How to Fix Offline HP Printer on Windows Computer (Complete Step-by-Step Guide)

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When an HP printer shows “Offline” on a Windows computer, it can immediately stop printing, delay important work, and create unnecessary troubleshooting confusion. The good news is that most “offline printer” issues are caused by a few common Windows settings, connection problems, or print queue errors—and they can be fixed quickly when handled in the right order.

In this guide, we will walk through every proven method to fix an offline HP printer on Windows, including Windows 10 and Windows 11. Follow the steps carefully, and your printer should return to Online status and start printing normally again.

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1. Confirm the HP Printer Is Powered on and Ready

Before changing any Windows settings, we should confirm the printer itself is operational.

What to check

• The printer power button is ON
• No error lights are flashing (paper jam, ink issue, cover open)
• The display panel (if available) shows Ready
• Paper is loaded correctly
• Ink or toner is installed properly

Quick reset

1. Turn the HP printer off
2. Unplug it from the wall power
3. Wait 60 seconds
4. Plug it back in
5. Turn the printer on

This resets internal printer states and clears temporary communication errors.

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2. Check the Printer Connection (USB or Wi-Fi)

An HP printer can go offline if Windows cannot communicate with it.

If using USB

• Unplug the USB cable from the printer and PC
• Plug it directly into the computer (avoid USB hubs)
• Use a different USB port
• If possible, try a different USB cable

Pro tip: A loose USB connection is one of the most common causes of an “offline” printer status.

If using Wi-Fi

• Confirm the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network
• Restart your router/modem
• Move the printer closer to the router if the signal is weak

On the printer screen (or settings menu), check:

• Wireless status: Connected
• Network name (SSID): matches your home/office Wi-Fi

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3. Set the HP Printer as the Default Printer in Windows

Windows may send print jobs to the wrong device, especially if multiple printers are installed.

Windows 10 / Windows 11 steps

1. Click Start
2. Open Settings
3. Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners
4. Select your HP printer
5. Click Set as default

If Windows is managing default printers automatically:

• Turn off Let Windows manage my default printer
• Then manually set your HP printer as default

This ensures print jobs always route to the correct printer.

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4. Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode

Sometimes Windows incorrectly enables offline mode even when the printer is working.

Disable offline mode

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click Devices and Printers
3. Right-click your HP printer
4. Select See what’s printing
5. Click Printer (top menu)
6. Uncheck:
   • Use Printer Offline
   • Pause Printing (if checked)

Once unchecked, the printer should switch from Offline to Online.

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5. Clear the Print Queue to Fix Stuck Jobs

A corrupted or stuck print job can lock the printer into offline behavior.

Clear print queue

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Open Devices and Printers
3. Right-click your HP printer → See what’s printing
4. Click Printer → Cancel All Documents
5. Restart the printer

If jobs still won’t clear, proceed to the next method.

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6. Restart the Print Spooler Service (Most Effective Fix)

The Print Spooler is the Windows service responsible for managing print jobs. If it’s stuck or broken, printers may appear offline.

Restart Print Spooler

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type: services.msc
3. Press Enter
4. Find Print Spooler
5. Right-click → Restart

Set it to Automatic

1. Right-click Print Spooler
2. Click Properties
3. Set Startup type to Automatic
4. Click Apply → OK

This restores printing functionality in many cases instantly.

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7. Verify the HP Printer Port Settings (Critical for Offline Errors)

Incorrect port configuration is a major reason HP printers stay offline, especially after updates or network changes.

Check printer port

1. Open Control Panel
2. Go to Devices and Printers
3. Right-click your HP printer → Printer properties
4. Click the Ports tab

What to confirm

• If using USB: ensure the selected port looks like USB001 / USB002
• If using network: ensure the correct Standard TCP/IP Port is selected

Avoid WSD port issues

If your HP printer is using a WSD port, it may frequently go offline. Switching to a TCP/IP port often stabilizes the connection.

To fix this, we should:

• Print a network configuration page (to find printer IP)
• Add a port using the printer’s IP address
• Select the new port

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8. Update or Reinstall the HP Printer Driver

Driver issues can prevent Windows from properly recognizing the printer.

Update the driver

1. Press Windows + X
2. Select Device Manager
3. Expand Print queues
4. Right-click your HP printer
5. Click Update driver

Reinstall the printer completely

If updating doesn’t help:

1. Go to Settings → Printers & scanners
2. Select your HP printer → Remove
3. Restart your computer
4. Click Add device
5. Re-add the HP printer

A clean reinstall often resolves offline status caused by corrupted driver files.

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9. Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in tool that detects common printing problems and automatically applies fixes.

Run troubleshooter

1. Open Settings
2. Go to System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters
3. Find Printer
4. Click Run

This can fix:

• Spooler issues
• Printer detection problems
• Incorrect settings causing offline mode

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10. Disable SNMP Status (Fixes Offline Network Printers)

For network HP printers, Windows may show offline if SNMP communication fails.

Turn off SNMP

1. Open Control Panel
2. Go to Devices and Printers
3. Right-click HP printer → Printer properties
4. Go to the Ports tab
5. Select the active port → click Configure Port
6. Uncheck SNMP Status Enabled
7. Click OK → Apply

This is especially effective when:

• The printer works but still shows Offline
• The printer IP changed after a router reboot
• The network is stable but Windows misreports status

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11. Confirm the Printer IP Address Has Not Changed

If your HP printer uses Wi-Fi, its IP address may change, breaking Windows connectivity.

Fix the IP mismatch

• Print the Network Configuration Page
• Compare the printer IP with the port IP in Windows

If they do not match:

1. Update the port to the correct IP
2. Or remove and re-add the printer using the new IP

For best long-term stability, we recommend setting the printer to a static IP (reserved in router settings).

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12. Reconnect HP Printer to Wi-Fi (Wireless Setup Fix)

If the printer disconnected from Wi-Fi, Windows will show it offline until the connection is restored.

Reconnect wireless

1. On the HP printer, open Wireless Settings
2. Choose Wi-Fi Setup Wizard
3. Select your network
4. Enter the Wi-Fi password
5. Confirm connection is successful

Once connected, restart the computer and print a test page.

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13. Print a Test Page to Confirm Online Status

After applying the fixes above, we should confirm printing works properly.

Print test page

1. Open Control Panel
2. Go to Devices and Printers
3. Right-click the HP printer → Printer properties
4. Click Print Test Page

If the test page prints, the issue is resolved and the printer is online again.

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14. Prevent HP Printer Offline Issues in the Future

To keep your HP printer stable and online, we should apply a few best practices.

Recommended actions

• Keep the printer on the same Wi-Fi network consistently
• Avoid frequently switching between USB and Wi-Fi modes
• Use a static IP for network printers
• Restart the router occasionally to reduce network conflicts
• Keep Windows updated and avoid outdated printer drivers
• Do not leave large print queues stuck for long periods

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Final Checklist: Quick Fix Summary

If you want the fastest possible resolution, follow this order:

1. Power cycle the printer
2. Check USB/Wi-Fi connection
3. Set HP printer as Default
4. Uncheck Use Printer Offline
5. Clear the print queue
6. Restart Print Spooler
7. Fix Ports / IP address / SNMP
8. Update or reinstall HP drivers

These steps cover nearly every offline HP printer issue on Windows.