network down).
- Documents stay stuck or paused in the print queue.
- The “Use Printer Offline” box is ticked (Windows 10, or the queue of a Canon driver).
- The driver (the software that lets the computer and the printer talk to each other) is outdated or badly installed.
- With Canon, the printer name differs from the driver name, or the default printer keeps changing.
- With Epson, the printer was first installed over USB, then moved to the network.
Before you start
- A computer running Windows 10, Windows 11 or macOS.
- The printer switched on, with paper and ink, and no error lights.
- On Wi-Fi, the printer and the computer on the same network.
Warning: clearing the print queue or restarting the print spooler (the Windows service that manages waiting print jobs) cancels the pending documents. Note them down so you can print them again.
Warning: on a Mac, resetting the printing system removes all printers, the job history and the presets. Before you do it, write down the name and address of each printer and your presets so you can add everything back.
Solution 1: restart the printer and check the connection
The official sources we checked do not require any particular restart order. HP advises keeping the printer off while the computer and the router restart.
- Turn the printer off, then unplug its power cord.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Restart the computer and the router (your home Wi-Fi box) while the printer stays off.
- Plug the printer back in and turn it on.
- USB printer: check that the cable is firmly seated at both ends and that the computer recognizes the device.
- On a Mac, hold the Option key, open the Apple menu, then choose System Information to see whether the USB printer appears.
- Wi-Fi printer: check in its menu, or in its manual, that it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the computer.
- On a Canon, check that the Wi-Fi icon shows on the printer’s screen.
- Try printing again.
The “Offline” status should disappear and the document should print.
If the USB cable is the culprit, here is one long enough to set the printer up without straining the cord.
Amazon Basics PC045 USB-A to USB-B printer cable, 4.8 m
Connects a printer with a USB-B port to your PC. Handy for ruling out a faulty cable when the driver will not install.
- AmazonSee at Amazon
Tip: on Wi-Fi, wait until the printer’s Wi-Fi light stops blinking before you print again. After a restart, it often takes a minute or two to rejoin the router.
Solution 2: bring the printer back online in Windows
Warning: clearing the queue and restarting the spooler cancel the pending documents.
Windows 11
- Open the Get Help app and run the printer troubleshooter (shortcut
aka.ms/OfflinePrinter). - If the troubleshooter fixes nothing, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, then select your printer.
- Click Open print queue, then the … menu and Cancel all.
- Go back to the printer’s page and click Set as default. If the button is missing, first turn off Let Windows manage my default printer.
Tip: the troubleshooter checks the spooler, among other things. Always run it before you touch the services.
Windows 10
- Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Open queue > Printer.
- In that Printer menu, untick Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline if they are ticked.
- In the same menu, choose Set As Default Printer.
- To clear the queue, select the documents, then Document > Cancel.
If the printer stays offline (Windows 10 and 11)
- Type “services” in Windows search and open Services.
- Right-click Print Spooler, then click Restart.
The printer should lose its “Offline” label in Printers & scanners.
Offline Canon or Epson printer: the driver box
On Windows 11, Microsoft does not mention the “Use Printer Offline” box. With a Canon, it is still reachable through Set printers and scanners > your printer > Printing Preferences > Maintenance > View Printer Status > View Print Queue > Printer > Use Printer Offline.
With an Epson on Windows 10, right-click the printer in Devices and Printers and open See what’s printing. Then untick Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing.
If the problem started right after an update, see our guide on a printer that stopped working after a Windows 11 update.
Solution 3: reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi (HP, Canon)
HP Smart works on Windows 10 and later, and on macOS 10.14 and later.
- HP printer: open the HP Smart app and run Diagnose & Fix.
- On Windows, the tool sits under the wrench icon at the bottom left; on a Mac, in the printer drop-down menu in the menu bar.
- Canon printer: download Wi-Fi Connection Assistant from Canon’s website and run the diagnosis.
- Other brands: we could not verify the exact procedure; follow your model’s manual to restart the Wi-Fi connection.
- Check on the printer and on the computer that both devices show the same Wi-Fi network name.
The printer’s Wi-Fi light or icon should show a connection. Print again: the document should come out.
For other connection problems with an HP printer, see our dedicated HP guide.
Solution 4: remove and reinstall the printer in Windows
- Windows 11: in Printers & scanners, select the printer, click Remove, then Yes.
- Windows 10: select the printer, click Remove device, then Yes.
- Turn the printer on and check that it is connected (USB or Wi-Fi).
- Restart the computer.
- Windows 11: click Add device; Windows 10: click Add a printer or scanner. Pick your printer from the list.
- If the printer does not appear, install the manufacturer’s driver: MP Drivers for Canon, the software from the HP support page for HP.
- Canon: check that the printer you pick has the same name as the installed driver.
