Why Is My Canon Printer Offline?

Printing problems can be frustrating, especially when your Canon printer suddenly goes offline. This problem is common and can be caused by a variety of factors, such as connection issues, incorrect setup, outdated drivers, or hardware failure. In this blog, we will explore the possible reasons why your Canon printer goes offline and provide you with detailed troubleshooting steps.

Why Is My Canon Printer Offline?

A Canon printer may appear offline due to various reasons like lost connection, no default printer set, print spooler issues, printer offline mode enabled, etc.

Connection Lost

One of the main reasons a Canon printer goes offline is a lost connection. If you’re using a wired connection, a loose or damaged cable could be the culprit. For wireless printers, a Wi-Fi network outage or incorrect network settings could cause the printer to go offline. Check these three issues to see if they can help get your printer working again:

• Your printer isn’t properly connected to computer or network.
• The USB cable is loose or damaged.
• The Wi-Fi signal is weak or lost.

Printer Not Set as Default

If your Canon printer is not set as the default printer, your computer may be trying to send the print job to another printer or a virtual printer (such as Microsoft Print to PDF), causing it to appear offline.

Outdated or Corrupt Drivers

Additionally, your printer may also show as offline if the printer driver is out of date, missing, or corrupted. It is the communication bridge between the computer and the printer.

Print Spooler Issues

This can be an uncommon cause. The print spooler is a service that manages print jobs on your computer. If the print spooler encounters an error or stops working, it can cause your Canon printer to go offline.

Use Printer Offline Mode Enabled

Windows and Mac allow users to enable a “Use Printer Offline” mode. If this mode is enabled, your Canon printer will not be recognized as online and your computer will not be able to communicate with the printer.

Other Issues

Sometimes, your firewall or antivirus software can block the printer from communicating with your computer, causing it to appear offline. Additionally, hardware issues, such as a malfunctioning printer or a damaged component, can also cause this problem.

How Do I Get My Canon Printer Back Online?

Now that we have identified the possible reasons why your Canon printer is offline, let’s explore how to get it back online with a step-by-step solution.

Check Printer Connections

If you are using a wired printer, first check that all USB cables are securely connected, then try using a different port.

If you are using a wireless printer, check that it is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. If the network is properly connected, restart the router and connect your computer and printer again. Check out the blogs How to Change Canon Printer WiFi, How to Add Brother Printer to Computer and How to Change Wi-Fi on HP Printer to learn more.

Restart the Printer and Reinstall the Cartridge

Restarting your printer is the quickest and most convenient way to solve most Canon printer offline problems. Turn off the printer, unplug the power plug, wait about 1 minute, and then turn it back on.

In addition, improper installation of the printer cartridges can cause the printer to not work properly. If you suspect that there is a problem with the toner or ink cartridges, remove and reinstall them.

Set Your Printer as Default

Open your computer settings and you can check under “Printers & scanners” to see if your Canon printer is the default printer. If not, follow the steps below to set your Canon printer as the default printer.

• Open the Control Panel on your computer.
• Navigate to “Devices and Printers”.
• Right-click on the Canon printer and select “Set as Default Printer”.
• A green check mark should appear on the printer icon, indicating that it is the default printer.
• Try printing a test page to confirm that the issue has been resolved.

Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

You can also get your Canon printer offline by updating the Canon printer driver.

For Windows users:

• Open “Device Manager” on your computer.
• Find your Canon printer under “Printers.”
• Right-click it and select “Update Driver.”
• Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

If the update doesn’t work, uninstall the driver and download the latest version from the Canon official website.

• Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
• Choose “Printers & Scanners.”
• Select your printer and click the “-” button to remove it.
• Re-add the printer by clicking the “+” button and selecting it from the list.

Restart the Print Spooler Service

If the above troubleshooting is unsuccessful, your print spooler service may not be working properly, try restarting it.

• Press “Windows + R” to open the Run dialog.
• Type “services.msc” and press “Enter.”
• Scroll down and find “Print Spooler.”
• Right-click on it and select “Restart.”

After restarting, print a document to check if the problem is resolved.

Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode

Plus, you can follow the steps below to check if your Canon printer is in “Use Printer Offline” mode and cancel this option. This should allow your Canon printer to communicate with the computer again.

• Open the “Control Panel.”
• Navigate to “Devices and Printers.”
• Right-click your Canon printer and choose “See what’s printing.”
• Click “Printer” in the top menu and uncheck “Use Printer Offline.”

See the Error Message

If none of the above solutions work, pay close attention to any error messages that appear on your computer or printer screen. These messages may provide clues to specific problems affecting your printer. For example:

If you receive a firewall or antivirus warning, try temporarily disabling your security software and see if the printer connects.

If the error message indicates a hardware problem (such as a paper jam or low ink), resolving these issues may get your printer back online. Read the blog How to Fix a Paper Jam in a Canon Printer to learn more.

If the printer is still unresponsive, try resetting it to factory settings and setting it up again from scratch. Read the blog How to Reset Canon Printer to learn more.

Wrap It Up

A Canon printer showing offline can be a frustrating problem, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve it quickly. Whether the problem is due to a lost connection, outdated drivers, or software conflicts, following the above solutions should help get your printer back online.