How to Fix HP Printer Offline Error (Best Solutions)

 Is your HP printer goes offline very frequently? It must be shocking for you to see that your printer physically connects to the network, but still, it shows an offline printer error on your computer. There are various reasons for this problem, and we will cover all of them to get the best solution for you. The offline printer error generally occurs due to the connection issues and when your printer cannot establish the secured network with your computer. Sometimes, the unfinished jobs in the print queues also create trouble and display an offline printer error. Although Hewlett-Packard has designed an HP print and scan doctor troubleshooting tool to tackle the situation, sometimes reinstalling the HP setup and driver is the best option to fix the error.

 

Why is your HP Printer offline? 

 

·         Loose wires and connections cause your printer to go offline often.

·         The frayed cables will not let your printer to establish a secured connection.

·         The internal error in your printer or outdated software also causes an offline error. To fix this issue, you will need to take the help of troubleshooting tools.

·         The pending or unfinished print jobs results in an offline printer.

 

Steps to fix HP Setup offline printer issue 

 

For the best troubleshooting, you must check the basic necessities like wires and cables first in order to ensure the proper connectivity. Henceforth if the problem doesn’t resolve, then use the troubleshooting tools. We have arranged the following steps to fix the essential requirement first and then move forward to the advanced fixes.

 

Solution 1. Reconnect the wires 

 

Firstly, turn off your printer, router, and computer and disconnect all the cables from your devices. Reconnect the wires again to their slots and replace the frayed cables. Now restart all devices and verify if an offline printer error resolves or not. If it still exists, check the lights on the router and verify if the network lights are flashing correctly. If you find any error, then your router is probably not working well, and you must contact your network service provider. While if there is no issue from the router’s end, then proceed to the next step.

 

Solution 2. Use HP Print and Scan Doctor tool to fix offline error 

 

This is a free diagnostic tool from HP, which can fix the exact reason for the offline error in your printer. It is available to download from the HP setup and support webpage. Follow these steps to obtain this tool and troubleshoot the offline printer error.

 

1.    Click here to visit the HP Support website.

2.   Click Download Now.

3.   After that, you will receive an HPPSdr.exe file on your computer.

4.   Look for this file in the download location and double-click over it.

5.   Click Run on the confirmation window.

6. Now open the HP Print and Scan Doctor tool, click Start and add your printer in this application.

7.      Follow the instructions on-screen to fix the offline printer problem. You might be prompted to make your printer a default printer or turn on the updates. Click Yes on all positive responses and if still, the problem exists, then proceed to the next step.

 

Solution 3. Set HP Printer as a default printing device 

 

If the HP Print and Scan Doctor cannot set your printer as a default printing device, then you can do it manually by following these steps.

 

1.      Firstly, you need to visit the Control panel on your computer.

2.      Click Devices and Printers.

3.  Right-click your HP Printer and select Set as Default Printer from the drop-down list.

4.      Now verify if your printer gets back to the online mode. If it doesn’t, then bring it back manually by following the next step.

 

Solution 4. Switch HP setup offline to online 

 

1.      Click on the search box and type Devices.

2.      Choose Devices and Printers from the result’s list.

3.      Right-click your HP printer and uncheck Use Printer Offline option.

4.      If it’s already unchecked, then click over it and, after a few seconds, uncheck it again.

5.      If the offline problem doesn’t resolve, then unplug the USB cable and connect it back again.

6.      The next step should be to perform a network test by restarting the network router.

 

If you still cannot resolve the offline printer error, then if it can be a due issue in Print Spooler.

 

Solution 5. Restart the Print Spooler 

 

The Print Spooler service manages the print queues. Sometimes, the failed print commands can create an issue, and to resolve, you need to restart the Print Spooler services. Here is how to do it.

 

1.      Right-click on the Start button and click Run.

2.      Now type services.msc on the dialogue box and hit Enter.

3.      Under the Services windows, right-click Print Spooler and choose Restart from the drop-down menu.

4.      You can repeat these steps if it’s useful for you to resolve the offline printer error.

 

Solution 6. Change the printer port settings 

 

Rectify the HP setup port settings by following the below steps.

 

1.      Visit the Devices and Printers on your PC.

2.      Click your HP printer and choose the option Manage.

3.      A new window will open, click Printer Properties > Port.

4.      Now look for WSD port in the list, and if you found it, then proceed further, and if you cannot find it, then jump over to solution 7.

5.      Close down all the windows and search for Services on your PC.

6.      Under the Services window, check the Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication.

7.      Now make sure the settings for these services must be Status – Running and Startup Type – Automatic. Alternatively, you can also right-click on these services and complete these settings.

8.      Now click Ok and press F5.

9.      Get the network configuration report by following these step, click Wireless > Setup > click Network configuration report.

10.  Again go back to the Devices and Printers section, click Manage.

11.  Choose the Port tab and click Add Port.

12.  Now select the Standard TCP/IP, click New Port.

13.  Click F5 and finish the port settings. Hopefully, the offline printer problem resolves after following these instructions.

 

Solution 7. Reinstall the printer drivers 

 

Reinstalling the drivers will refresh the printer software. Firstly, you must remove the printer and then start installing it all over again. These steps will help you fix other printer problems as well, including offline error.

 

1.      Go to the Printer section.

2.      Right-click on your HP Printer, click remove and click Yes on the confirmation window.

3.      Now navigate to the HP setup website 123.hp.com and enter your printer model.

4.      Click Submit to proceed further.

5.      Download the printer drivers installer files and install it by using the on-screen instructions.

 

Solution 8. Latest Windows updates 

 

The latest Windows are always compatible with the new printer drivers and help fix the frequent occurrence of offline printer error.

 

1.      Click on the Search box and type Updates.

2.      Now click Check for updates.

3.      Click Next under the Windows Update menu.

 

Reach out to the experts to fix offline printer error 

 

Most of the time, the poor network connection is the culprit for offline printer error. To resolve primarily, you need to check the wires and cables. Besides, you can use the HP print and scan doctor tool to fix the offline printer error. If nothing works well, then download the printer drivers and are initiate the HP setup and printer reinstallation process. If you have any other queries, then feel free to contact our experts. We will provide you all the assistance to fix any error in your printer.