How to: Fix a network printer suddenly showing as offline in Windows Vista
You may find, as I have done recently, that a network printer installed on a Windows Vista starts suddenly showing as Offline even when other machines on the network can access it fine. I originally thought it would be an IP address issue, but it turned out not to be anything to do with that. In fact, the solution was far simpler – but also slightly strange…
It turns out that Windows Vista automatically enables SNMP support for networked printers, and if it can’t get a response to a SNMP message then it assumes the printer is offline. SNMP stands for Simple Network Management Protocol and is a way of getting information from network devices (such as routers, servers and printers), mainly for the purposes of finding out if there are any problems with the devices. A number of networked printers implement SNMP, and will respond to SNMP queries with information, but some don’t. My printer (a fairly old Lexmark T640) is one of the ones that doesn’t implement it – so of course Vista will never get a response to a SNMP message. The result of which is that the printer will start showing as offline at a seemingly random time because Vista has just sent a SNMP message to it, and it hasn’t responded.
Thankfully there is a simple way to fix this – and it just involves telling Vista not to try and communicate with the printer via SNMP. Simply right-click on the printer in the Printers window, choose the Ports tab, and select Configure Port. At the bottom you will see a checkbox saying something like SNMP Status Enable. Untick that, and the printer should start showing as online again.
(Update: If this doesn’t work, then try the method described in Coxy’s comment, below)
This even worked on a Microsoft 2003 server that suddenly took the network printer offline.
Thanks!
Thanks. It worked on a Win7 client printing to an HP Color LJ4700, too.
Thank you so much. This issue was driving me crazy!
Thank you so much for posting this. This problem was driving me crazy and I was so glad to come across your post! Such a simple fix…..
This has been a major problem for a couple of years, stopping me from using wireless printing on my network. A friend and I spent all evening trying to sort it out as I was sick of wires everywhere. In desperation we finally started to search the internet for inspiration and soon found this gem of a piece of information. Within minutes all was up and running.
Many thanks for sharing the tip.
Hero award first class!
Why would they DO that?
But thanks for posting the fix!
Cheers
David G
Priceless, very helpful, thanks
Sadly, this did not solve my problem. Did as instructed but nothing changed. Tried turning printer off and on and rebooting but still nothing. SNMP query shows it is NOT enabled but it is still offline. Sigh….
It worked! Thanks for the input….
This fix worked in Windows 7 with an HP LaserJet M4345 MFP. Thanks for the tip–you saved me hours!
This was so helpfull ! wasted loads of time trying to get my Xerox online again before I found this.
This also happened with a Bizhub C353 printer as well. This fixed the problem. Thank you.
Thanks. Worked like a charm after several days of frustration.
Thank you very much. This issue drove me crazy.
It is showing my printer online but now it won’t print.
Thanks fort eh input!! I had this Offline problem with Windows 7 and a Samsung SCX5530FN and the simple solutuion described in your post, corrected the issue.
Cheers, Don G
My email should read “Thanks for the input!!” Regards Don G
Worked for new Dell Windows 7 PC too. Thanks, saved a lot of time.
Worked on Windows 7 Professional & HP LaserJet P2050.
It says its online now but it still won’t print…
Thanks for the Post… For me, when I went in to change the snmp tick box it wasnt ticked. I then ticked it and applied and it remains offline. Then I go back into the driver and untick it, apply again and it immediately comes back online. My only remaining problem is that the printer itself, keeps going offline after every five minutes or so. Is there anyway I can find out why this is happening? I have two identical printers in my printers and faxes box at different TCP/IP ports but only one of them keeps going offline. Really confusing!
Further to my last post, here is a solution I found:
In the print server Registry go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
add a new DWORD “SNMPLegacy” with the value “1″
Restart Spooler.
When I did this the printer remained online and didnt change. (You may have to remove and re-add the printer one more time)
Thanks Coxy – I’ll add a reference to your comment to the main instructions in this post so other people can try it if my method doesn’t work for them.
Cheers,
Robin
And with that, I say Thank You. Your fix works. I must add, I was the one that turned off SNMP on the Kyocera device that started the problem.
Hi Robin,
great! I’m a silly user and could – nevertheless – fix the problem.
Thank you very much!
Thanks! Brought my Brother HL2270DW back online in windows 7
Brilliant – a simple solution which worked for my brand new Lexmark Pro5000. Nice one.
My printer works on my MAC, but not on my networked computer which has Windows Explorer. I found the SNMP box and disabled it. I thought I had fixed it, as the printer changed from “offline” to “ready.” But, surprise, it still won’t print.
Thank you, our small business saved 125 dollars on a service call by using your blog. Cost us 2 minutes.
Thanks
I’m very glad I was able to help Jon! Given that I saved you $125 – would you feel able to donate a small fraction of that (even just a couple of dollars) towards the cost of hosting my website? If so, there is a donate button on the top-right of my Free GIS Data page at http://www.freegisdata.rtwilson.com
Thank you very much. It very simple and work well.
After days of struggling and struggling with users complaining not in a position to print I managed to get the printer online. Thanks thanks thanks
Regards,
Nyoka
You’re a genius! Thank you so much!!
OMG.., it turned out to be that simple. Thanks for showing the way to fix this network printer problem. I really appreciate it.