printer showing offline status

Printers are one of the common and essential gadgets for offices and homes. New printers are multifunction that allow users to take printouts, scan, or even fax documents. You can easily connect your printer to PCs, phones, etc, and take the printouts. New printers are very robust but you may face offline issues sometimes.

Common causes behind printer offline error

  1. Your printer is not connected correctly
  2. The WPS of your router is not working
  3. The printer can’t find the required driver
  4. Some printer services are not working
  5. The printhead is not moving correctly
  6. The printer can’t find the cartridge
  7. Resolving printer offline error 

Run a printer troubleshooter

Your printer can get offline issues when some of the printer files are not working correctly. To fix the error, you should fix those files. Finding corrupted printer files and repairing them manually is difficult. Instead, you can run a printer troubleshooter. On Windows devices, you get an inbuilt printer troubleshooter. Go to the connected PC and open the Update & Security tab. Now click on Troubleshooter and click on Additional. Select the Printer and now run the troubleshooter tool. It will start searching for all printer-related files. If any file is not working, the printer troubleshooter will fix it. After fixing the files, you should reconnect the printer and check the error.

Inspect the printer connection

Whenever you face printer offline issues, you should immediately check the printer connection. Most people connect printers to PCs using a cable. Cable connection is easy and provides better printing services. If you are getting the error, check the cable. Eject the printer cable from both devices. Now inspect the printer cable for any damage. If the cable is damaged, get a new cable. But if your printer cable is fine then try using another USB port for the connection.

Check the wireless printer connection

You can also connect your printer device wirelessly. Go to the printer and check for mg3600 Wifi setup. Restart the Wi-Fi on your printer. Now restart the WPS pin on your router. Go to the printer and make sure its Wi-Fi lamp is blinking. Wait for a while and you will see available networks on the printer screen. Select the correct printer and now you can take the printouts.

Inspect your printer driver

One of the main causes behind printer offline issues is the printer driver. Your printer requires a driver to communicate with the PC (commanding device). This driver transfers the print command from the PC to the printer. If your printer can’t find the required driver, it won’t work and will show offline status. Go to the connected PC and check for the printer driver. If you have the driver, check for new updates. Update your printer driver and then check for errors. In case, you don’t have a driver on your PC then install it. After installing, reconnect the printer to your computer. Your printer may take a few seconds to recognize the driver. After finding the driver, your printer will start working correctly.

Power restart the printer

You can also get printer issues due to corrupted services. Sometimes the printer services get stuck and the device stops working. This problem mainly appears when the printer is already busy and the user sends new commands. Some services may not read the changes correctly and get into errors. A simple restart may not fix the problems. When your printer is ON, eject the power cord. Now reconnect the cord after 5 seconds. All the printer services will start running from the beginning. Reconnect the printer to your PC and try to take printouts of your documents.

Reset the printer

You can get offline issues on your printer when some printer settings are invalid. To fix the problem, fix the printer settings. Go to the printer and open the Menu. Now check for all the settings. Undo the recent changes on your printer. If you can’t fix the printer settings manually then use the reset tool. On printer settings, check for the Reset option. Select Reset all options and run the function. Your printer will reset to factory settings. After resetting the printer, it will start working correctly.

Check the cartridges

Sometimes, printers may get issues when the cartridges are not installed correctly. Go to your printer and eject the cartridges. Clean the cartridges and slots. Now reinstall them carefully. If any cartridge is empty, replace it. You can also refill the cartridges and take the printouts.

By Anurag Rathod

Anurag Rathod is an Editor of Appclonescript.com, who is passionate for app-based startup solutions and on-demand business ideas. He believes in spreading tech trends. He is an avid reader and loves thinking out of the box to promote new technologies.