You get down to print something on paper. Everything is okay. You hit “Print.” and your computer goes ahead to inform you that your printer is offline.
Doesn’t ring a bell?
This is perhaps the most frequent and infuriating issue people encounter with wireless and wired printers. And if you have an Epson model, you may be dealing with a similar but different issue: Epson printer WiFi not working.
The good news? Once you’re aware of likely culprits, these problems are probably simple to fix.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll dissect:
What “printer showing offline” really means
Why it occurs—i.e., with wireless printers such as Epson
Step-by-step solutions to get your printer online
Some additional tips for WiFi and network problems
Let’s get your printer working.
What Does “Printer Showing Offline” Actually Mean?
If your printer displays as offline, don’t panic, it’s not because it’s broken. What it actually implies is that your printer is presently not communicating with your computer.
This communication breakdown may be due to:
A network problem (with wireless printers)
Power save or sleep
Driver or software failure
Paper jam or hardware error
Misconfigured printer settings
Depending on your setup—wired USB, WiFi, shared network, or cloud print—the problem and solution will differ.
General Troubleshooting: Resolving Any Offline Printer
It’s always a good idea to try some generic solutions, which will succeed in almost all situations, before trying device-specific solutions.
1. Check Power and Connection
Yes, it is simple—but do it:
Is the printer on?
Are there any lights on the control panel that indicate a fault?
If it’s a USB, is the plug fully seated on both ends?
If it’s a wireless printer, is it connected to the same WiFi as your computer?
2. Restart Everything
Power cycling is usually the fastest solution:
Turn off your printer and unplug the power cable
Reboot your computer
Reboot your WiFi router (if printing wirelessly)
Plug in the printer and reboot
This removes temporary insects and restarts the network handshake.
3. Clear the Print Queue
A hung job in the print queue may put the printer offline.
On Windows:
Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Right-click your printer > See what’s printing
Cancel all documents
On Mac:
System Preferences > Printers & Scanners
Select the printer > Open Print Queue
Cancel all jobs
Solutions for Windows Users
If you’re on a Windows PC and your printer is showing offline, try the following:
Set Printer as Default
Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners
Tap on your printer > Manage
Tap Set as default
Windows occasionally accidentally prints to a “virtual printer” like Microsoft Print to PDF.
Disable “Use Printer Offline”
Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Right-click your printer > See what’s printing
Click Printer in the menu bar
Ensure “Use Printer Offline” is not selected
Run Printer Troubleshooter
Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot
Printer > Run troubleshooter
Windows will search for generic problems and try automatic repairs.
Mac User Fixes
Offline printing problems on the Mac could be due to old drivers or network settings.
Reset Print System
System Preferences > Printers & Scanners
Right-click (or Control-click) on printers list
Select Reset printing system
Re-assign your printer
Check Network Connection
Ensure that Mac and printer are connected to the same WiFi network
If you’re using AirPrint, make sure Bonjour is on on your router settings
Update Printer Software
System Preferences > Software Update
Update any pending printer or driver updates that can be installed
Epson Printer WiFi Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It
An Epson printer is a very good machine, but the wireless bit can be a bit tricky—if you’ve just updated your router, network, or password.
If your Epson printer WiFi isn’t working, do this:
1. Reconnect to WiFi Using the Control Panel
Printer screen:
Home > Wi-Fi Setup > Wi-Fi Setup Wizard
Select your network name (SSID)
Put in the proper WiFi password
Wait for the “connection successful” message
2. Reset WiFi Settings
If it still does not sync:
Settings > Restore Default Settings > Wi-Fi/Network Settings
Re-set up the above process after reset
3. Reinstall Epson Drivers
Maybe your printer is not communicating with your device properly due to outdated software.
Visit Epson’s support page
Enter your printer model number
Download the latest driver and Epson Connect Utility
Install and restart your computer
4. Install the Epson iPrint App
If you’re printing from a smartphone or tablet, try using Epson’s official app:
Download Epson iPrint from the App Store or Google Play
Open the app and let it auto-detect nearby Epson printers
This usually works better than native OS print functionality.
Printer Offline on WiFi? Check These Network Issues
Sometimes, however, the issue isn’t the printer or the computer—it’s the network.
Are Both Devices on the Same Network?
If your laptop is on a guest Wi-Fi or secondary band (like 5GHz and not 2.4GHz), they won’t see each other.
Make sure your printer and laptop are both connected to the same SSID
Is Your Firewall Blocking Printing?
Antivirus programs or firewalls might interfere with traffic over the local network
Disable your firewall temporarily and try printing
If that works, create an exception rule so that the printer will connect
IP Address Conflict
Go into your router settings and give your printer a static IP
This keeps it from changing every time your network is rebooted
Business Solutions to Chronic Offline Issues
Still having trouble?
- Check Firmware Updates
Outdated printer firmware may be the cause of communication problems
Visit the Epson support page, download Firmware Updater, and install it
- Re-add Printer Manually with IP Address
Locate your printer IP address from the printer menu
Go to “Add Printer” from your Mac or PC
Select “Add by IP address” and add manually
This makes a direct connection irrespective of network discovery working or not.
FAQs
Q: My printer occasionally goes offline at random. Why is that?
A: Maybe due to WiFi outages, sleep mode configuration, or IP automatic change. Assigning it a static IP can fix the issue.
Q: Is an internet connection required to wirelessly print?
A: No. If your computer and printer are on the same local WiFi network, you can print offline.
Q: Is my printer WiFi?
A: Most printers will have a network status page. Print one off the settings menu to display signal strength and IP address.
H2: Last Thoughts: From Frustration to Fix
Worst is a gadget that’s going to “work” and won’t. But if your printer is marked as offline, don’t worry. Nine times out of ten it’s merely a connection glitch that will pass—not some death-in-life hardware problem.
Whether you’re experiencing general offline problems or your Epson printer’s WiFi is not communicating, these steps should be able to make you online and printing within a matter of minutes.
And if that fails, don’t panic at having to reinstall the printer from scratch. And don’t panic, your manufacturer support tool (e.g., Epson Connect or HP Smart) will get you through it.
H3: Have a simple issue?
Visit PrinterNotWorking.com—your one-stop page for printer issues. WiFi won’t connect? Paper jam? We’ve got you covered.