Troubleshooting Canon Pixma Inkjet Printer: Printer Offline / Not Responding

What “Offline” and “Not Responding” usually mean

These messages aren’t always about a broken printer. They’re usually about the computer or phone losing a reliable route to the printer.

Common meanings:

Offline: the device can’t reach the printer at the expected address, or the system marked it unavailable
Not responding: the printer is reachable sometimes, but print commands fail or time out
Print jobs stuck: the queue is jammed even if the printer is fine
Prints from one device but not another: a driver, port, or network isolation issue

Goal: restore a stable connection first, then fix software queue and driver issues.

Quick rescue checklist (do these first)

Power cycle correctly
- Turn printer off using the power button
- Unplug for 30 seconds
- Plug in and turn on
- Wait until it’s fully idle
Confirm printer is actually ready
- No error lights for paper jam, open cover, or empty ink
- Paper loaded correctly
Confirm the connection type
- USB to one computer
- Wi-Fi through router
- Wi-Fi Direct (printer’s own network)
Print a built-in status page or nozzle check if available
- If the printer can print its own pattern, the hardware is alive and the issue is connection/software

If these four don’t help, move to the section matching your connection type.

Step 1: Identify your connection type (the whole strategy depends on it)

A) USB connection

Typical signs:

Printer is connected by a cable to a single computer
Printing fails only on that computer

B) Wi-Fi via router (most common)

Typical signs:

Printer is on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer or Android phone
Often stops after changing router, Wi-Fi name, password, or moving rooms

C) Wi-Fi Direct

Typical signs:

Phone connects directly to a Wi-Fi network broadcast by the printer
Useful when no router is available

Pick one path below and follow it fully before mixing fixes.

USB troubleshooting (Windows and macOS)

1) Check the cable like a technician, not like a gambler

Use a direct USB port on the computer (avoid hubs and docking stations while testing)
Try a different USB port
If possible, test a different USB cable
Keep the cable length reasonable; long or worn cables cause intermittent dropouts that look like “offline”

2) Confirm the computer detects the printer

Windows:

Open Printers list and see if the Canon Pixma is present
If it appears but shows Offline, proceed to queue and driver steps below

macOS:

Check the printer list; if the printer is missing or paused, re-add it

3) Clear the print queue (USB jobs can block future jobs)

Cancel all jobs
Restart the printer
Restart the computer’s printing service (steps later in this guide)

4) Remove and re-add the printer (when it’s stubborn)

If the printer frequently flips back to Offline:

Remove the printer from the system
Restart the computer
Add the printer again using the proper Canon driver package if available

USB problems are often solved by a clean re-add combined with a fresh cable or different port.

Wi-Fi troubleshooting (router connection)

1) Confirm the printer and device are on the same network

This is the number one cause.

Ensure the printer is connected to your home/office Wi-Fi, not a neighbor network or old router name
Ensure your computer and Android phone are on the same Wi-Fi name (SSID)
Avoid “guest” Wi-Fi for printers; guest networks often block device discovery

If your Android phone prints but your computer doesn’t, or vice versa, it’s often a network segmentation setting.

2) Check signal strength and placement

Weak Wi-Fi creates “Not Responding” behavior that comes and goes.

Move the printer closer to the router temporarily to test
Avoid placing the printer behind metal objects, inside cabinets, or near thick walls
If your router has both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz:
- Many printers prefer 2.4 GHz for range and compatibility
- It’s fine if your phone uses 5 GHz, as long as both bands are part of the same network (not isolated)

3) Verify the printer’s IP address (the hidden reason behind “Offline”)

Printers use an IP address on your network. If it changes, your computer may still be pointing to the old address.

What to do:

Print a network status page from the printer if your model supports it
Or check the printer’s network information on its screen/menu
Note the IP address (example format: 192.168.x.x)

If the computer’s printer port is pointing to a different IP, it will show Offline.

4) The cleanest long-term fix: keep the printer’s IP from changing

Two reliable approaches:

Create a DHCP reservation for the printer in your router settings
Set a manual IP on the printer (only if you’re comfortable managing network settings)

A stable IP prevents random “Offline” after router restarts.

Windows fixes (most common causes: queue, port, spooler, driver)

1) Make sure it’s not just “Use Printer Offline”

This checkbox can trap the printer in Offline even when it’s reachable.

Open the printer in the Windows printer list
Open the Printer menu
If “Use Printer Offline” is checked, uncheck it
Also uncheck “Pause Printing” if enabled

2) Set the Canon Pixma as the default printer

Windows sometimes sends jobs to a “virtual” printer or a previously removed instance.

Set the Pixma as default
Print a small test page

3) Clear the queue properly (not just cancel once)

If jobs are stuck:

Cancel all documents
If the queue won’t clear:
- Restart the Print Spooler service
- Then try again

Print Spooler restart method (typical workflow):

Open Services
Restart Print Spooler
Reopen printer queue and confirm it’s empty

4) Fix the port (critical for Wi-Fi printers)

Many Canon network printers appear using different port types. The wrong one can cause “Not Responding.”

