If your HP printer is offline or not responding, follow the troubleshooting steps provided in this article to fix the problem. We recommend that you do each task before moving on to the next when the current task fails to resolve the problem.
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HP Printer Is Offline or Not Responding on PC [Troubleshooting Steps]
1. Ensure that your HP Printer is in Ready State
When your HP printer is in a “Ready” state, then it means it can receive print commands and print. However, certain things can cause your HP printer not to be in this state. Therefore, do the following to ensure that your HP printer is in a Ready state.
i. Ensure that your HP printer isn’t in Sleep mode or turned off. In most cases, pressing your printer’s “Power” button will wake or turn on your HP printer.
ii. Ensure that there is paper in the printer’s input tray. Also, ensure that the width guides of the tray are resting beside the paper stack without squeezing the stack.
iii. Ensure that you are using the right toner or ink cartridge depending on the type of HP printer you own. You should also ensure that the toner or ink in the cartridge is enough for the job you want to print.
iv. Ensure that you don’t have blinking lights or error messages on the control panel of your HP printer. If any light is blinking or there is an error message, ensure that you resolve the issue before you try to print. If you have a blinking light issue, we recommend that you read this detailed article we wrote: HP Printer Flashing [Issues & Solutions] that will guide you on how to resolve the issue. Also, if your HP printer is displaying an error message, this article: HP Printer Errors and Solutions [Detailed]will provide you with solutions to that error.
v. Restart your HP printer to remove error messages. What you need to do is to turn your printer off for about 30 seconds before pressing the power button to turn on your device.
Note that this simple restart might not be sufficient to clear the HP printer is offline or not responding error message. Therefore, you should read this: How to Reset HP Printer [Detailed Guide]to learn other powerful resets that you can use on your HP printer to clear error messages.
In the event that the HP printer is offline or not responding error message doesn’t clear after trying those resets, read this: HP Printer Errors and Solutions [Detailed]where we provide solutions on how to clear a wide range of HP printer error messages.
After doing the above, if your HP printer is offline or not responding, do the next step.
2. Troubleshoot your Offline HP Printer
We will guide you on how to troubleshoot your offline HP printer for both Windows and Mac.
Troubleshooting HP Printers – Printer Is Offline or Not Responding Windows
To troubleshoot your HP printer connected to a Windows computer that is offline or not responding, do the following:
1. Run the Diagnose & Fix Tool
To run the Diagnose & fix tool found in HP Smart App for Windows, do the following:
Step 1: On your Windows computer, open HP Smart App.
If this app is not installed on your Windows computer, go to the Microsoft Store to download it and then install it on your computer.
Step 2: Open the Diagnose & Fix tool. The icon is at the screen’s lowest-left corner.
Step 3: Click on “Start”.
Note: Ensure that you keep the app open during the troubleshooting process.
Step 4: Do the on-screen instructions to fix any detected issue.
Step 5: If your HP printer is offline or not responding after using this tool, other additional resources will be suggested where you can get further help. Alternatively, you can just visit HP Customer Support where you can search for solutions to the issue you have.
2. Run HP Print and Scan Doctor
To run HP Print and Scan Doctor, click this link: HP Printer Printing Blank Pages – How to Run HP Print and Scan Doctor, and follow the instructions provided.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after running the HP Print and Scan Doctor, do the next step.
3. Set your HP Printer as Default
If your HP printer isn’t set as default, your Windows computer will not send print jobs to your printer. This is why you need to confirm that your printer is set as default if your HP printer is offline or not responding.
How to Set your HP Printer as Default in Windows
To set your HP printer as the default in Windows, do the following steps:
Step 1: On your Windows computer, open Windows search.
Step 2: Type “Printers & Scanners” in the search box.
Step 3: Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard or click on “OK” to run the search.
Step 4: Click on “Printers & Scanners” from the search results.
Step 5: Ensure that you uncheck the checkbox beside the “Let Windows manage my default printer” option. When you do this, you can now choose what printer becomes the default.
Step 6: Click on your HP printer from the printer list.
Step 7: Click on “Manage”. If you find multiple names that are the same as your HP printer, choose the printer option that is either online or idle.
