My printer is offline, how do I get it back on line?

[peepsinthehood]

This happened to me and in the past, my 89-year-old uncle.  First, you panic, which doesn't help.  My uncle sat there and stared at his printer, hoping.  Nope.  In both instances I finally went to my go-to simple fix:

-Turn everything off, chill for a while, then REBOOT...router,modem, computer, printer.   I do thi s anyway every night; everything off and back on in the morning.  it's a healthy process unless you're running a long scan or have a certain time set for updates.  I discovered, after a SNAFU, it works for TV cable boxes as well.  For all, don't just turn stuff off--unplug the power cords; no big deal.  At least for me, along with my protection paranoia, I find it healthy and keeps me running trouble-free for the most part.

Sorry, back to the printer issue.  After watching my uncle expect magic and mind-control by staring at his "offline" printer, I said "Buddy, turn it off.  Turn it back on".  It whirred and wizzed, reset itself, printed a sample sheet, and all was well in the kingdom of HP printers.  You could reboot just the printer...see if that helps.

Another possible trouble-shooting process, UNINSTALL and REINSTALL the printer software.  I have read some of the other replies to this "printer offline" issue which is not that unusual, it seems, and it's like "huh?".

Try the rebooting suggestion first, then the printer software solution.  Sometimes the most successful fixes are also the most simple.  Please let me know, here or by email ([Personal Information Removed]); I'd appreciate some feedback on my advice. Thanks--Scott

[janicer49]

how do I get my printer back online

[brightpanda]

so first i print but every single time i see it it says offline and on my cumputers connection service with my printer says its activated it good

[peepsinthehood]

First, obvious, and easiest 1st step (when it happened to me)...I rebooted the printer.  Actually I may have turned everything off, disconnected power-adaptors, waited a bit, plugged everything back in and rebooted the system (computer/router/modem, printer).  Maybe I was lucky but it's AMAZING what a periodic-or-emergency REBOOT can revive. That was my first "mentor's" lesson when I was (scarily) introduced to a PC in 1997.  Now I have 2 laptops, 2 desktops, a 27" monitor and a 100-year-old HP all-in-one Deskjet that I got free in the "old" days, when you bought a digital camera, you got a free printer.  Runs like a new one (wired).

So hopefully it's an easy fix so you don't have to run through links and un/re-install hoops...Scott

[SuperMario1]

Hello. Are you experiencing an issue where the printer appears to be offline? If so, please review the following information, and I will do my best to assist you:

Before you do anything else, you should test the hardware of the printer. Please make a simple photocopy, so functional hardware is confirmed.

If the hardware is functional, the next step is to power cycle the relative network. This includes the printer, computer, and router (and modem) if the printer was using a wireless connection. To perform a power cycle, unplug the printer and shut down the computer. If you are using the printer wireless, unplug the router and modem. After everything is disconnected, turn everything on in the opposite order. Try to print now, and if the issue is not resolved, please continue with the following troubleshooting.

Next, go to Control Panel, then Devices and Printers. Right click on the printer and click on "See What's Printing". The print queue will open. Click on the Printer tab on the top-left corner. Please ensure "Use Printer Offline" is not checked. If it is checked, click on it. This will remove the checkmark on that option.

Are you using the printer wireless or USB? If you are using it wireless, after the hardware is checked, I need you to look for the wireless icon on the printer. It will either be solid blue, flashing blue, or not blue at all. If the light is flashing blue or not blue, this indicates that the printer does not contain a valid wireless connection at this time.

To re-create a successful wireless connection, start the printer software (either the CD or download, whichever you utilized when initially installing the printer) and you should locate an option about connecting a new printer. Select that option, and then select wireless, then click next. If the software asks you to connect a USB cable for the connection, please connect it only at that point. Afterward, you will follow the remaining prompts, and a wireless connection will be generated before long. If you receive an error message or red x when attempting to do this, please stop troubleshooting and re-post with the exact error immediately.

If you are using the printer with a USB connection instead of wireless, the steps from the above paragraph are almost identical. Instead of selecting wireless as the connection type, you will select USB. The latter is exactly identical.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, I would recommend running the HP Print and Scan Doctor next. This HP document will explain how to utilize it, and contains a link to the download location: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03286146

This utility could potentially resolve the issue by itself. If it does not, please follow the remaining troubleshooting below. However, keep note of the errors that the utility indicates.

Go into Control Panel, then go into Devices and Printers (it could be named something different if it is not Windows 7 or 8, but the name is similar). Check that the printer is present and look for a green check-mark. If there is a yellow exclamation point, this indicates an issue with the device. You can right-click on the device, and select troubleshoot. This will resolve the issue, or tell you exactly why it couldn't be resolved.

Also, when in Devices and Printers, take note on how many different entries the printer exist. Please do not include the ones with "fax" in the name. You may have to attempt printing from each of the devices to see if one works, and that would be the device utilized for printing.

