Printer Offline on Windows 11? How to Fix It

An “offline” printer usually isn’t broken. Windows has lost contact with it, or a stuck print job is blocking everything behind it. Work through these fixes in order and test a print after each one.

Why is my printer offline on Windows 11?

• The connection dropped. The printer went to sleep, lost Wi-Fi, joined a different network, or the USB cable came loose.
• A print job is stuck. One failed job can hold up the whole queue.
• The Print Spooler service stalled. This is the Windows service that hands print jobs to the printer.
• Windows is using a different printer. Your app may be sending jobs to an old or duplicate printer entry.
• The driver is out of date or damaged.

Before you start, print from a second device if you can, such as another PC or a phone. If nothing can print, the printer or the network is the problem. If only one PC can’t print, focus on that PC’s settings, queue and driver.

1. Power cycle the printer

Microsoft’s first step is a full power cycle, not just pressing the power button:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Unplug it from the wall and wait 30 seconds.
3. Plug it back in and turn it on.
4. Wait until it has finished starting up, then try printing again.

2. Check the Wi-Fi or USB connection

For a wireless printer, confirm it’s connected to the same network as your PC. Use the printer’s own screen or settings menu, or its manual, to see which Wi-Fi network it joined. Printers often fall back to the wrong network after a router change, or connect to a 2.4 GHz network name that’s different from the one your laptop uses.

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For a USB printer, unplug the cable at both ends and plug it back in firmly. Try another USB port on the PC, and skip any USB hub while you test.

3. Run the printer troubleshooter

Windows 11 has an automated printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Open the Start menu, search for Get Help, and type printer troubleshooter. Follow its prompts and let it apply any fixes it suggests, then try a test print.

The troubleshooter is worth a minute, but it doesn’t catch everything. If it finds nothing, or the printer drops offline again later, keep going with the manual steps below. They fix the same problems by hand.

4. Clear the print queue

1. Select Start → Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. Select your printer, then select Open print queue.
3. Select the … menu and choose Cancel all.
4. Try a test print.

5. Restart the Print Spooler service

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to Print Spooler.
3. Right-click it and select Restart.

If jobs still won’t clear, Microsoft describes a deeper reset. In Services, select Print Spooler and choose Stop. Open File Explorer, go to %WINDIR%\system32\spool\PRINTERS and delete the files inside that folder (not the folder itself). Then go back to Services and Start the Print Spooler again.

6. Set the right default printer

If you have several printer entries, for example after reinstalling a driver, Windows may be sending jobs to one that really is offline.

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
2. If Let Windows manage my default printer is turned on, turn it off.
3. Select the printer you actually use and choose Set as default.

7. Remove and re-add the printer

This rebuilds the connection from scratch and fixes most printers that stay offline after the steps above.

1. In Printers & scanners, select your printer, then Remove, and confirm with Yes.
2. Restart the printer and make sure it’s connected to your network.
3. Back in Printers & scanners, select Add device and wait for Windows to find the printer.
4. If it doesn’t appear, select Add manually and pick how it’s connected.

8. Update the printer driver

Go to the support section of your printer maker’s website, search for your exact model, and install the latest Windows 11 driver or software. Windows Update can also supply a driver while you add the printer. Avoid “driver updater” download sites; get drivers only from the maker or Windows Update.

9. Restart your PC

It sounds too simple, but Microsoft lists it for a reason: a restart refreshes the services Windows uses to talk to your printer. Restart the PC after reinstalling a driver or re-adding the printer, then try again.

Still offline?

• Print a network or Wi-Fi report from the printer. Most printers can print one from their own menu. It shows whether the printer is connected and which network it’s on.
• Check for a changed IP address. If your router gave the printer a new address, re-adding it (fix 7) usually picks up the change. Our guide to finding your IP address on Windows 11 explains how home network addresses work.
• Use the printer maker’s app or support site. Many brands offer their own setup and diagnostic tool.
• Contact the manufacturer if the printer shows errors on its own screen or won’t join any network.

How to stop it going offline again

• Keep the printer on the same network as your PCs. If you change your router or Wi-Fi password, reconnect the printer from its own menu straight away.
• Delete old printer entries. In Printers & scanners, remove duplicates such as “Copy 1” so Windows always uses the one that works.
• Keep Windows and the printer software up to date. Driver fixes often arrive through Windows Update or the maker’s app.
• Don’t pull the plug mid-job. A job interrupted by switching the printer off is a common way to jam the queue. Cancel it from the queue first.

Find more fixes in our Windows section, or tune your PC with these Windows 11 settings worth changing.

FAQ

Sources

• Troubleshooting offline printer problems in Windows (Microsoft Support)
• Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows (Microsoft Support)
• Fix print spooler service not running errors in Windows (Microsoft Support)