Laserjet Printer Won't Print Says Offline When Not How do you fix?

[mozartbach1971]

I have an HP LaserJet printer and recently when I tried to print a shipping label on Stamps.com it would give an error message saying the printer was offline when it was not. I have to turn off the printer and log off and on several times before it would start printing.  The problem seems to be getting worse. Does anyone know how to fix this problem?

[wastingtime101]

Turn off printer, reboot router, then turn on printer and reconnect printer to wifi after router is rebooted.

[mozartbach1971]

Turn off printer, reboot router, then turn on printer and reconnect printer to wifi after router is rebooted.

When you say reboot the router, do you mean to turn off the modem and turn it on again?

[wastingtime101]

It depends. If you have a separate modem and router, reboot the router. If you have a 2-in-1 modem and router, then reboot that unit.

Usually when I get a printer offline message, it's because I'm having a connection issue and rebooting the router then reconnecting the printer to the wifi fixes it.

Edit: and yeah, reboot essentially means turn it off, count to 10, then turn it on again. 🙂

[wastingtime101]

Hope that helps. I'm signing off. If you're still having troubles come back and @rfmtm may have more suggestions for you if they're around this weekend.

[rfmtm]

Is your printer connected by WiFi or USB?

What OS and Browser are you using?

Does this only happen with stamps.com?

[mozartbach1971]

Is your printer connected by WiFi or USB?

What OS and Browser are you using?

Does this only happen with stamps.com?

It is connected with WiFi. I use Microsoft Edge Browser.  So far I think this has just happened with Stamps.com.

[rfmtm]

I doubt this is a stamps.com problem, and if only happening when printing through the browser I'd first make sure your browser is up to date.   Then I'd try setting Edge to open and print PDF files with Adobe and not its built in reader.  If still a problem I would try a different browser, again set to use Adobe.

If this also happens when printing files directly to the printer (not from a browser), then I would check the printer driver is up to date and run the network and printer troubleshooter/tests.

[wastingtime101]

I think OP uses the stamps.com software, not the website.

Perhaps try downloading the labels, do not print direct from software.

[mozartbach1971]

I doubt this is a stamps.com problem, and if only happening when printing through the browser I'd first make sure your browser is up to date.   Then I'd try setting Edge to open and print PDF files with Adobe and not its built in reader.  If still a problem I would try a different browser, again set to use Adobe.

If this also happens when printing files directly to the printer (not from a browser), then I would check the printer driver is up to date and run the network and printer troubleshooter/tests.

It seems to be happening randomly, right now I was able to print with no problems.

[wastingtime101]

---

@mozartbach1971 wrote:

It seems to be happening randomly, right now I was able to print with no problems.

---

Has the problem recurred since rebooting your router and reconnecting the printer to wifi?

[mozartbach1971]

I actually have not rebooted my router yet.

[rfmtm]

If it is happening randomly, I'd open your router's control panel and look for any conflicts.  Or uninstall and reinstall the printer so it creates a fresh network connection.

[rfmtm]

You do want to reboot the router, as often this will clear any conflicts that may be causing an intermittent problem.

[mozartbach1971]

You do want to reboot the router, as often this will clear any conflicts that may be causing an intermittent problem.

Is rebooting just turning the modem off for awhile and just turning it on again?