jain_helpdesk JA

printer keeps showing offline even though it's on wifi

HP printer, connected to the same wifi as my laptop, prints a test page from its own menu fine. but windows says offline about half the time and jobs just sit in the queue. restarting both fixes it for a day. what's the permanent fix?
fix printer offline
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ira_tech Nov 05, 2026
jain_helpdesk
Nine times out of ten the printer's IP address changed. The router hands out addresses and after a restart the printer gets a new one, but Windows is still looking at the old one. Print a network config page from the printer (usually in its settings menu) to see the current IP. Then in your router set an address reservation for the printer so it keeps it. Remove and re-add the printer in Windows after that. Also check that 'Use Printer Offline' isn't ticked: open the print queue, click the Printer menu. And some printers drop off wifi in deep sleep, there's usually an eco or sleep setting to turn down.
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