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How to Fix HP Printer Showing Offline – Step-by-Step Guide

  • millsstanley94
  • Jul 1
  • 4 min read


When you're ready to print and your HP printer suddenly shows as offline, it can be incredibly frustrating. This error means your computer can’t communicate with the printer—even if it’s connected via USB or Wi-Fi. Fortunately, in most cases, it’s a software or connection issue, not a hardware failure.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to bring your HP printer back online on both Windows and Mac, covering USB and wireless models.


📋 Why Does My HP Printer Show as Offline?

The offline status usually means the printer is not communicating properly with your computer. Common reasons include:

  • Printer is turned off or in sleep mode

  • Loose or faulty USB/Wi-Fi connection

  • Driver or software errors

  • Windows set the wrong printer as default

  • Print queue or spooler issues

  • Firewall or antivirus blocking printer communication


🛠️ Step-by-Step Fixes for HP Printer Offline


✅ Step 1: Basic Checks

  1. Make sure the printer is powered on

    • Check for display activity and indicator lights.

    • If it’s in sleep mode, press any button to wake it up.

  2. Restart the printer and your computer

    • Unplug the printer, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.

    • Restart your computer and check the printer status again.

  3. Check physical connections

    • USB: Ensure the cable is properly connected. Try a different port.

    • Wi-Fi: Confirm the printer is connected to the same network as your computer.


🖥️ Step 2: Set Printer to Online (Windows)

If your printer is still showing as offline:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers

  2. Right-click your HP printer > click See what’s printing

  3. In the window that opens, click Printer in the menu bar

  4. Uncheck Use Printer Offline if it’s selected

  5. Also ensure Pause Printing is not checked

Your printer should now change from "Offline" to "Ready."



🖥️ Step 3: Set as Default Printer (Windows)

Windows sometimes defaults to a virtual or offline printer. To fix:

  1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners

  2. Select your HP printer, then click Manage

  3. Click Set as default

You can also do this in Control Panel > Devices and Printers by right-clicking the HP printer and selecting Set as default printer.


💻 Step 4: Fix HP Printer Offline on Mac

  1. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners

  2. Select your HP printer

  3. If it shows “Offline,” try the following:

    • Right-click and choose Reset Printing System

    • Re-add your HP printer using the “+” button

Also, ensure the printer is not paused:

  • Open the print queue

  • If you see Resume Printer, click it


🔁 Step 5: Restart Print Spooler (Windows Only)

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter

  2. Scroll to Print Spooler, right-click, and select Restart

This clears stalled print jobs and refreshes the communication between the printer and system.


🧰 Step 6: Use HP Print and Scan Doctor (Windows)

HP offers a free tool that can fix offline printer issues automatically.

  1. Download from: https://support.hp.com/us-en/topic/printscandoctor

  2. Run the tool and select your printer

  3. Click Fix Printing and follow on-screen prompts

It will diagnose and fix network, driver, and status problems.



🌐 Step 7: Check Network and IP Settings

For wireless printers, ensure the device is still connected to Wi-Fi.

  1. Print a Network Configuration Page from your printer’s control panel

  2. Check if it’s connected to the same network as your computer

  3. If not:

    • On touchscreen printers: go to Settings > Wireless Setup Wizard

    • On older models: press and hold the Wi-Fi button until it blinks, then press your router’s WPS button


🖱️ Step 8: Reinstall HP Printer Driver

Corrupt or outdated drivers can cause offline status errors.


On Windows:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers

  2. Right-click your HP printer > Remove Device

  3. Visit https://123.hp.com and download the latest software for your model

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall


On macOS:

  1. Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners

  2. Remove and re-add the printer using the “+” button


🧩 Extra Tips

  • Use a static IP address for wireless printers to prevent frequent disconnections

  • Update your printer’s firmware using the HP Smart App

  • Disable SNMP Status under printer port settings (advanced users)

  • Temporarily disable firewall or antivirus software to test for blocking issues


📌 When to Contact HP Support

If none of the steps work, the issue may be hardware-related or require advanced support.

Visit https://support.hp.com to:

  • Chat with HP support

  • Check warranty

  • Download firmware and diagnostics tools

  • Schedule service or replacement



✅ Conclusion

An HP printer showing offline is usually caused by a software or communication issue—not a broken printer. With the right steps, you can get your device back online and printing in no time. From checking connections and resetting print settings to using HP’s official troubleshooting tools, this guide gives you everything you need to resolve the issue.

Would you like a PDF version, a model-specific guide, or printable checklist for offline printer fixes? I can prepare that for you!

 
 
 

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