Posted by Getting the HP Printer offline message can be frustrating. Although it’s a common issue, many people still find themselves confused when they encounter it. Outdated drivers, connection problems, and settings errors are the three main causes of the problem.
But now that you are reading this article, the problem won’t feel confounding. Scroll down to find some effective solutions to this offline glitch.
Method 1. Employ the HP Print and Scan Doctor
If you are wondering why is my printer offline, don’t think twice before running this troubleshooting tool.
- Download the tool from the official website of HP.
- It will download as HPPSdr.exe in your ‘Downloads’ folder.
- Now, as an administrator, run this tool.
- Select ‘Yes’ to trust the source of the tool’s file.
- Tap ‘Start.’ Then pick your HP printer model.
- Click ‘Retry’ if you don’t find your printer in the list.
- Use the prompts that the application shows you.
- Tap on ‘Yes’ if it asks you to get the printer updates.
- After following all the prompts, your HP printer shows online status.
Method 2. Do not select Use Printer Offline mode.
People who encounter an HP Printer offline Windows 10 issue should check whether their printer is in offline mode. Unselect this option as follows.
- Head to ‘Settings’ of your system using ‘Start.’
- Tap ‘Devices.’
- Next, tap ‘Printers and Scanners.’
- From the printers that are shown, right-click on your model.
- In the menu, uncheck the ‘Use printer offline’ option.
- It will make your printer online.
Method 3. Conduct a physical cable check
If cables are loose, the printer won’t respond to your commands. You will definitely wonder, why is my HP printer offline.’
- Find if the USB cable’s ends are inserted firmly.
- Also, check if you have inserted the Ethernet cable firmly.
- Check if your internet connection is stable.
- If the problem is still not fixed, insert the end of the HP printer’s cable in various sockets on your computer.
- You can also change the current cable you are using. A different cable might solve the connection problem.
Method 4. Set your printer as the default printing device
When your HP printer is offline, you can also try making it the default device.
- Open the ‘Run’ dialog on your system.
- Use it to head to the ‘Control Panel.’
- Pick the ‘Devices and Printer’ option.
- You’ll view your HP printer.
- If it shows a green check, it is set as default.
- If not, right-tap it and choose ‘Set as default printer.’
Method 5. Reinstall the driver packages
As mentioned before, outdated drivers can cause this problem in Windows 10 systems. Here’s how to fix the HP Printer offline by reinstalling the drivers.
- Remove the driver by signing in as an admin on your Windows.
- In the search bar, input ‘CMD.’
- Now, in the command prompt window, write ‘printui/s/t2.’
- It will take you to the ‘Print Server Properties’ window.
- Eliminate the printer driver packages from your computer.
- Now you can add back your HP printer.
- Go to ‘Devices and Printers.’ Here select ‘Add a printer.’
- You will now find your HP printer online.
- Give a test command to your printer.
Method 6. Remove all print documents.
Paper jam issues commonly make HP Printer offline. So cancel all documents to bring the printer online.
- Head to ‘Settings’ followed by ‘Printers.’
- Right-click on your HP printer model and pick the ‘Use printer online’ option.
- You will be able to see if there are any pending print jobs.
- If there are, clear all of them.
- In the printer menu, choose ‘Cancel all documents.’
- Print a test page and see if your printer produces it.
Method 7. Start HP Printer spooler service.
Your printer will display the offline error when its spooler settings have been stopped.
- Launch the Run dialog box, and input ‘services.msc.’
- After that, tap ‘OK.’
- Now, choose the ‘Print spooler’ option from the installed items.
- Right-tap it, and choose ‘Stop.’
- It will stop the spooler services.
- In Windows File Explorer, tap the address bar.
- Here, input ‘C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printer.’
- Hit the ‘OK’ button.
- Remove all files from the printer folder.
- Head back to ‘Print Spooler.’
- Right-click on the spooler and click on ‘Start.’
- It will resume the spooler service and fix the HP printer offline
- You can restart your system and printer for the changes to take effect. Now you won’t ask, why my HP Printer keeps going offline.
Method 8. Examine the port and Windows services status
If you are still asking why is my HP printer offline, check if your HP printer uses a WSD port.
- Find the ‘Control Panel’ by searching for it in your Windows system.
- Hit the ‘View Devices and printers’ option.
- It will launch ‘Devices and printers.’
- Right-tap on your HP printer and select ‘Printer Properties.’
- Click the ‘Ports’ tab.
- Now, see if your printer employs a WSD port.
- Type ‘services’ in Windows to launch the services list.
- Find the ‘Function Discovery Provider Host’ and ‘Function Discovery Resource Publication.’
- Ensure that the status of both these services is running.
- Their startup type should be set as automatic.
- If you find the status blank and startup type manual, right-tap the name and choose ‘Properties.’
- Configure the startup type to automatic.
- Hit ‘Start’ followed by ‘OK.’
- Go to ‘Devices and printers’ window.
- Hit ‘F5.’
- Tap on your printer name.
- You will see that its status is online.
- You can also take a print of the network configuration report from your wireless menu.
Method 9. Link your system to a TCP/IP port
It is another effective fix for the HP printer offline Windows 10 problem.
- in your Windows desktop, locate and open ‘Printers and Scanners.’
- Now, click your printer name and choose ‘Manage.’
- Tap ‘Printer properties.’
- Access the ‘Ports’ tab, and choose ‘Add port.’
- Choose ‘Standard TCP/IP port’ followed by ‘New port.’
- Input the IP address of your printer, and tap ‘Next.’
- From the given list, choose the new ‘Standard TCP/IP Port’ and tap ‘OK.’
- If you see another printer device in the ‘Devices’ list, do not uninstall it.
- Now give a test print and see if the problem persists.
Method 10. Connect your HP Printer to a different computer
If you have a different computer in your place, try connecting your HP printer to it. To do so, first, get the basic drivers from the support page HP. Link the printer using that connection type. Now, give a test print. It is possible that connecting your printer to a different system will resolve your problem.
Method 11. Disable Smart Install
If your HP Laserjet printer shows offline, disable the Smart Install option.
- Navigate to the control panel.
- Choose ‘Service.’
- Head to ‘Smart Install.’
- Choose ‘Off.’
- Now restart the computer. Inspect for the issue.
Method 12. Power reset your printer.
If you still find that your HP Printer is offline, perform a power reset.
- Turn on your printer and check its status.
- Sometimes a simple restart can bring your HP printer online.
- But if your system shows an offline status, disconnect the power cord.
- Remove it from the printer’s rear and the wall outlet.
- Wait for one minute.
- Meanwhile, check that network and switch cables are connected properly.
- Reboot your computer.
- Now, connect the cables to the printer’s rear again.
- Connect the cables to the wall outlet as well.
- Turn on your printer and try to print.
Concluding Words
Hopefully, these techniques will troubleshoot the cause of your offline HP printer. The solutions are easy to follow, so you don’t have to undertake a complex process. If you need more assistance to fix printer errors, contact a certified printer technical expert.
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