Step 8: Click on “Set as default” under the “Manage your device” option.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after setting your printer as default, do the next troubleshooting task.
4. Ensure that Windows Function Discovery Services is Functioning Normally
How to ensure that Windows Function Discovery Services is Functioning Normally
To ensure that Windows function Discovery services is functioning normally, do the following steps:
Step 1: On your Windows computer, open Windows search.
Step 2: Type “Control Panel” in the search box.
Step 3: Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard or click on “OK” to run the search.
Step 4: Click on “Control Panel” from the search results.
Step 5: In the Control Panel, click on “View devices and printers”.
Step 6: Right-click on your HP Printer.
Step 7: Click “Printer Properties”.
Step 8: Click on the tab labeled “Ports”.
Step 9: In the list find a port with a “WSD Port” description.
- If you can’t find a WSD Port, discontinue these steps. Now, print out a Network Configuration Page, then go to your printer’s Embedded Web Server and then generate a manual IP connection. After that, add a Standard TCP/IP printer port.
- If you find a WSD Port, ensure that you click on the checkbox beside it to select it. Once you have done that, continue with step 10.
Step 10: Open Windows search.
Step 11: Type “Services” in the search box.
Step 12: Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard or click on “OK” to run the search.
Step 13: Click on “Services” from the search results.
Step 14: Locate in the services list “Function Discovery Provider Host” and “Function Discovery Resource Publication”.
Step 15: Ensure that you set “Running” as the “Status” and “Automatic” as the “Startup Type” for both services. To change the “Startup Type”, do these:
i. Right-click on the item you want to change. For instance, if the “Function Discovery Provider Host” isn’t running, you should right-click on “Function Discovery Provider Host”.
ii. Click “Properties”.
iii. Select “Automatic” as the Startup Type.
iv. Click “Start”.
v. Click “OK”.
Step 16: Close the window.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after doing these steps, move to the next troubleshooting task.
5. Generate a Manual IP Connection (For HP Wireless Printers only)
How to Generate a Manual IP Connection
To generate a manual IP connection, click this link: HP Printer Error User Intervention – Generate a Manual IP Connection for Wireless Printers, and then follow the steps we shared.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after you have generated a manual IP connection, do the next troubleshooting step.
6. Generate a TCP/IP Port (For HP Wireless Printers only)
How to Generate a TCP/IP Port
To generate a TCP/IP port, click this link: HP Printer Error User Intervention – Generate TCP/IP Port for Wireless HP Printers in Windows, and then follow the steps we shared.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after creating a TCP/IP port, do the next task.
7. Troubleshoot the Connection of your HP Printer
Depending on the type of connection your HP printer uses, follow the steps below to troubleshoot the connection.
USB Connection
To troubleshoot the USB connection of your HP printer, do the following:
Step 1: Turn your HP printer and your computer off.
Step 2: Unplug the USB cord from your computer and HP printer.
Step 3: Examine the USB cord.
- Replace the USB cord if it is longer than 9 feet 10 inches (3 meters) or it is damaged.
- Connect the USB cord to another USB port on your PC if the cord is shorter than 9 feet 10 inches (3 meters). You should use a USB 2.0 port or higher. Do not use a docking station or USB hub; instead, you should connect the USB cord to your computer directly.
Step 4: Connect the USB cord to your HP printer.
Step 5: Turn on your computer and wait for it to boot.
Step 6: Turn on your HP printer and wait for your PC to install your printer.
Note: For Mac computers, you will have to add your HP printer manually.
Wireless Connection
To troubleshoot your HP printer’s wireless connection, do the following checks:
i. Poor network connections: Move your HP printer and PC closer to your wireless router. After changing the position of your devices, confirm if the network connection signal has improved. You can open a webpage on your computer to confirm if the signal is better.
If you have intermittent or slow Wi-Fi, you should restart your wireless router by unplugging the power cable, and then wait for about 15 seconds before your plug back the cable.
ii. Printer is in sleep mode or off: Press your printer’s “Power” button or touch the printer’s control panel to wake your HP printer and get it into a ready state. There are instances when the status of your HP printer might show “Offline” whereas it is ready.
iii. Check the connection status of your HP printer: Ensure that the signal of your wireless network is on. You should also ensure that your HP printer and computer are using the same network. If your HP printer is designed with a wireless button or icon that lights up when connected, ensure that the icon or button is lighted. If the icon or button is blinking or off, it means your HP printer is not connected to your wireless network.
iv. Reconnect your HP printer to your wireless network: Move your HP printer within the signal range of your wireless router, and then reconnect your printer to the wireless network.
