HP DeskJet 4155e Offline — Fix Guide for Windows & Mac (2026)

The HP DeskJet 4155e goes offline because Windows loses the printer’s IP address, the WSD port becomes stale, or the “Use Printer Offline” setting gets accidentally enabled. In most cases, the fix takes under 10 minutes and requires no new hardware or paid software. This guide covers every cause and fix for Windows 10, Windows 11, and Mac.

Why Does My HP DeskJet 4155e Keep Going Offline?

Before you start clicking through menus, it helps to understand why this happens — because the right fix depends on the actual cause.

The HP DeskJet 4155e connects to your computer over Wi-Fi. Your router assigns it an IP address dynamically, which means that address can change every time the router restarts. When it does, Windows is still pointing to the old address. The result: your printer is on, connected to Wi-Fi, but your PC can’t reach it — and shows it as offline.

The second common culprit is the WSD port. Windows uses WSD (Web Services for Devices) to auto-discover printers. It’s convenient when it works, but notoriously unstable on home networks. I’ve seen dozens of 4155e cases where simply switching from WSD to a TCP/IP port — and assigning the printer a static IP — ended months of recurring offline issues permanently.

A third cause I see regularly: someone accidentally enables “Use Printer Offline” mode. It’s a setting buried in the print queue that Windows can enable by itself, and it keeps the printer stuck in offline status even when everything else is fine.

How to Fix HP DeskJet 4155e Offline on Windows 10 & 11

Work through these steps in order. Most 4155e users are fixed by Step 3 or 4.

Step 1 — Uncheck “Use Printer Offline”

This takes 30 seconds and fixes the issue more often than you’d think.

1. Press Windows + S, type Printers & scanners, and open it.
2. Click on HP DeskJet 4155e.
3. Click Open print queue.
4. In the queue window, click the Printer menu at the top.
5. If Use Printer Offline has a checkmark next to it, click it to remove the checkmark.
6. Also check that Pause Printing is unchecked.

Try printing. If it works, you’re done. If it comes back, continue.

Step 2 — Restart Printer and Router (in the right order)

This sounds basic, but order matters here.

1. Turn off your HP DeskJet 4155e and unplug it from power.
2. Turn off your Wi-Fi router and unplug it.
3. Wait 60 seconds — not 10, not 30. A full minute lets both devices fully clear their memory.
4. Plug the router back in and wait until it’s fully online (usually 60–90 seconds).
5. Plug the printer back in and power it on.
6. Wait for the wireless light on the 4155e to turn solid blue — that confirms it’s reconnected to Wi-Fi.

Try printing. If it works but keeps coming back after every restart, the root cause is a dynamic IP. Skip to Step 4.

Step 3 — Clear the Print Queue and Restart Print Spooler

A stuck print job can lock the 4155e in an offline state indefinitely.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Scroll down to Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Stop.
3. Open File Explorer and navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
4. Delete everything inside that folder. Don’t delete the folder itself — just its contents.
5. Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
6. Try printing again.

Step 4 — Switch from WSD Port to TCP/IP Port (Permanent Fix)

This is the fix that actually sticks. The WSD port is the root cause of most recurring 4155e offline issues.

First, find your printer’s current IP address:

• On the 4155e’s control panel, tap the Wireless icon.
• Tap Settings, then Print Reports, then Network Configuration Page.
• The IP address is printed on that page (looks like 192.168.1.xxx).

Now switch the port on Windows:

1. Press Windows + R, type control printers, hit Enter.
2. Right-click HP DeskJet 4155e and select Printer properties.
3. Click the Ports tab.
4. Click Add Port.
5. Select Standard TCP/IP Port and click New Port.
6. In the Printer Name or IP Address field, enter the IP address you found above.
7. Follow the wizard and finish.
8. Back on the Ports tab, select your new TCP/IP port and click Apply.

If you see a WSD port listed (it starts with “WSD-“), you can now safely uncheck it.

Step 5 — Assign a Static IP to Your HP DeskJet 4155e

This is the step that makes the fix permanent. Without it, your router will eventually give the 4155e a new IP address, and the offline issue will return.

You do this through your router’s admin panel — not the printer or Windows:

1. Open a browser and go to your router’s admin page. Most home routers use 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
2. Log in (the username and password are usually on the router’s label if you haven’t changed them).
3. Find the section called DHCP Reservation, Address Reservation, or Static DHCP — the name varies by router brand.
4. Find your HP DeskJet 4155e in the connected devices list (it will show as “HP” or similar).
5. Click Reserve or Add Reservation next to it.
6. Save the settings.

Now your router will always give the 4155e the same IP address. The offline issue caused by IP changes is gone for good.

Step 6 — Reinstall the HP DeskJet 4155e Driver

If the steps above haven’t worked, the driver installation is likely corrupted — especially common after a Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade or after a major Windows update.

1. Press Windows + I, go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Click HP DeskJet 4155e and select Remove.
3. Open your browser and go to support.hp.com/us-en/drivers.
4. Search for HP DeskJet 4155e and download the full feature driver.
5. Run the installer and follow the on-screen steps.
6. When asked, choose Wireless as the connection type.

After reinstalling, repeat Step 4 to set the TCP/IP port right away — the fresh install will default back to WSD.