Printer Showing Offline — How to Fix It
If your printer status shows "Offline" on Windows, follow these steps to bring it back online.
- Make sure the printer is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or USB.
- Go to Settings > Printers & scanners and click your printer.
- Click Open print queue.
- In the print queue window, click Printer in the menu bar.
- Uncheck Use Printer Offline if it is checked.
- Restart the printer and your PC, then try again.
Note: If the issue persists, try removing the printer from Windows and adding it again fresh.
Printer Goes Offline After Sleep Mode — Permanent Fix
This issue is caused by Windows dropping the network connection during sleep. Here's how to stop it.
- Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager).
- Expand Network Adapters and double-click your Wi-Fi adapter.
- Go to the Power Management tab.
- Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Click OK and restart your PC.
- Alternatively, assign your printer a static IP address through your router settings.
Printer Not Printing — Step by Step Fix
If your printer is on and connected but nothing is printing, work through these steps.
- Check the print queue — go to Settings > Printers & scanners, open your printer, and clear any stuck jobs.
- Restart the Print Spooler service: Open Services (search in Start), find Print Spooler, right-click and select Restart.
- Make sure the correct printer is set as default in Printers & scanners.
- Check ink or toner levels — low ink can cause the printer to pause jobs.
- Update or reinstall printer drivers from the manufacturer's website.
- Restart both the printer and your PC.
How to Clear a Paper Jam
Paper jams are one of the most common printer issues. Here's how to clear them safely.
- Turn off the printer and unplug it from power.
- Open all access panels — front, back, and the toner/cartridge area.
- Gently pull out any jammed paper — always pull in the direction of paper travel.
- Do not tear the paper — remove it in one piece if possible.
- Check for any small torn pieces left inside.
- Close all panels, plug in, and power on the printer.
- Run a test print to confirm it's clear.
Note: Make sure you're using the correct paper size and that the paper is loaded straight in the tray to prevent future jams.
All Printers Showing Offline on Windows 10
If every printer on your system shows offline after a Windows update, it's likely a driver or spooler issue.
- Press Win + R, type
services.mscand press Enter. - Find Print Spooler, right-click it and select Stop.
- Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files inside (not the folder itself).
- Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler and select Start.
- Restart your PC and check if printers are back online.