- HP Printers with touchscreen control panels: Open the menu for “Wireless Settings”, “Network” or “Setup”, and then choose “Wireless Setup Wizard”. Now, follow the on-screen instructions to choose the name of your wireless network before entering the password.
- HP Printers without touchscreen control panels: Press down your printer’s “Wireless” button until you see the wireless LED indicator begins to flash. Alternatively, you can just press the button for about 5 seconds. Within 2 minutes, press your router’s “WPS” button until your printer and router begin to connect. Once the connection is complete, the wireless LED indicator will stop flashing.
- HP Tango, Envy 6400 and 6000, and Deskjet 6400 and 6000 printers: Press down your printers’ “Wi-Fi” and “Power” buttons at the same time for about 5 seconds until you see the blue bar flash. Within 2 minutes, press your router’s “WPS” button until your printer and router begin to connect. Once the connection is complete, the blue bar will stop flashing.
v. Restart your devices: Restart your HP printer and computer to get rid of any error conditions.
vi. Print out a Wireless Test Report: If you don’t know how to print a Wireless Test Report on your HP printer model, we recommend that you consult your user manual on how to do this. Or you can go to the website for HP Customer Support and then go to the “self-test page” where you should be able to find a document that will guide you on how to print a wireless test report.
vii. Enable your computer’s Bluetooth to enable the setup of the HP Smart app: On your PC, look for the Bluetooth feature and enable it and make it discoverable to enable the HP Smart app to detect your HP printer when the connection setup process begins.
viii. Your printer might be offline due to wireless isolation. We advise that you consult the manufacturer of your router to learn more about this.
Wired Network Connection
To troubleshoot your HP printer wired network connection printer, do the following:
Step 1: Turn your HP printer off.
Step 2: Unplug the Ethernet cord from your router and HP printer.
Step 3: Examine the USB cord for damage. You should also confirm that the cable is indeed an Ethernet cord rather than a phone cord. If it is damaged or not an Ethernet cable, you need to replace it.
Note: Phone and Ethernet cords are very similar in looks which is why many users have mistakenly used the latter when trying to connect their printers to their routers. You can easily distinguish both cables by checking the size and then the number of wires the cables have. Ethernet cords are bigger and they are designed with 8 wires that are visible on the cable connector.
Step 4: Plug the Ethernet cable into another LAN or Ethernet port on your wireless router. Now, connect the cable’s other end to the Ethernet port of your HP printer.
Step 5: Press the power button of your HP printer to turn on your device.
Step 6: Check whether the lights of the Ethernet port of your HP printer are turned on. If they are, then it means you’ve successfully connected your devices. The green LED indicator shouldn’t be blinking; it has to be steady. On the other hand, the orange activity LED indicators shouldn’t be steady; it has to blink.
Step 7: Print out a Network Configuration or Wireless Network Test Results report.
- Inkjet printers that have a control panel menu: On the control panel, open the menu for “Wireless”, “Setup”, or “Network Settings” to find the list of the available reports.
- Inkjet printers that lack a control panel menu: Locate and press the “Information” and “Wireless” buttons at once. Or you can press the buttons for “Start Copy Black” and “Wireless” at once.
- LaserJet printers: Locate and press down the button for “Wireless” until you see the Ready indicator light blink. Or just press the button for about 10 seconds. Or you could enter the menu for Wireless, and then choose “Wireless Network Test”.
- Neverstop Laser and Laser NS printers: Press down the “Wireless” and “Resume” buttons at once for about 3 seconds.
- Tango, ENVY 6400 and 6000, DeskJet 6400 and 6000 printers: Press down the button for “Information”. Do this until you see the button lights on the control panel come on. After that, press the “Resume” and “Information” buttons at once.
