Your printer is connected to WiFi.
The wireless light is solid.
Your phone can even see it.
But your computer says:
If you’re searching “printer offline but WiFi connected,” you’re dealing with one of the most confusing printer problems. And the truth is, this issue has very little to do with WiFi itself.
I’m Mark Thomson, a printer support specialist with over 10 years of experience resolving printer offline and connectivity issues. At Printer Offline Fix, this is one of the most common support cases we handle.
The good news?
In most situations, your printer is not broken. It’s a communication or configuration problem between your computer and the printer.
Let’s fix it step by step.
Why Does My Printer Say Offline But WiFi Is Connected?
When your printer is connected to WiFi but shows offline, it means:
Your printer is on the network,
but your computer cannot communicate with it correctly.
This usually happens due to:
- Incorrect printer port (WSD vs TCP/IP)
- IP address mismatch
- Driver conflicts
- Windows update changes
- Print Spooler service errors
- Firewall blocking communication
- Bi-directional support conflicts
The wireless connection works.
The system communication does not.
Understanding that difference is important.
The Most Common Cause: IP Address Mismatch
Here’s what happens frequently.
Your printer connects to WiFi successfully.
Your router assigns it an IP address like:
192.168.1.25
Later, your router restarts.
Now your printer receives:
192.168.1.42
Your computer is still trying to print to the old IP.
Result:
Printer offline.
Even though WiFi is connected perfectly.
This is why assigning a static IP often permanently solves the problem.
How to Fix Printer Offline But WiFi Connected
Follow these steps carefully in order.
Step 1: Disable “Use Printer Offline”
Sometimes Windows switches this setting automatically.
- Open Control Panel
- Go to Devices and Printers
- Right-click your printer
- Click “See what’s printing”
- Click Printer (top menu)
- Uncheck “Use Printer Offline”
If that box was enabled, your printer should immediately show online.
Step 2: Restart Print Spooler Service
Print Spooler manages communication between your PC and printer.
- Press Windows + R
- Type services.msc
- Find Print Spooler
- Right-click → Restart
Test print again.
If still offline, continue.
Step 3: Check Printer Port Settings (Very Important)
This is where most issues are found.
- Right-click printer
- Select Printer Properties
- Click Ports tab
If the selected port says:
WSD-xxxx
Switch to:
Standard TCP/IP Port
WSD ports are unstable and often cause printers to show offline even when connected.
Add new TCP/IP port using your printer’s current IP address.
This single change fixes a large percentage of cases.
Step 4: Confirm Printer IP Address
Print a network configuration page from your printer.
Confirm:
- It has a valid IP address
- The IP matches your router’s range
If IP starts with 169.x.x.x, printer failed to connect properly.
Reconnect printer to WiFi.
Step 5: Assign a Static IP Address
If your printer IP changes, offline errors will return.
To prevent this:
- Log into your router
- Go to DHCP reservation
- Assign permanent IP to printer
- Save
Static IP ensures stable communication.
Step 6: Reinstall Official Driver
If the problem started after a Windows update:
- Remove printer from Devices
- Download official driver from manufacturer
- Install manually
- Add printer using TCP/IP address
Avoid generic Windows drivers.
Printer Offline But WiFi Connected on Windows 10
Windows 10 often installs printers using WSD automatically.
After updates:
- Drivers may reset
- Ports may change
- Spooler may stop
If your printer shows offline on Windows 10 but WiFi works, port configuration is usually the issue.
Switching to TCP/IP port and assigning static IP stabilizes the setup.
Printer Offline But WiFi Connected on Windows 11
Windows 11 introduced stricter network security and driver handling.
Common Windows 11 causes:
- Driver incompatibility
- Network discovery disabled
- Firewall restrictions
- Port reset after update
If your printer worked before upgrading to Windows 11 and now shows offline, reinstalling the correct driver and fixing port settings is essential.
Printer Works From Phone But Not Computer
If your printer prints from your phone but not your PC:
Your printer is connected correctly.
Your computer configuration is wrong.
This confirms the issue is:
- Driver
- Port
- IP
- Windows service
Focus troubleshooting on the computer.
Why Restarting Temporarily Fixes It
Restarting:
- Refreshes network
- Reassigns IP
- Restarts spooler
- Re-registers printer
But if dynamic IP or WSD port remains, the problem returns.
Permanent solution requires configuration change.
Firewall and Antivirus Interference
Sometimes security software blocks printer communication.
Try:
- Temporarily disabling firewall
- Allowing printer through firewall
- Ensuring network type is set to Private
Public network settings can restrict printer discovery.
Bi-Directional Support Conflict
Bi-directional support allows two-way communication.
If unstable, Windows may mark printer offline.
To test:
- Open Printer Properties
- Go to Ports tab
- Uncheck “Enable bi-directional support”
- Apply changes
This often improves stability.
When It’s a Router Issue
Sometimes your router:
- Assigns unstable IP addresses
- Uses 5GHz only (printer supports 2.4GHz)
- Has strict firewall rules
Ensure:
- 2.4GHz band enabled
- DHCP functioning properly
- Printer on same network as computer
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my printer offline but WiFi light is on?
Because the printer is connected to the network, but your computer cannot communicate with it due to incorrect IP or port settings.
How do I permanently fix printer offline but WiFi connected?
Switch to TCP/IP port, assign static IP, restart Print Spooler, and install official drivers.
Do I need a new printer?
No. This is almost always a configuration issue.
Why does printer go offline after router restart?
Because IP address changes and Windows still looks for old address.
Can Windows update cause printer offline error?
Yes. Updates often replace drivers or reset port configuration.
The Real Root Cause
When printer is offline but WiFi connected, the issue is not wireless connectivity.
It’s communication configuration.
The printer and computer are both on the network — but they’re not speaking correctly.
Fix the port.
Fix the IP.
Fix the driver.
Disable unstable settings.
That’s how you stop recurring offline errors.
Final Thoughts
If your printer is offline but WiFi connected, don’t panic.
It’s not hardware failure.
It’s not WiFi speed.
It’s not ink levels.
It’s configuration.
At Printer Offline Fix, we resolve these issues daily by correcting communication settings rather than repeatedly reinstalling devices.
Small adjustments create stable printing.
And once properly configured, your printer stays online reliably.
If you’ve tried the steps above and still see offline status, deeper network conflicts may be involved — but they’re still fixable.
Your printer can work again.
It just needs the right setup.
