How do I change my printer status to online? It is currently offline and will not allow me to print.

Anonymous
2010-03-25T14:58:35+00:00

I cancelled some print requests and it put my printer to status offline and I cannot figure out how to get it back to online!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2010-03-26T03:05:11+00:00

Hi Steve7878,

You may also try these:

1.       Open the Start menu and click on the "Printers and Faxes" icon. This will open a window with a list of the printers currently set up on your computer.

2.       Double-click on the icon of the printer you want to change to online. A pop-up window detailing all current print jobs will open.

3.       Go to "Printer" in the menu bar of the pop-up window and uncheck "Use Printer Offline." This action will change the printer from offline to online.

Also change the default printer by following the steps in “Change your default printer” http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Change-your-default-printer

Diana DMicrosoft Answers Support Engineer

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T11:04:45+00:00

    Not helpful.  It was already unchecked.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-01T12:20:20+00:00

    The 'use printer offline' line of the menu is not operative ie it is greyed out and cannot be clicked. So the fix didnt work.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-20T02:53:29+00:00

    I found out that if you uninstall your printer and update your printer driver and reinstall it worked for me and m printer hasn't gone offline since.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-19T20:58:03+00:00

    Not the least bit helpful. I have windows 10 which changes EVERYTHING

    Problem has me upset with Microsoft products. This has been an on and off problem with three different printers I have used with the same laptop. I can usually get them started but always takes three or more hours of frustration and then can't figure out what I did or Microsoft products did.

    I believe the big M really does not care about average folks to spend a little time on this issue to get it fixed.

    Good luck all, I'm on my second hour of trying all those tricks.

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