Canon Printer Keeps Going Offline on Windows? Here’s the Solution

Canon printer offline? Check if it’s powered on and connected to WiFi or USB. Set it as the default printer, disable “Use Printer Offline,” and restart the print spooler service.

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There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to print an important document, only to find your Canon printer is offline—again. If you’re using Windows and your Canon printer keeps switching to offline mode, you’re not alone. This is a common issue, and fortunately, it’s usually easy to fix.

In this guide, we’ll explore why your Canon printer keeps going offline on Windows, and walk you through step-by-step solutions to get it back online and working reliably.

Why Does a Canon Printer Go Offline?

When your Canon printer goes offline, it means your computer has lost the ability to communicate with the printer. This could happen for a few reasons:

• Printer is turned off or in sleep mode

• Loose or faulty USB cable (if connected via USB)

• Wi-Fi disconnection or unstable network

• Outdated or corrupted printer drivers

• Print queue errors or stuck jobs

• Windows mistakenly setting the printer to “Use Printer Offline” mode

Now let’s go through how to fix each of these issues.

✅ Step 1: Check Basic Connections

Before anything else, make sure your printer is physically ready to print.

For USB Printers:

• Make sure the USB cable is firmly connected to both the printer and PC.

• Try a different USB port.

• Use a new USB cable if the current one looks worn or damaged.

For Wireless Printers:

• Ensure the printer is connected to your Wi-Fi network.

• Make sure your PC is on the same Wi-Fi network.

• Restart your printer and router.

✅ Tip: If your printer has a screen, check the network or wireless status icon to confirm it’s online.

✅ Step 2: Set Canon as the Default Printer

Windows may be sending your print jobs to a different printer (like a virtual PDF printer), which causes confusion.

How to Set Your Canon Printer as Default:

1. Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.

2. Right-click your Canon printer and select Set as default printer.

3. If another printer was selected, Windows may have been routing your jobs incorrectly.

✅ Step 3: Disable “Use Canon Printer Offline” Mode

Sometimes, Windows sets the printer to offline mode even if it’s connected.

To Fix This:

1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

2. Right-click your Canon printer and choose See what’s printing.

3. Click Printer in the top-left menu.

4. Uncheck Use Printer Offline if it’s selected.

Once unchecked, your printer should come back online.

✅ Step 4: Clear the Print Queue

A stuck print job can freeze the queue and make your printer appear offline.

Here’s how to clear it:

1. Go to Devices and Printers.

2. Right-click your Canon printer > See what’s printing.

3. Click Printer > Cancel All Documents.

4. Wait a moment for the jobs to clear.

Then, try printing a test page.

✅ Step 5: Restart the Print Spooler Service

The print spooler is a Windows service that manages print jobs. Restarting it can resolve offline issues.

To Restart the Print Spooler:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.

2. Scroll down and find Print Spooler.

3. Right-click it and choose Restart.

4. After a few seconds, try printing again.

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✅ Step 6: Update or Reinstall the Canon Printer Driver

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of printers going offline.

To Update the Driver:

1. Visit the Canon Support website.

2. Enter your printer model.

3. Download the latest driver for your version of Windows.

4. Run the installer and follow the prompts.

To Reinstall the Printer:

1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

2. Right-click the Canon printer and choose Remove device.

3. Restart your computer.

4. Reinstall the printer using the Canon setup tool or by manually adding it again.

✅ Step 7: Check Network or Firewall Settings

If you're using a wireless Canon printer, your firewall or antivirus software may be blocking communication.

Try this:

• Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus software, then try to print.

• If the printer comes online, add it to your firewall's allowed apps list.

Also ensure your network isn’t set to “Public,” as this can restrict device communication. Set it to Private under network settings.

✅ Step 8: Prevent Sleep Mode from Causing Offline Status

Sometimes printers go offline when they enter power-saving or sleep mode.

To prevent this:

• On your Canon printer, check the Settings > Power Management and either increase the time before it sleeps or disable auto-sleep entirely.

• From your PC, ensure USB ports aren’t turning off to save power:

  1. Press Windows + X > Device Manager.

  2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.

  3. Right-click each USB Root Hub > Properties > Power Management.

  4. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

✅ Step 9: Use Canon’s Troubleshooting Tools

Canon provides helpful software that can detect and fix common printer issues.

Tools to Try:

• Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY App (for wireless printers)

• IJ Network Tool – for checking network settings

• Canon Easy-Layout Editor – helpful for advanced printing settings

You can download these from Canon’s support site based on your printer model.

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✅ Step 10: Try a Static IP Address (Advanced)

If your printer goes offline randomly, assigning it a static IP address may solve the issue.

Basic Steps:

1. Access your router’s admin panel.

2. Reserve a specific IP for your printer based on its MAC address.

3. On the printer, set it to use that static IP.

4. Re-add the printer to your PC using the new IP.

This can prevent IP conflicts that cause the printer to disappear from the network.

Final Thoughts

A Canon printer that keeps going offline on Windows is a hassle, but in most cases, it’s not a serious problem. Whether it’s a connection issue, driver glitch, or a simple setting, working through the steps above should get your printer back online and printing smoothly.

🧰 Quick Recap:

• ✅ Check power, Wi-Fi, and cables

• ✅ Set as default and disable “Use Printer Offline”

• ✅ Clear the print queue and restart spooler

• ✅ Update or reinstall drivers

• ✅ Adjust sleep and power settings

• ✅ Consider assigning a static IP

If you’ve tried everything and your Canon printer still won’t stay online, Canon support is available and can offer more model-specific guidance.