Step 8: Check the report and ensure that your device’s “Network Status” indicates “Ready”. If it is not, do the instructions on the report to fix other identified network issues.
Read this article: HP Printer Is Not Responding [Proven Solutions] to learn how to fix other HP printer not responding issues.
Troubleshooting HP Printers – Printer Is Offline or Not Responding (Mac)
To troubleshoot your HP printer connected to a Mac computer that is offline or not responding, do the following:
1. Run the Diagnose & Fix Tool
To run the Diagnose & fix tool found in HP Smart App for Mac, do the following:
Step 1: On your Mac computer, open HP Smart App.
If this app is not installed on your Mac computer, go to the Mac App Store to download it and then install it on your computer.
Step 2: Open the Diagnose & Fix tool.
i. Click your HP printer.
ii. Check the menu bar at the top of the screen and click “Printers”
iii. Click on “Diagnose & Fix”.
Step 3: Click on “Start”.
Note: Ensure that you keep the app open during the troubleshooting process.
Step 4: Do the on-screen instructions to fix any detected issue.
Step 5: If your HP printer is offline or not responding after using this tool, other additional resources will be suggested where you can get further help. Alternatively, you can just visit HP Customer Support and then search for solutions to the issue you have.
2. Remove and then Re-add your HP Printer
How to Remove and then Re-add your HP Printer on Mac
To remove and then re-add your HP printer to Mac, do the following steps:
Step 1: Click on the “Apple” logo/menu.
Step 2: Click on “System Preferences”.
Step 3: Click on “Print and Scan” or “Printers & Scanners”.
Step 4: Highlight your HP printer.
Step 5: Check the end of the printer list and click on the (-) Minus sign.
Step 6: Click on “Delete Printer”.
Step 7: Click on the (+) Plus sign.
Step 8: Follow the on-screen steps to choose and then re-add your HP printer.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after doing the above, do the next task.
3. Reset your Print System
If you rest your Mac’s print system, apart from clearing errors, pending jobs, and even preferences, it will also remove every printer that has been added to your computer. Therefore, you will have to re-add your HP printer after the reset is complete.
How to Reset Print System and then Re-add HP Printer
To reset the print system and then re-add your HP printer, click this link: HP Printer Error in Use – How to Reset the Printing System, and then Re-add your HP Printer, and then follow the steps we shared.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after resetting your print system, do the next troubleshooting task.
4. Generate a Manual IP Connection (For HP Wireless Printers only)
How to Generate a Manual IP Connection
To generate a manual IP connection, click this link: HP Printer Error User Intervention – Generate a Manual IP Connection for Wireless Printers, and then follow the steps we shared.
After doing the steps in the above link, continue with these steps:
Step 1: On your Mac computer, click on the “Apple” icon/menu.
Step 2: Click on “System Preferences”.
Step 3: Click “Print and Scan” or “Printers & Scanners”.
Step 4: Click on the “Plus sign”.
Step 5: Check the upper part of the screen, and then choose the tab labeled “IP”.
Step 6: In the field labeled “Address”, type the IP address of your HP printer.
Step 7: Click on the drop-down arrow for “Protocol”,
Step 8: Choose “Airprint”.
Step 9: In the field labeled “Name”, type the name of your HP printer.
Step 10: In the field for “Use”, ensue that you select the “Generic PostScript Printer” option.
Step 11: Click on “Add”.
Step 12: Add your HP printer by following the on-screen steps.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after doing these steps, do the next troubleshooting step.
5. Troubleshoot the Connection of your HP Printer
We have already shared instructions on how to troubleshoot the connection of your HP printer in this article already. Therefore, check the “Troubleshoot the Connection of your HP Printer” subsection under the “Troubleshooting HP Printers – Printer Is Offline or Not Responding Windows” section of this article.
If your HP printer is offline or not responding after troubleshooting the connection, we recommend you read these articles: HP Printer Offline [Issues & Solutions]and How Do I Change My HP Printer Status from Offline to Online? [Detailed Guide]for further information and solutions.
3. Service your HP Printer
If at this point your HP printer is offline or not responding, then you need to service your printer. Therefore, you should contact HP Customer Support for further assistance. You can schedule a repair date with a customer service agent that will enable a technician to come to service your printer.
