What this means
When your HP printer shows as offline, your computer has lost its communication link, stopping your print jobs from transmitting.
You might assume the hardware is broken or completely unplugged. Usually, the machine is fine. Your operating system has simply dropped the pathway.
Windows might have the Use Printer Offline setting turned on. Your router could have assigned a new network address, or your security software might be blocking local traffic. Sometimes the WSD port drops the connection, or AP isolation on your wireless router prevents your devices from talking to each other.
Common causes
- Printer connected to a different Wi-Fi network
- Use Printer Offline setting enabled in Windows
- Dynamic IP address changed and broke the port mapping
- HP Smart app losing connection service
- WSD port communication failure
What to check first
- 1Check that the printer is turned on and the wireless light is solid
- 2Ensure the printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the computer
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Clear the Print Queue
Open the print queue from the computer settings, cancel all pending print jobs, and restart the print spooler service if necessary.
- 2
Disable Use Printer Offline
Open Windows settings, go to Bluetooth and devices, select Printers and scanners, click your HP printer, and open the print queue. Uncheck Use Printer Offline under the Printer menu if present.
- 3
Run HP Print and Scan Doctor
Download and run the official HP Print and Scan Doctor diagnostic tool to automatically detect and fix offline and communication errors.
- 4
Restart All Devices
Turn off the printer, shut down your computer, and unplug your wireless router. Wait 30 seconds, power on the router first, then the printer, and finally the computer.
- 5
Remove and Re-add the Printer
Remove the printer from your computer device list entirely. Click Add Device or Add Printer to rediscover the printer on the local network.
- 6
Update Printer Firmware and Reconfigure Port
Check for firmware updates through the HP Smart app or printer control panel. Ensure the printer port uses a standard TCP/IP port instead of a WSD port for better stability.
When to contact a professional
Call your internet service provider or an IT professional if your router blocks device communication using AP isolation settings. You will also need outside help if the printer network card fails completely. Only unplug the power cord when you are performing hard resets or physical checks.