The printer should reappear in the list without the “Offline” status.
Warning: on an ARM PC (Copilot+ PCs, for example), the manufacturer’s installer may fail. Add the printer with the Windows wizard instead.
If Windows reports that the driver is unavailable, follow our guide on the printer driver that is unavailable.
Solution 5: offline printer on a Mac
First check the power, the lights, the paper, the ink and the cables.
- Click the printer’s icon in the Dock to open its queue.
- If the Resume button shows, the printer is paused: click it.
- Select a stuck job and click Delete Job; for a held job, click Resume Job.
- Test a print from TextEdit.
- If nothing comes out, open System Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax and add the printer again.
- If it does not appear, add it by its IP address.
- Delete the old queue once the new one prints.
Good to know: a printer shared by another Mac can only be reached if that Mac stays on and awake.
As a last resort: reset the printing system
Warning: the next step erases all printers, the job history and the presets. Note them down first.
- Control-click in the list under System Settings > Printers & Scanners, choose Reset printing system, then add your printers again.
The TextEdit page should print and the printer should show up without errors in Printers & Scanners. If printing still fails, install the latest version of the manufacturer’s driver.
If the printer is too old to repair, here are three recent Wi-Fi models to compare.
- Brother HL-L2865DW, Wi-Fi duplex monochrome laser printerCompact black-and-white laser printer with Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB, and automatic double-sided printing. A practical choice at home for regular documents.AmazonSee at Amazon
- Epson EcoTank ET-2870, ink tank multifunction printerWi-Fi 3-in-1 printer refilled with ink bottles rather than cartridges. Suited to people who print in colour regularly.AmazonSee at Amazon
- HP Envy 6520e, colour inkjet all-in-one printer with automatic duplex and Wi-FiPrints, copies and scans in colour, with automatic two-sided printing, an automatic document feeder and a touchscreen. A versatile dual-band Wi-Fi inkjet for a household that prints documents and photos.AmazonSee at Amazon
If nothing works
If removing, reinstalling and restarting changed nothing, connect the printer with a USB or Ethernet cable. If it prints that way, Wi-Fi is the problem. If it stays offline, contact the manufacturer’s support (HP, Epson, Canon or Brother).
Have the printer model, the Windows or macOS version and the connection type ready. Windows 10 has not been supported since October 14, 2025: Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11.
Take better care of your printer: our toolbox
These supplies and accessories save you from running out of paper or ink at the wrong moment.
- Amazon Basics PC045 USB-A to USB-B printer cable, 4.8 mConnects a printer with a USB-B port to your PC. Handy for ruling out a faulty cable when the driver will not install.AmazonSee at Amazon
- HP 305XL, genuine 2-pack of black and tri-colour cartridgesHigh-yield cartridges for compatible HP DeskJet and ENVY printers. Check the 305 reference on your printer before ordering.AmazonSee at Amazon
- Canon PG-545XL x2 + CL-546XL, genuine ink multipackTwo high-capacity black cartridges and one colour cartridge for compatible Canon PIXMA printers. Check the 545 and 546 references on your printer before ordering.AmazonSee at Amazon
- Epson 603XL Starfish, genuine 4-cartridge multipackHigh-capacity black, cyan, magenta and yellow for compatible Expression Home XP and WorkForce WF printers. Check the 603 reference on your printer before ordering.AmazonSee at Amazon
- Navigator Universal A4 80 g paper, box of 5 reamsWhite multipurpose paper for inkjet and laser printers. Consistent paper helps avoid jams and keeps the printer in good shape.AmazonSee at Amazon
Frequently asked questions
Why is my printer offline when it is turned on?
Because the computer can no longer reach it: USB cable not detected, Wi-Fi dropped, or the printer is on another network. A stuck queue or a ticked “Use Printer Offline” box gives the same status. Start with the restart in solution 1, then the settings in solution 2.
How do I put a printer back online in Windows 11?
First run the troubleshooter from the Get Help app. If the printer stays offline, clear its queue, restart the print spooler and set it as the default. As a last step, remove it and add it again in Printers & scanners.
How do I put a printer back online on a Mac?
Open its queue from the Dock and click Resume if the printer is paused. Delete the stuck jobs, then add the printer again in System Settings if needed. Resetting the printing system is the last resort, because it erases all printers.
My HP printer is offline: which tool should I use?
The HP Smart app and its Diagnose & Fix tool, on Windows 10 and later or macOS 10.14 and later. The tool tries to reconnect the printer to the network. If it fails, remove the printer and reinstall it with the software from the HP support page.
My Wi-Fi printer went offline after I changed routers: what now?
Check that the printer and the computer are on the same Wi-Fi network, the one from the new router, then follow solution 3. The sources we checked do not confirm that changing routers causes the offline status. If the printer stays offline, remove it and add it again on the computer.
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