Epson Printer Offline: How to Fix It Fast (Windows & Mac)

The Epson offline error is one of the most common printer problems — your Epson is powered on and connected to WiFi, but your computer insists it is offline. The good news is this is almost always fixable in a few minutes without any technical knowledge. Here are the fixes that actually work.

Why Does Epson Go Offline?

The offline error occurs when your computer loses communication with the Epson printer — even though both are on and connected to the same network. The most common causes are: a stuck print job in the queue that has blocked the printer, Windows incorrectly flagging the printer as offline after your computer woke from sleep, the printer IP address has changed on your network, or an outdated or corrupted driver has lost connection. Each of these has a specific fix below.

Fix 1: Remove the Offline Tick (Windows)

This is the quickest fix and resolves the issue in around 60% of cases. Press Windows + I to open Settings. Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners. Click your Epson printer. Click Open print queue. In the print queue window, click Printer in the menu bar at the top. If you see "Use Printer Offline" with a tick next to it, click it to remove the tick. The printer immediately switches back to online status. Try printing a test page.

Fix 2: Clear the Print Queue

A stuck print job can cause the offline error and prevent the printer from accepting new jobs. With the print queue open, right-click every job listed and select Cancel. If jobs refuse to cancel, press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter. Find Print Spooler in the list, right-click it and select Restart. Return to the print queue and try cancelling again. Once the queue is completely empty, set the printer back online using Fix 1 if needed and try a new print job.

Fix 3: Restart Printer and Router

Turn off your Epson printer completely using the power button. Restart your WiFi router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. Restart your computer. Once everything is back on, turn your Epson printer on last and wait 60 seconds for it to reconnect to the network. The WiFi light on your Epson should turn solid — a flashing light means it is still connecting. Once solid, try printing again.

Fix 4: Remove and Re-Add the Printer (Windows)

Removing and re-adding the printer resets the entire connection from scratch. Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners. Click your Epson printer. Click Remove device. Once removed, click Add device and let Windows search for your Epson on the network. Click Add device next to your Epson when it appears. Windows reinstalls the driver and connection automatically. This fix resolves most persistent Epson offline issues.

Fix 5: Reset Mac Printing System

On Mac, the most effective fix for a persistent Epson offline error is resetting the entire printing system. Go to System Settings → Printers & Scanners. Right-click anywhere in the printer list on the left side and select Reset printing system. This removes all printers from Mac — confirm when prompted. Then click the + button to add your Epson back. Mac automatically finds it on the network and downloads the latest driver. This is the Mac equivalent of Remove and Re-Add and resolves most Mac Epson offline issues permanently.

Fix 6: Assign a Static IP to Your Epson

If your Epson keeps going offline every few days, the most likely cause is your router assigning it a different IP address each time it reconnects — a process called DHCP. Each time the IP changes, your computer loses track of where the printer is on the network. The permanent fix is to assign your Epson a static IP address that never changes. Print a network configuration page from your Epson (hold the WiFi button for 3 seconds) to find the current IP address. Type that IP address into your browser address bar to open the Epson web interface. Navigate to Network Settings → TCP/IP and change the IP address setting from Automatic to Manual. Assign an IP address in the same range as your network but outside your router's DHCP range — your router documentation explains what range it uses. Save the settings. Your Epson will use this IP permanently and the recurring offline issue will stop.

Fix 7: Update Epson Drivers

Outdated drivers frequently cause the offline error, particularly after Windows updates that change how Windows communicates with printers. Go to epson.com/support, search your Epson model, download the latest driver package. Uninstall all existing Epson software via Control Panel → Programs first, restart, then install the fresh driver. See our full driver installation guide for step-by-step instructions. For other Epson printing problems beyond the offline error, see our complete Epson printer not printing fix guide.