Your printer says Offline or Not Responding on your Mac

Why it happens

Your Mac lost touch with the printer. That often happens after the Mac or printer sleeps, after a router restart gives the printer a new address, or when an old job is stuck in the queue. The printer is fine, the Mac just needs to find it again.

How to fix it

1. Turn the printer off, wait ten seconds and turn it on. Let it finish starting up.

2. Check the printer's screen or Wi-Fi light. It must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac, not a guest network.

3. Open System Settings, click Printers & Scanners, click your printer and then click Printer Queue. If you see Resume, click it. If a job is stuck at the top, select it and delete it.

   Printers & Scanners

4. Still Offline? Back in Printers & Scanners, click the printer and choose Remove Printer, then click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax and add it again.

   Printers & Scanners

Still not fixed?

1. Add the printer by its IP address instead. Find the address on the printer's screen, then in the Add window click the IP tab, type it and click Add. Choose AirPrint or IPP if it asks.

   Printers & Scanners

2. Restart your router and your Mac, then try again. A new address from the router is a common cause.

3. Update the printer's own software from its screen or the maker's app. Old printer firmware often drops off the network.

4. As a last step on the Mac, reset the printing system. Control-click the printer list and choose Reset Printing System. This removes every printer, so you'll need to add them again.

   Printers & Scanners

5. If the printer shows Offline on every computer and phone too, it's the printer, so contact its maker or a repair shop. If only this Mac can't reach it, contact Apple Support.