Printer showing Error - Offline but printer is in 'Ready' status

[Ank14]

Hi All,

My Printer (HP Colour LaserJet Pro MFP M181fw) showing Error - Offline but printer is in 'Ready' status.
I tried to restart printer, unplug and plug the LAN Cable but no luck.
ping cmd also working fine to the printer IP.

How to make printer online now ?

Any suggestion?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Ank14 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for sharing the details—I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. It’s especially frustrating when everything looks ready but the printer just won’t respond. 

Since your HP Colour LaserJet Pro MFP M181fw is reachable via ping and shows “Ready,” the issue likely lies in how Windows is handling the connection.

Let’s walk through a few steps to bring it back online:

 

1. Set the Printer to Online Manually

• Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Right-click your printer and select “See what’s printing.”
• In the new window, click Printer in the top menu.
• If “Use Printer Offline” is checked, click it to uncheck.

 

2. Assign a Static IP Address

Even if ping works, Windows sometimes struggles with dynamic IPs.

• Access the printer’s Embedded Web Server (EWS) by typing its IP into a browser.
• Navigate to Network > IPv4 Configuration.
• Set the IP to Manual and assign a static IP (same as current one).
• Save and restart the printer.

 

3. Remove and Reinstall the Printer

• In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, remove the printer.
• Then reinstall it using the full driver package:
  HP Colour LaserJet Pro MFP M181fw Driver for Windows 11

 

4. Use HP’s Diagnose & Fix Tool (Windows)

Install or Open HP Smart

• Download from the Microsoft Store.
• Launch the app and sign in with your HP account if prompted.

 Access Diagnose & Fix

• Select your printer from the home screen.
• Click Printer Settings.
• Scroll to Diagnose & Fix.
• Click Start and let it run a full scan.

It will automatically detect and resolve common issues like scanning failures, connection drops, and driver conflicts.

 

5. Check Windows Print Spooler Service

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Find Print Spooler, right-click, and choose Restart.
• Make sure its Startup Type is set to Automatic.

6. Firewall or Antivirus Interference

• Temporarily disable third-party firewall or antivirus software.
• Some security tools block printer traffic even when ping works.

You’re doing all the right things—let’s get this printer talking to your PC again. If it still shows offline after these steps, let me know whether you're using it over LAN or Wi-Fi, and I’ll tailor the next steps.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye