The error is usually encountered when speaking of network printers, but home users with a direct connection to their printer have also complained. We’ll go about fixing this issue just like most other connectivity-related problems, as in most cases, there is a simple explanation for the problem. It should be noted that different manufacturers have their own diagnostics software which can inform the user of what problems come up (HP’s Print and Scan Doctor comes to mind here). If your printer’s manufacturer provided you with this feature, we encourage you to use it at full extent. More often than not, it will set you in the right direction for finding solutions to your problems. There are many problems that can occur with your printer, and in this article, we’re going to cover the following issues:

Printer offline Canon, HP, Ricoh, Epson – A common problem with printers affecting any brand of printer. Printer offline error processing command – Caused by trying to use a network printer. Wireless printer offline – Can appear with all sorts of printers, and many users reported it while using a wireless printer. The printer is offline unable to ping – Your PC can’t recognize your printer. Printer offline SNMP – Thes SNMP feature can cause this issue, can be fixed by disabling the SNMP feature. Network printer offline VPN – Appears when using a VPN and can be fixed by changing your VPN configuration. Printer not responding, printing, working, connecting, showing up – The printer isn’t responding or not working and sometimes it won’t even show up in settings.

Why does the Printer Offline error occur?

The error appears when Windows 10 sees that the printer is unavailable. Unfortunately, most of the time, it can’t tell if the printer is really offline or if it has connectivity problems or printing errors. They might occur when:

The connection between the computer and the printer is slow/unresponsive The printer has encountered an internal error There are multiple unfinished print jobs in the queue

How can I fix the Printer Offline errors in Windows 10?

1. Reinstall your printer drivers

Update drivers automatically

If you do not have the necessary computer skills to update/fix the drivers manually, we strongly suggest doing it automatically by using DriverFix. This excellent tool does its job automatically. Here’s how you can update your drivers easily:

2. Check if you’re using a VPN connection

The Printer Offline message can appear if you’re using a network printer and VPN. To fix this problem, it’s advised to disconnect from the VPN and try to access your printer again. If you want to use VPN and your printer, you need to connect the printer directly to your PC using the USB cable. Alternatively, you might be able to fix the problem by adjusting your VPN configuration and granting yourself local network access. You can also use other efficient VPN software that will not interfere with your printer connection, and keep your privacy online too. Therefore choose wisely from the best VPNs for your Windows 10 PC.

3. Change the printer settings

Note: if you are using a wireless printer, then you should try to connect to its IP address. To find its address, go to Control Panel, then click on Devices and Printers, right-click on your printer, and select properties. SPONSORED Copy the address and write it down in your browser’s address field. You can’t open Control Panel? Take a look at this step-by-step guide to find a solution

4. Restart the Print Spooler service

Note: Keep in mind that this might not be a permanent solution, so you’ll have to repeat it if the issue reappears.

5. Change the printer properties

A user also suggested that you can also leave the SNMP as it is and change its device index to #. Note: This solution works only if you’re using a network printer. If you encounter any configuration problems with your printer, we’ve prepared a simple guide to help you in that situation.

6. Install the latest updates

Note: If you can’t open the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.

7. Add a second printer device

Bonus: Printer offline but it is not

We already talked about cases where the printer is clearly offline and it cannot be pinged, but here’s the interesting part. There are also situations in which the Windows 10 printer is offline but can ping. In other words, the printer says offline but it is connected. So how can that happen and what can you do about it? Don’t worry, we have some tips for you. Why is my printer connected but not printing? Before anything else, you should know that this peculiar mismatch happens when your PC is unable to establish communication with the printer. Thus, the very first thing to do is check if both devices are connected to the same WiFi network. Check out our complete suggestions below:

Open the printer’s menu to check the network it accesses in order to establish connection and make sure it is the same as the one used for your PC Restart both your printer and your PC and disconnect the power cord from all devices (router, PC, printer), then plug it back Make sure there is nothing physically wrong with the printer (internal debris like paper jams and so on) Reinstall printer drivers and check system services on your PC Hard reset your printer

We hope this guide helped you solve your printer problems in Windows 10. If you’ve tried all of them and your problem still persists, then you might have a hardware-related problem. In this case, try printing from another computer or try a different printer. Also, if you’re running a wired printer, use a different USB / network cable. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

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