Why does my Canon printer say it is offline?
Encountering the "Printer is offline" error with your Canon printer can be frustrating, especially when you're in the middle of printing something important. This error is common with both Windows and Mac users and is usually related to connectivity issues, incorrect settings, or outdated drivers. In this blog, we’ll explore the potential reasons your Canon printer offline and provide troubleshooting steps to help you get your printer back online.
Common Causes for Canon Printer Showing as Offline
Connection Issues: The most common reason for a printer to appear offline is a problem with the connection between the printer and your computer or network. This can be due to poor Wi-Fi signals, unplugged cables, or printer network settings being misconfigured.
Printer Not Set as Default: Sometimes, your computer may not have your Canon printer set as the default printing device, which can cause it to appear offline.
Outdated or Corrupted Drivers: Printer drivers act as the communication link between your computer and the printer. If these drivers are outdated, corrupted, or incompatible with your operating system, your printer might display an offline error.
Print Spooler Issues: The print spooler manages all the print jobs sent to your printer. If there's a problem with the spooler, it may stop the communication between your printer and computer, causing it to go offline.
Printer Settings: Your Canon printer could be set to "Use Printer Offline" mode in your system settings, making it show as unavailable even if it's correctly connected.
Firewall or Security Software: Sometimes, firewalls or security software block the printer’s network communication, preventing it from working correctly and showing it as offline.
How to Fix Canon Printer Offline Error
Step 1: Check Your Printer Connection
Start by ensuring that your Canon printer is properly connected:
For Wi-Fi printers: Make sure your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. Check the Wi-Fi light on your printer to see if it’s on and connected.
For USB printers: Make sure the USB cable is properly connected to both the printer and the computer.
Restart your router, computer, and printer to ensure all devices can reconnect properly.
Step 2: Set Your Canon Printer as the Default Printer
In many cases, setting your Canon printer as the default printing device can resolve the offline issue:
For Windows:
Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
When you right-click on your Canon printer, select Set as default printer.
If there are multiple printers listed, make sure that only your Canon printer is set as default.
For Mac:
Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Select your Canon printer from the list and set it as the default printer.
Step 3: Disable "Use Printer Offline" Mode
Your system settings might accidentally be set to offline mode, making your printer unavailable:
For Windows:
Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
When you right-click on your Canon printer, choose View what's printing.
Click on the Printer menu at the top and uncheck Use Printer Offline.
For Mac:
Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Click on your Canon printer and open the Queue.
Make sure that the printer is not paused.
Step 4: Restart the Print Spooler (Windows)
In Windows, print tasks are managed by the print spooler service. Restarting it can often fix offline printer issues:
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type services.msc and press Enter.
Scroll down and find Print Spooler in the list.
Right-click on it and select Restart.
Step 5: Update or Reinstall Canon Printer Drivers
Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause connectivity problems, leading to an offline error. Updating or reinstalling the drivers might solve the issue:
For Windows:
Go to Device Manager (press Windows + X and select it from the list).
Expand the Printers section.
Right-click on your Canon printer and choose Update Driver or Uninstall Device (and then reinstall the latest drivers from Canon’s website).
For Mac:
Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Select your Canon printer and click the minus (–) button to remove it.
Download the latest drivers from Canon's website and reinstall the printer.
Step 6: Check for Network Issues
If your Canon printer is wireless, network issues can cause it to appear offline:
Restart your router and check the Wi-Fi signal strength where the printer is located.
Make sure there are no IP address conflicts. You may want to assign a static IP to the printer through the router settings.
Ensure the printer is on the same network as your computer.
Step 7: Disable Firewall or Security Software Temporarily
Sometimes, firewalls or security software block your printer’s connection. Temporarily disable your firewall or security software and try to print. If this solves the problem, add your printer to the list of allowed devices in your firewall settings.
Step 8: Reset the Canon Printer
If all else fails, try resetting your Canon printer to its default factory settings. To learn how to reset your printer specifically, consult the handbook that came with it. This can resolve complex network and setting-related issues.
FAQs
Why does my Canon printer keep going offline?
This can happen due to poor Wi-Fi connections, outdated drivers, or printer settings. Ensuring your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network and updating drivers usually resolves this issue.
How can I avoid future offline times with my Canon printer?
Keeping your printer's firmware and drivers updated, setting it as the default printer, and ensuring a stable Wi-Fi connection can prevent the offline issue from recurring.
How do I reconnect my Canon printer to Wi-Fi?
Follow the printer’s manual instructions to reconnect to the Wi-Fi network. Generally, you can do this via the printer's control panel by selecting your Wi-Fi network and entering the password.
Can I still print if my Canon printer shows offline?
No, when a printer shows offline, it cannot receive print jobs. You must resolve the offline issue before printing.
Conclusion
Dealing with a Canon printer that shows up as offline can be frustrating, but it’s usually a simple fix. Most of the time, it’s a connection or setting issue that can be resolved by checking your Wi-Fi, ensuring your printer is set as default, updating drivers, or disabling offline mode. Following these troubleshooting steps should help get your Canon printer back online and working smoothly.
