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If your Canon printer says Offline and print jobs are stuck, the printer is not necessarily broken. Windows may be using the wrong printer entry, a paused queue, an old network address, a damaged driver, or a disconnected USB/Wi-Fi connection. Follow the fixes below in order, starting with the lowest-risk checks.
This updates the commonly searched “Canon printer offline and not printing in 2023” problem for current Windows 10 and Windows 11 menus. Windows 10 steps still work, but Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. Menu names and Canon utilities vary by model.
What “Canon printer offline” means
“Offline” usually means that the computer cannot communicate with the selected Canon printer, or that Windows has been told not to send jobs to it. The printer may still be powered on and connected.
Common causes include:
- The printer is switched off, asleep, or showing a paper, ink, cover, or hardware error.
- A Wi-Fi printer and computer are connected to different networks.
- A router replacement or password change left the printer disconnected.
- Windows is using an old, duplicate, or generic printer entry.
- Use Printer Offline or Pause Printing is enabled.
- A print job is stuck or the Windows Print Spooler has stopped responding.
- The Canon driver is outdated, incorrect, or damaged.
- A USB cable, port, firewall rule, or local-network isolation setting is blocking communication.
Canon’s own troubleshooting sequence prioritizes checking the printer, disabling offline mode, repairing the network connection, reinstalling the correct MP Driver, and restarting the computer. See Canon’s communication and offline troubleshooting guidance.
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Do these fixes in order
1. Check the printer itself
- Confirm the printer is powered on and fully started.
- Read its LCD, LEDs, or control panel. Resolve any paper jam, paper-out, open-cover, cartridge, maintenance, or service message.
- Check that paper is loaded correctly and cartridges are properly installed.
- If the printer offers the option, print an internal test or status page directly from its control panel.
If the printer cannot print its own internal test page or displays a persistent hardware error, software troubleshooting is unlikely to help. Follow the model-specific instructions on Canon’s official support page.
2. Power-cycle the printer and restart the computer
Turn the Canon printer off, wait briefly, and turn it on again. Restart the computer as well. This clears temporary printer communication and queue problems without removing drivers or settings.
3. Confirm whether the printer uses USB or Wi-Fi
For a USB printer
- Reseat the USB cable at both ends.
- Try another USB port on the computer.
- Avoid an unpowered USB hub.
- If possible, test with a known-good cable.
- Do not repeatedly install the printer through different USB ports; Windows can create multiple printer instances.
For a Wi-Fi printer
- Confirm that the printer is connected to the intended Wi-Fi network.
- Make sure the computer is on that same local network, not an isolated guest network.
- Reconnect the printer if the router was replaced or the Wi-Fi password changed.
- Check whether the printer disappeared after the router assigned it a new network address.
Internet access is not normally required for printing across the same local network. The important issue is communication between the computer and printer.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor supported wireless models, Canon’s Wi-Fi Connection Assistant can help diagnose or repair the connection. It will not repair a USB cable or an unsupported model.
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- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Scan & Copy Handling - Utilize the device’s integrated scanner for efficient scanning and copying operations
4. Select the correct Canon printer
Windows may be sending the job to an old or duplicate Canon entry.
- On Windows 11, open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- On Windows 10, open Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners.
- Look for entries with the exact model name and the connection you currently use.
- Open the correct printer and choose its queue or printer settings.
- Set it as the default printer if appropriate.
Remove obsolete duplicates only after confirming that another person or application is not using them. Windows can also manage the default printer automatically; this can be confusing when several copies of the same Canon printer exist.
5. Turn off “Use Printer Offline” and “Pause Printing”
This is the quickest fix when the printer was working recently and Windows has no physical error.
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- Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select the Canon printer.
- Open the printer queue. Depending on the model and driver, this may be reached through printer settings or Canon IJ Status Monitor → Display Print Queue.
- In the queue window, open the Printer menu.
- Make sure Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing are not selected.
Windows 10
- Open Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select the Canon printer and choose Open queue.
- Open the Printer menu.
- Clear Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing if either is selected.
The status should change to Ready, Online, or an equivalent label. Send a small test print. If the printer immediately returns to Offline, continue with the connection, queue, port, and driver checks.
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- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
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6. Cancel stuck print jobs
- Open the printer queue.
- Cancel every pending document.
- Wait until the queue is empty.
- Send a new test page.
If a document refuses to cancel, restart the Print Spooler.
7. Restart the Windows Print Spooler
- Search Windows for Services.
- Open the Services app.
