When Windows says a networked printer is offline -- but is connected

My HP inkjet printer is connected directly to my office network. Today, I could not print a spreadsheet, because Windows insisted the printer was offline -- even though the printer was turned on, connected to the network, and online.

I searched for a solution, and found it quickly: this problem occurs when your network router assigns a different IP [Internet protocol] address to the printer, but Windows doesn't know about it.

Here is how to solve the problem:

1. Determine the current IP address of the printer. (I do this through my router's Web interface.)

2. Change the IP address in Windows, as follows:
a. Click Start and then Printers.
b. Right-click the problematic printer icon, and then choose Printer Properties.
c. Select the Ports tab.
d. Find the port for this printer; it'll look something like 192.168.1.7. 
e. Click Configure Port.
f. In the Printer Name or IP Address text field, enter the correct IP address. 
(Leave the Port Name alone, because you cannot edit it here.)
g. Click OK for all the open dialog boxes.

The printer should now work.

Comments

[Jim longley]

Or, perhaps, assign thee printer a static IP address, as I eventually did with my K8600

[Mally]

And all the while I'm thinking why why why Windows? Why would you do that? Why?

Over the years I've lost so much time rebooting pcs and printers alike, sometimes alternately, sometimes synchronously. I hear it's not rocket science, but what do I know? /sigh

[happyrecipe!]

YES! Thank you so, so much! It finally works after weeks and weeks trying to figure out why the stupid printer won't work! Thanks again!

[Chris]

Thanks, this post was really useful. Been ages trying to figure out why I could scan and yet not print.

[dan]

thank you! very helpful post, resolved my issue with the printer being offline

[Alex]

Thanks this resolved the issue immediately

[David Lowe]

Good Post, I have no idea why my printer port configuration would change from one day to the next without being taken off the network. Once DHCP set an IP address it shouldn't take it away and assign a new one and in this case it was the same exact IP Address.