Printer offline-How can I change it to "on-line"

Anonymous
2011-01-04T17:10:46+00:00

How can I change a printer that is networked from "off-line" to  "online" to one computer?

Ours is accessible to my computer but not my wife's as her status is "off-line."

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2011-01-05T05:30:21+00:00

Hi WVseagull,

Check the status of the printer at Control Panel. Set it to online if it’s shown as offline. If this doesn’t fix the problem, check whether installing the vista driver available at your printer manufacturer’s website helps.

Step 1:

a. Click Start, go to Control Panel and select Hardware and Sound.

b. Click Printer.

c. If the Printer is offline, it shows “Offline” status. If the Printer is online it shows “Ready”.

d. If the Printer is offline, set it to online.

e. Right-click on the printer and select “Use Printer Online”.

f. The display should change to ready when the printer is set to online.

Step 2:

If still you are facing issues, then update the printer driver. This should fix the problem.

Update drivers: recommended links

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Update-drivers-recommended-links

Hope this information is helpful.

Praseetha K

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-04-28T14:30:07+00:00

    Make sure you are trying to communicate to the printer through the correct port.

    From the control panel, right click on the target printer that is currently showing up as "Offline."  Select "Properties," then go to the "Ports" tab. You will see a list of ports and IP Addresses. Ensure that there is a check in the box by your target printer's port/IP Address, then make sure to click "Apply."  If there is no check in the box by your tartget printer's port/IP Address, then your computer isn't communicating to the printer through the appropriate port. (To make it extremely simple to understand: As far as ports go, it's like trying to call a friend named "Mike" by dialing your friend "Jake's" phone number... You're never gonna reach Mike, even if Jake's phone is working fine.)

    I really hope this helps.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-04-25T17:51:57+00:00

    My printers will not let me change the status for offline use. The "Use printer offline" boxes are checked for both printers, and the text is grey, not black. It will not allow me to uncheck the boxes. Any suggestions? I printed from both printers yesterday without issue, and from one of them this morning. When I tried to print a second document the printers were both offline.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-04-25T13:30:48+00:00

    This happened to me today. I am using Windows 7 64bit

    Open Control Panel and click on Hardware and Sound.

    Click on Devices and Printers. The printer should be shown.

    Double click on the printer icon. At the top of the next screen it will show printer offline.

    Click on this and a small box will open with the name of your printer. Hit OK

    Another small box will appear with three headers. Printer Document View.

    Click on Printer, and uncheck "Use printer Offline"

    Hope this helps.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-04-18T06:47:03+00:00

    On Windows 7 Home Premium - there's no such option to turn the status on. I think I once had the same issue on XP or Vista and it was the same thing - no option.

    I'm not sure how all these peoples in different forums are talking about this the same way - right click and change the status to on. So easy.

    If it was like that - there wouldn't be so many posting about it.

    And I'm not sure - why this has to be so hard? Why can't this simple option be found?

    Or if it is a driver issue - why can't we get a message about that.

    By the way - I re-installed the driver and that did not do anything.

    Can you guys at Microsoft explain, explain?

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