Printer offline

[stephaniearona]

Hello my printer is off line. I can not connect it to the computer. Unsure if I need a new driver or what the disconnect is. Please advise.

Thank you

stephanie

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @stephaniearona 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Let's get you back to printing without any downtime. When a printer shows as offline in Windows 11, it can be due to several reasons—from a simple setting toggle to driver issues or even network connectivity problems. 

Here’s a detailed plan:

 

1. Check the Printer’s Status

Verify Power & Connectivity:
Make sure your printer is powered on and that any indicator lights (or Wi-Fi symbols) confirm it’s connected to the network. If it's a network printer, ensure it’s connected to the same Wi-Fi as your laptop.

Inspect the Printer Queue Settings:
On your laptop, open Devices and Printers (or simply search for "Printers & scanners" in the Windows settings). Right-click your printer and select See what’s printing. Then, from the menu, ensure that both Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline are unchecked. Sometimes these settings get toggled unintentionally, causing the printer to appear offline.

 

2. Restart Devices and Services

Power Cycle Both Devices:
Turn off the printer and unplug it for about 30 seconds. Shut down your laptop, then restart your router/modem if you're using a network connection. Power everything back up, starting with the router, then the printer, and finally your laptop.

Restart the Print Spooler Service:
Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Locate Print Spooler in the list, right-click it, and then click Restart. This can often clear up any stuck print jobs or minor glitches.

 

3. Update or Reinstall Drivers

Driver Check:
Open Device Manager (you can search for it via Start) and expand the Printers or Print queues section. Look for any warning symbols next to your printer. If you spot one, it’s a good idea to update the driver.

Download the Latest Driver:
Visit HP’s official support website, search for your specific printer model (if applicable), and download the latest driver for Windows 11. Installing an updated driver can correct compatibility issues that might place the printer offline.

 

4. Remove and Re-add Your Printer

Delete the Printer:
Sometimes, Windows might have cached settings that are causing issues. Remove the printer from your Devices and Printers settings.

Re-add the Printer:
Click on Add a printer and let Windows detect your printer anew. This fresh setup should re-establish proper communication between your devices.

 

5. Check Firewall or Antivirus Settings

• Ensure Permissions:
  Occasionally, security software like a firewall or antivirus (such as Norton or Avast) might block printer communications. Temporarily disable these security features to check if this resolves the issue. If it does, configure your software to allow your printer’s IP address as a trusted device.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye