My printer wont connect to my computer unless I run the printer troubleshooter

[blockgoblin31]

Whenever I try to print something it wont start printing. Windows shows the printer as offline. However if I run the troubleshooter(from the settings page for the printer) it starts printing, and then the troubleshooter says it was unable to find the problem. I'm guessing I havent provided enough information but I dont know what other information would be needed.

[Rachel571]

Hi @blockgoblin31 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like your printer is experiencing intermittent connectivity issues with your computer, where it’s detected as "offline" unless you run the printer troubleshooter. This can be frustrating, but the issue is usually fixable. Based on the information you've provided, here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Check Printer Status and Connection

Verify Printer Status in Windows:

1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click your printer and select See what's printing.
3. In the window that opens, ensure that the printer is not set to "Offline." If it is, right-click on the printer and uncheck Use Printer Offline.

Check Physical Connections:

• If using a USB connection, make sure the cable is securely plugged in, and try a different USB port on your computer.
• If using a Wi-Fi connection, ensure your printer and computer are on the same network.
  • You can print a Network Configuration Page from the printer to verify the connection settings.
  • Check that the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network (this can often be confirmed in the printer’s network settings menu).

2. Restart Printer Spooler Service

Sometimes the Windows Print Spooler can get stuck, which might cause the printer to show as "offline" even if it’s physically connected.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. In the Services window, scroll down to find Print Spooler.
4. Right-click on Print Spooler and select Restart.
5. After restarting, try printing again to see if the issue is resolved.

3. Update Printer Drivers

An outdated or corrupted printer driver could be causing this problem. Even if you’ve installed drivers once, they can sometimes get corrupted or fail to update properly.

1. Go to Device Manager (right-click Start and select Device Manager).
2. Locate your printer under Printers or Universal Serial Bus controllers (depending on connection type).
3. Right-click on your printer and select Update Driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the on-screen instructions to install any available updates.

Alternatively, you can download the latest drivers directly from the HP website (or the manufacturer of your printer) and install them manually.

4. Check Printer Port Configuration

Sometimes, the printer port settings in Windows can cause connectivity issues. You may need to reconfigure the port.

1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on your printer and select Printer Properties.
3. Go to the Ports tab.
4. Ensure that the correct port is selected:
   • If using a USB connection, it should be set to the correct USB port.
   • If using Wi-Fi, ensure the correct IP address or network printer option is selected.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support

[blockgoblin31]

These instructions don't work for windows 11, control panel doesn't have a Devices and Printers menu anymore, that links out to a settings page organized differently. I could not find the See whats printing button or anything labeled Use Printer Offline

[Alden4]

Hi @blockgoblin31,

Thank you for your response, 

I'm sending a private message to assist you with the next action.

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted.

Alden4

HP Support