- Find Print Spooler.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
Try printing again after the service restarts. Microsoft documents this process, along with queue and printer reinstallation steps, in its official offline-printer troubleshooting guide.
Advanced spooler reset
Use this only when normal cancellation and restarting the service fail. Close printing applications first, and use an administrator Command Prompt:
net stop spooler
del /q /f %systemroot%System32spoolPRINTERS*.*
net start spoolerThis removes stale spool files for all printers on that computer. It is not Canon-specific and should not be your first step.
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8. Print a Windows test page
After clearing the queue and restarting the spooler, print a test page from the printer’s Windows properties. If the test page prints, the queue and basic driver path work. If printing fails only from one application, check that application’s selected printer, paper size, paper source, and print settings.
9. Repair the Canon wireless connection
Use Wi-Fi repair when the printer worked by USB but not wirelessly, disappeared after a router change, or is on a different network from the computer. Reconnecting the printer may require other computers and phones in the household to be configured again.
Security software or router client isolation can also block local discovery. Do not permanently disable a firewall as a routine fix. If a firewall test is necessary, make it temporary, use a trusted local network, and restore protection immediately.
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Do not use a universal third-party “Canon driver” download. On Canon’s official support site, search for the exact model and select the operating system shown on the computer. Download only the driver, firmware, and utilities listed for that model.
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Canon components have different roles:
- MP Driver or printer driver: Provides normal computer printing for many Canon inkjet models.
- Wi-Fi Connection Assistant: Diagnoses supported wireless connections.
- Canon IJ Status Monitor: Displays status and may provide access to the print queue.
- IJ Printer Assistant Tool: A model-dependent maintenance and management utility.
- Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY: Mobile setup and printing for selected Canon products.
Reinstall the model-specific driver when Windows says Driver unavailable, Canon’s status monitor is missing or will not open, the printer was added as a generic device, or printing stopped after an operating-system update. A generic driver can support basic printing on some models, but Canon-specific features and utilities may require Canon’s driver.
11. Remove and re-add the printer
Do this after checking the queue and connection, especially when several copies of the printer appear or the existing queue points to an old port.
- Record the exact model and whether it uses USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or another connection.
- Note custom paper sizes, borderless settings, and other preferences you may need to recreate.
- On Windows 11, open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select the Canon printer and choose Remove.
- Restart the computer.
- Turn on the printer and reconnect it.
- Return to Printers & scanners and select Add device.
- Follow Windows’ discovery process, or use the exact Canon model installer when Canon directs you to do so.
Microsoft notes that some ARM-based Windows PCs can have difficulty using manufacturer-provided printer installers. If you are using Windows 11 on an ARM PC, try Windows’ own Add device process first unless Canon provides model-specific guidance.
Mac and mobile fixes
On macOS, confirm the Mac and printer are on the same network, inspect the printer queue for paused or failed jobs, remove the failed job, and remove and re-add the printer if its saved connection is stale. Use the current Canon driver for the exact model or AirPrint when that model supports it.
On iPhone or Android, use the platform’s native printing feature or Canon PRINT when supported. Canon PRINT and wireless features vary by product; not every PIXMA, MAXIFY, SELPHY, or imageCLASS printer supports the same options. Canon lists supported wireless products and software on its wireless-help page.
Use this symptom table
| Symptom | Likely area | First action |
|---|---|---|
| Printer shows a jam or cover error | Hardware | Resolve the displayed printer error. |
| Windows says Offline but the printer recently worked | Queue or status | Clear Use Printer Offline and Pause Printing. |
| Jobs remain stuck at “Printing” | Queue or Print Spooler | Cancel jobs and restart Print Spooler. |
| Phone can print but Windows cannot | Windows queue or driver | Repair the Windows printer entry or driver. |
| Printer disappeared after a router change | Wi-Fi configuration | Reconnect it to the current network. |
| Several Canon entries appear | Duplicate queues | Identify the active connection and remove obsolete entries. |
| Canon installer fails on an ARM PC | Installer compatibility | Try Windows’ Add device process. |
| Printer cannot print its own test page | Hardware or service | Use Canon’s model-specific support path. |
When to contact Canon
Stop reinstalling software and contact Canon support when the printer fails its internal test page, shows a persistent hardware or service error, cannot connect to any device or network, or has a suspected paper-feed, print-head, display, or power-supply fault. An old model may also lack a compatible driver for the operating system you are using.
For most software cases, success means more than seeing “Online”: the correct queue should empty, the job should reach the printer, and a test page should print.
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