How to Fix HP Printer Network Printer Offline After System Restart?

HP network printers are designed to provide reliable wireless printing, scanning, and copying across multiple devices. However, after restarting your computer or router, you may notice that your HP network printer appears offline. This issue prevents print jobs from being processed and interrupts workflow. The problem typically occurs due to network communication errors, incorrect printer settings, outdated drivers, or system configuration changes after a restart.

What Causes HP Printer to Show Offline After System Restart?

When your system restarts, the printer may lose communication with the network or computer. Some common causes include:

Printer and computer connected to different networks
Printer IP address changes after router restart
HP printer services not running on the computer
Incorrect default printer configuration
Outdated or corrupted printer drivers
Firewall or antivirus blocking printer communication
HP printer software not properly installed or activated

Understanding these causes helps you apply the correct troubleshooting method.

Check HP Printer Network Connection

The first step is to verify that your HP printer is properly connected to the network.

Steps to check network connection:

Turn on your HP printer.
Open the printer control panel.
Go to Wireless Settings or Network Settings.
Confirm the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
Ensure your computer is connected to the same network.
Restart your printer and router.

A stable network connection ensures the printer can communicate with your system after restart.

Set HP Printer as Default Printer

After restarting your system, the default printer setting may change.

Steps to set HP printer as default:

Open Control Panel on your computer.
Click Devices and Printers.
Locate your HP printer.
Right-click the printer icon.
Select Set as Default Printer.
Make sure there is a green checkmark on the printer icon.

This ensures your system sends print jobs to the correct printer.

Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode

Sometimes the printer enters offline mode automatically after restart.

Steps to disable offline mode:

Go to Devices and Printers.
Right-click your HP printer.
Click See what’s printing.
Select Printer from the menu.
Uncheck Use Printer Offline.
Also uncheck Pause Printing if enabled.

This will bring your HP printer back online.

Restart HP Printer Services

Printer services may stop during system restart.

Steps to restart print spooler service:

Press Windows + R.
Type services.msc and press Enter.
Locate Print Spooler.
Right-click and select Restart.
Set startup type to Automatic.

This restores communication between printer and computer.

Update or Reinstall HP Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause offline issues.

Steps to update drivers:

Open Device Manager.
Locate Printers.
Right-click your HP printer.
Select Update Driver.
Choose automatic search.

Steps to reinstall drivers:

Remove printer from Devices and Printers.
Restart computer.
Download and install latest HP printer drivers.
Add printer again using network setup.

Updated drivers ensure compatibility with system updates.

Assign Static IP Address to HP Printer

If your printer IP address changes after restart, the system may lose connection.

Steps to assign static IP:

Access printer network settings.
Open printer’s embedded web server.
Go to Network Settings.
Select Manual IP configuration.
Assign fixed IP address.
Save settings and restart printer.

This prevents disconnection after system restart.

Use HP Printer Software for Login, Setup, and Activation

HP printer software helps manage printer settings, login, activation, and troubleshooting.

Features include:

Printer login and account management
Wireless printer setup and activation
Printer status monitoring
Network configuration tools
Troubleshooting and diagnostic tools
Software and firmware updates

Installing and activating HP printer software ensures smooth printer performance.

Download and Install HP Printer Software

Installing proper HP printer software ensures stable network connectivity.

Steps to download and install:

Download HP printer software compatible with your model.
Open downloaded setup file.
Follow installation instructions.
Connect printer via Wi-Fi or USB.
Complete setup process.
Restart computer after installation.

This ensures your printer communicates correctly with your system.

Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Security software may block printer communication.

Steps to fix firewall issues:

Open firewall settings.
Allow printer software and services.
Add printer to allowed devices list.
Restart computer and printer.

This allows proper communication between devices.

Update HP Printer Firmware

Firmware updates fix bugs and improve performance.

Steps to update firmware:

Open HP printer software.
Go to Printer Settings.
Select Firmware Update.
Install available updates.
Restart printer after update.

Updated firmware prevents network connectivity problems.

Run HP Printer Troubleshooting Tool

HP troubleshooting tools automatically detect and fix problems.

Steps to run troubleshooting:

Open HP printer software.
Select Diagnose and Fix.
Run network diagnostics.
Follow on-screen instructions.

This resolves common offline printer issues.

Restart Network Devices

Restarting network devices refreshes connections.

Steps:

Turn off printer.
Turn off router.
Turn off computer.
Wait 60 seconds.
Turn on router first.
Turn on printer.
Turn on computer.

This re-establishes network communication.

Customer Support and Service Solutions

If the printer still shows offline after troubleshooting, customer support services can help resolve advanced issues.

Customer support services include:

Printer login and activation support
Driver installation assistance
Network setup and troubleshooting
Software download and update support
Printer offline issue resolution
Firmware update assistance

Professional support ensures proper printer functionality.

Prevent HP Printer Offline Issues in Future

Follow these best practices to avoid offline issues:

Keep printer software updated
Use static IP address
Keep printer connected to same network
Update drivers regularly
Restart printer periodically
Install latest firmware updates

These steps ensure stable network printer performance.

Conclusion

The HP printer network printer offline issue after system restart is a common problem caused by network communication errors, driver issues, or incorrect settings. By checking network connectivity, updating drivers, installing proper software, assigning a static IP address, and using troubleshooting tools, you can restore printer functionality quickly.