Why does my Canon PIXMA show as offline even though it's on?

Windows maintains its own 'offline/online' status for each printer, independent of whether the printer is physically on. It marks a printer offline when it can't communicate with it — most often because the Print Spooler crashed, the IP address changed, or the 'Use Printer Offline' setting was accidentally enabled. The printer is fine; Windows just lost its connection.

What does Canon IJ Network Tool do and when should I use it?

Canon IJ Network Tool is Canon's built-in utility for configuring and troubleshooting Canon printers on a network. It shows the printer's current IP address, lets you change network settings, and can diagnose connection problems — especially useful when the printer's IP has changed after a router restart. Download it from Canon's support site if it's not already installed alongside your printer driver.

Why does my Canon PIXMA keep changing IP addresses?

Home routers assign IP addresses via DHCP, which means a device can receive a different IP each time it reconnects — especially after a router restart or a power outage. If Windows is still pointing to the old IP in its port configuration, it can't reach the printer. The permanent fix: log into your router and set a DHCP reservation for the printer's MAC address, so it always gets the same IP without needing a fully static address.

Should I use USB or WiFi for my Canon PIXMA?

USB is more reliable for single-computer setups — no IP address issues, no band conflicts, no router configuration required. WiFi is better if you print from multiple devices or the printer is not near your computer. If you're frequently seeing offline errors on a WiFi-connected PIXMA, USB eliminates the entire class of network-related causes.

Canon PIXMA Showing Offline in Windows? Fix It Fast

A Windows “offline” error rarely means the printer is broken — it almost always means Windows lost its connection. Here’s how to fix it in minutes.

Quick Answer

✓Windows 'Offline' almost always means the Print Spooler crashed — restart it via services.msc first.
✓Check for the 'Use Printer Offline' checkbox in Printer settings — it's a one-click accident that's easy to miss.
✓Canon PIXMA printers change IP addresses when routers restart — use Canon IJ Network Tool to find the current IP.
✓Canon's 'My Printer' utility can auto-detect and repair driver and connection problems in one step.

Common Causes

Windows Print Spooler service is stuck

Most Likely

The Print Spooler is a Windows background service that manages all printer communication. When it crashes or hangs, Windows loses contact with every connected printer and marks them offline — even if the printer is on and fully functional. Restarting the service from services.msc re-establishes the connection immediately.

Printer set to 'Use Printer Offline' in Windows

Most Likely

Windows includes a per-printer 'Use Printer Offline' setting that, when checked, tells Windows to stop communicating with the physical printer entirely. It's easy to enable accidentally with a mis-click in the right-click printer menu. The printer stays powered on; Windows just ignores it.

Printer's IP address changed after a router restart

Common

WiFi-connected Canon PIXMA printers can receive a different IP address every time the router restarts or the printer reconnects. Windows stores the printer's IP in its port configuration — if that IP is stale, Windows can't reach the printer. Canon's IJ Network Tool shows the printer's current IP so you can update the port.

Outdated Canon driver or IJ Network Tool conflict

Less Common

An outdated Canon driver — or a conflict introduced by a Windows update — can cause the print queue to lose its connection to the hardware. Canon's 'My Printer' utility and the latest driver package from Canon's support site can repair or replace the driver automatically.

Step-by-Step Fix

Restart the Print Spooler service

Press Win+R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Scroll to 'Print Spooler,' right-click it, and select Restart. Wait 10–15 seconds for the service to fully restart. Return to Printers & scanners — the printer should now show as Ready.

Pro tip: If Restart is greyed out, click Stop first, wait 5 seconds, then click Start.

Uncheck 'Use Printer Offline' in Windows

Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners and click your Canon PIXMA. Click 'Open print queue.' In the queue window, click Printer in the menu bar and confirm that 'Use Printer Offline' does NOT have a checkmark next to it. If it does, click it to uncheck it.

Set the Canon PIXMA as your default printer

In Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, click your Canon PIXMA and select 'Set as default.' Also turn off 'Let Windows manage my default printer' in Printer preferences — this setting can silently override your choice when you switch between apps.

Verify the printer's IP address and update the Windows port if needed

On the printer's control panel, print a Network Settings page (usually via Setup → Device settings → LAN settings → Print LAN details). Note the IPv4 address shown. In Windows: Printer properties → Ports tab — confirm the listed port IP matches the printer's current IP. If it doesn't, edit the port to use the current IP. Canon IJ Network Tool (downloadable from Canon's support site) can also show and update the IP.

Pro tip: Set a DHCP reservation for the printer's MAC address in your router to permanently prevent IP changes.

Run Canon's My Printer utility to repair the connection

Search for 'My Printer' in your Windows Start menu — it's installed alongside Canon's driver package. If present, open it and select 'Diagnose and Repair.' The utility checks your driver, connection port, and spooler configuration and can repair most issues automatically. If it's not installed, download the latest full driver package from Canon's support site.