Applies ToWindows 11 Windows 10

Your printer might appear offline if it can't communicate with your PC. Try following these steps to get your printer back online.

Before you begin

Start by running the printer offline troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Get Help automatically runs diagnostics and takes the correct steps to fix most printer issues.

Open Get Help

If the Get Help app is unable to resolve your printer issue, try the possible solutions listed: 

Windows 11Windows 10

To find out if your printer is connected to Wi-Fi, see if your printer's built-in menu has options for checking its Wi-Fi connection, or check the printer's manual for instructions about how to add it to a Wi-Fi network.

Sometimes power-cycling your printer can resolve the issue. Turn off your printer and unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug your printer back in, and then turn the printer back on. 

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & devices  > Printers & scanners .Open Printers & scanners settings

  2. Select your printer and then select Set as default.  If you don't see the Set as default option, the Let Windows manage my default printer option may be selected. You'll need to turn that off before you can choose a default printer manually.

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & devices  > Printers & scanners .Open Printers & scanners settings

  2. Select your printer and then select Open print queue.

  3. Under Document Name, select any documents listed, then select Document and select Cancel.

  1. Go to Search  in the taskbar, type services, and then select Services in the list of results.

  2. Scroll down to the Print Spooler service, select and hold (right-click) it, and select Restart.

Try removing and reinstalling your printer.

Remove your printer:

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & devices  > Printers & scanners .Open Printers & scanners settings

  2. Select the printer you want to uninstall, select Remove, and then select Yes.

Reinstall your printer:

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Bluetooth & devices  > Printers & scanners .Open Printers & scanners settings

  2. Make sure your printer is turned on and connected. Next to Add a printer or scanner, select Add device and follow the instructions to add your printer.

Restarting your PC can sometimes help to refresh the services and components necessary for your device to communicate with your printer.

To find out if your printer is connected to Wi-Fi, see if your printer's built-in menu has options for checking its Wi-Fi connection, or check the printer's manual for instructions about how to add it to a Wi-Fi network.

Sometimes power-cycling your printer can resolve the issue. Turn off your printer and unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug your printer back in, and then turn the printer back on. 

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Devices  > Printers & scanners .Open Printers & scanners settings

  2. Select your printer and then select Open queue.

  3. Select Printer, then select Set As Default Printer, and clear Pause Printing and Use Printer Offline if they are selected. If you see a message that says, "Windows will stop managing your default printer for you," select OK. 

Note: If you select OK, Windows will stop automatically setting the last printer you used as your default printer. To turn this feature back on, select Start , and then select Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Let Windows manage my default printer.

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Devices  > Printers & scanners .Open Printers & scanners settings

  2. Select your printer and then select Open queue.

  3. Under Document Name, select any documents listed, then select Document, and select Cancel.

  1. Go to Search  in the taskbar, type services, and then select Services in the list of results.

  2. Find the Print Spooler service, select and hold (right-click) it, and select Restart.

Try removing and reinstalling your printer. 

Remove your printer:

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Devices  > Printers & scanners .Open Printers & scanners settings

  2. Select your printer, select Remove device, and then select Yes.

Reinstall your printer:

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Devices  > Printers & scanners .Open Printers & scanners settings

  2. Make sure your printer is turned on and connected. Select Add a printer or scanner and follow the instructions to reinstall your printer.

Restarting your PC can sometimes help to refresh the services and components necessary for your device to communicate with your printer. 

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