Overview
Windows shows the printer as Offline, jobs pile up in the queue, and nothing comes out — even though the printer is switched on and shows no error on its own display.
Likely cause
- The printer's IP address changed after a reboot because it uses DHCP instead of a reserved address.
- A stuck job is blocking the print queue.
- Use Printer Offline was toggled on in Windows.
- The printer dropped off Wi-Fi.
- The Print Spooler service has stopped.
Step-by-step
Step 1 — Check the printer itself
Confirm it's powered on, has no error or paper jam on the panel, and — for network printers — shows a connected network icon. Print a configuration or network page from the printer's own menu and note its IP address.
Step 2 — Power-cycle the printer
Turn the printer off, unplug it from power for 30 seconds, plug it back in and let it fully warm up. This clears most firmware-level hangs.
Step 3 — Clear the print queue
Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, select the printer, choose Open print queue, and cancel every document — including the one marked Error.
Step 4 — Turn off Use Printer Offline
In the print queue window, open the Printer menu and untick Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing.
Step 5 — Restart the Print Spooler
Press Windows + R, enter services.msc, find Print Spooler, right-click and choose Restart.
services.mscOr from an elevated Command Prompt:
net stop spooler
net start spoolerStep 6 — Confirm the PC can reach the printer
Using the IP address from Step 1:
ping 192.168.1.45Replies mean the network path is fine and the problem is in Windows. Request timed out means it's a network or IP problem — go to Step 7.
Step 7 — Fix a changed IP address
If the printer's current IP no longer matches the port Windows is using, either set a DHCP reservation on the router for the printer's MAC address (best), or give the printer a static IP outside the DHCP range.
Then update the port in Windows: printer Properties → Ports → Configure Port and enter the correct IP.
A reservation is the permanent fix.
If a shared printer goes offline every few weeks, its address is almost certainly changing. Reserve it once and the problem stops recurring.
Step 8 — Reinstall the printer
Remove the device in Printers & scanners, then Add device and re-add it by IP address using the manufacturer's current driver.
Expected result
The printer shows Ready in Windows and a test page prints within a few seconds.
Troubleshooting
Still stuck?
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