If the issue is not yet resolved, right click on the device, and select Printer Properties. The next step is editing the printer port, since a port issue is a possibility. In Printer Properties, click on the Ports tab. The next steps differ on whether or not the Printer is connected wireless or USB.

If it is connected wireless, you should ensure there is a check-mark on a "Standard TCP/IP Port". You should also ensure that the name of the printer is correct, next to the port description. If a "Standard TCP/IP Port" is not selected, put a check in a TCP/IP port, then click Apply and Ok. Afterward, try to print. If the print fails, try another TCP/IP port. If there are no others, you can manually create one. To do this, click on Add Port, then select "Standard TCP/IP Port". Continue to follow the prompts until it asks you to enter the IP address of the printer. Enter this information in the first line, and it will automatically transfer it to the second line, as well. Continue the wizard until it is completed, then try to print using that port.

If it is connected USB, the steps in the above paragraph are relatively identical. You will be working with USB001 (Virtual Printer Port) or DOT4_001 (should have the name of the printer in the description row. Follow the procedures until you have tested all of those available ports. If those ports didn't work, create a new one using the Add Port wizard. Try adding a Local Port, then type the name of the printer and complete the rest of the wizard. Try printing with that port applied and observe the results.

If the issue is not yet resolved, this is where troubleshooting the print queue will become applicable.
Open the print queue, and click on the Printer tab. You should see an option named Cancel All Documents, or some variation of that. Please click that, and ensure there are no documents remaining.

If this doesn't perform the trick after a few minutes, you will need to troubleshoot the Print Spooler service. To access this, go to the Start menu and type "services.msc" in the search bar (without the quotes) if you are using Windows 7 or Vista. If you are utilizing Windows XP or Windows 8, open the  Run program. Type "services.msc" (without the quotes) and hit enter. This will open a windows with all Windows services.

Scroll down to Print Spooler and right-click on it. Restart the spooler, and give it a couple minutes. Check the print queue to see if the documents are cleared.

If the issue is not yet resolved, you will be required to uninstall and reinstall the printer software.

Here is some information on uninstalling printer software: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02259020

Here is some information on installing printer software: http://www8.hp.com/ca/en/support-topics/printer-installation/install-download-printer-drivers.html

If these steps do not resolve the issue, advanced troubleshooting will have to be performed to resolve the issue. When responding, if the issue persists, please be very elaborate in explaining the results of the troubleshooting. This way, I will be able to identify the source of the issue, and troubleshoot the source.

I hope you find this information valuable. I'm only here to help!

Mario

[pleasenotagain]

I tried going to the control panel and found the printer, I right clicked on the icon of my printer and the option

"use printer online" didn't show up.  But it does say the printer is off line.

Can you give me another option.  It was online yesterday, I don't know how it got shut off. 

[peepsinthehood]

First trick: turn the printer off, unplug it even.  Do NOT panic (as I did, ignoring Rule#1)  Look at your printer and say "please work".  Plug it back in, turn it on, see what happens; my printer apologised to me.  A lot of people never turn their system *off*...not a good idea; When you turn everything off for a while (minutes, hours, overnight, whatever), reboot everything.  It helps rejuvenate everything; me, I shut it down every night...just a suggestion.

I'm just trying to avoid the software un-install /re-install hassle.  Regardless, it's always good to refresh your setup periodically.  Let's be hopeful and let me know (peepsinthehood).

[janicer49]

Thank you for every one's input I got my son to help and the printer problem is now solved. Thanks.

[peepsinthehood]

Hey y'all--"peepsinthehood" from Flowery Branch, GA.  Went from student to top student to INTERN!  I know...BFD.

Attempt #1: turn the printer off, ignore it until it's crying (few minutes) and reboot it.  Good idea to reboot EVERYTHING periodically; it really refreshes your system.  Some NEVER turn it off; I shut mine down every night. 

If that doesn't work, uninstall/reiinstall the printer software--PITA (PAIN IN THE [edited]).

iI #1 works, please let me know here; I try...Scotty

[peepsinthehood]

#1-think simple.  Turn the printer off for a few, ignore it, then turn it on again.  Works with a lot of stuff; always a good idea to turn everything off and reboot periodocally--like going from Los Angeles to New Hampshires.  Refreshing.  

#2-uninstall/reinstall printer software.  Yuk.

I have an older HP all-in-one from the old days when you bought a digilal camera, you got a free printer. But years later it works like new (print/scan/copy).  Screw wireless--more headaches.  These older Deskjets don't like to print photos on photo paper without lines and smearing, and they like to drink ink, but they are workhorses, land last.   My option: print photos (on non-photo paper/best quality-setting...then buy a cheap laminator (my NEW toy; the other is me electric DYMO label-maker.  Buy an inexpensive Westcott straight-line cutter, print photos and laminate; hard to tell that you didn't get them professionally printed!   

You have my permission (hahaha) to pass this on.  And please let me know, here, what happens with your printer--

Scotty (peepsinthehood)