Common port situations:

WSD port: can be convenient but sometimes flaky on certain networks
Standard TCP/IP port: often more stable if configured to the correct printer IP

If your printer is on Wi-Fi and frequently goes Offline:

Switch to a Standard TCP/IP port that targets the printer’s current IP address

How you know this is the issue:

Printer works after reinstall, then goes Offline again days later
Router reboot triggers the problem
IP address changes occasionally

5) Firewall/VPN interference

A VPN can block local network printing even while internet works.

Temporarily disable VPN and try printing
If printing works, adjust VPN settings to allow local network access

Firewalls can also interfere with discovery:

If the printer is reachable by IP but still shows Offline, allow printer communication in the security software
Test by temporarily disabling third-party firewall features, then re-enable after confirming the cause

6) Driver repair or reinstall (when everything else looks correct)

Symptoms that point to driver problems:

Printer shows online but jobs never start
Only prints garbage characters
Status monitor doesn’t match reality
Scanning works but printing doesn’t (or the reverse)

Fix:

Remove the printer
Reinstall using the correct Canon software/driver package
Add the printer again, ensuring it binds to the correct port/IP

macOS fixes (queue, pause, re-add, printing system reset)

1) Check if the printer is paused

Open the print queue
If paused, resume it
Cancel stuck jobs

2) Remove and re-add the printer the right way

For Wi-Fi:

Add it as a network printer
Prefer adding it with the correct Canon driver if available
Avoid duplicate instances (two printers with similar names can send jobs to the wrong one)

3) Reset the printing system (strong fix for stubborn “Not Responding”)

Use this when:

Jobs get stuck repeatedly
Printer re-add fails
Multiple duplicate printer entries exist
Queue behavior is corrupted

Resetting the printing system removes all printers and queues, then you add the Pixma again fresh.

4) AirPrint vs Canon driver behavior on macOS

Some setups add the printer as an AirPrint printer automatically. This can work well, but if features or reliability are inconsistent:

Re-add the printer using the Canon driver option if available for your model
Then test again

Android fixes (Canon PRINT app, system print service, network rules)

1) Confirm network and permissions

Phone must be on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer (unless using Wi-Fi Direct)
Disable VPN temporarily
Allow the printing app permissions if prompted (local network/nearby devices/storage)

2) Choose your printing method

Common options:

Canon PRINT app (often best for Canon-specific discovery and status)
Android system printing (depending on device, using built-in or third-party print service)

If printing fails in one method:

Try the other method to isolate whether it’s the app or the network

3) Fix “Printer not found” on Android

Restart phone Wi-Fi (toggle off/on)
Restart printer
Reopen Canon PRINT and re-add the printer
If still not found:
- Ensure you are not on guest Wi-Fi
- Check router settings for client isolation
- Move printer closer to router for a connectivity test

4) Wi-Fi Direct on Android (when router printing is unreliable)

Wi-Fi Direct is useful for quick printing even if the router is problematic.

Enable Wi-Fi Direct on the printer
Connect the Android phone to the printer’s Wi-Fi Direct network
Print using Canon PRINT

Trade-offs:

Your phone may disconnect from the internet while connected to Wi-Fi Direct
Range may be shorter than a router network

When the printer flips between Online and Offline repeatedly

This pattern usually indicates one of these:

IP address changes after router restart
Weak Wi-Fi signal
Router isolation settings
Power saving behavior (printer sleeps deeply and the network drops it)
Port type mismatch on Windows (WSD vs TCP/IP)

Best stabilization steps:

Keep the printer on a steady Wi-Fi signal (closer to router or with fewer obstacles)
Reserve the printer’s IP in the router
Use a Standard TCP/IP port on Windows that points to that reserved IP
Avoid guest networks
Ensure VPN is off for local printing

Printer prints from one device but not another

This is a powerful clue.

If it prints from Android but not from Windows/macOS

Likely causes:

Computer is on a different Wi-Fi network or a guest network
VPN enabled on the computer
Windows port points to old IP
Driver/queue problem on the computer

Fix path:

Confirm same network
Disable VPN
Clear queue
Check port/IP on Windows
Re-add printer if needed

If it prints from Windows but not from Android

Likely causes:

Phone on cellular data or different Wi-Fi
Phone VPN enabled
Canon PRINT app not configured or missing permissions

Fix path:

Put phone on same Wi-Fi
Disable VPN
Re-add printer in Canon PRINT

Advanced checks (use when standard steps don’t work)

1) Ping test from a computer (Wi-Fi printers)

If you can ping the printer’s IP address reliably:

Network is likely OK
Focus on driver/port/queue

If ping fails intermittently:

Focus on Wi-Fi stability, router settings, and distance

2) Router settings that break printing quietly

Look for features like:

AP isolation or client isolation
Guest network restrictions
Separate VLANs for wireless clients
“Device isolation” options

If enabled, devices can’t see each other, and printers vanish.

3) Duplicate printer entries

Having two entries (old and new) can cause jobs to go to the dead one.

Remove duplicates
Keep only the instance that matches the current IP/connection

Error states that masquerade as “Not Responding”

Your computer may say the printer is offline when the printer is actually refusing jobs due to a physical issue.

Check printer for:

Paper jam or paper feed issue
Cover open
Ink error
Flashing error lights
A stuck maintenance cycle

Clear the physical error first, then retry printing.

A reliable “back-to-working” sequence (when you want one clear path)

Use this sequence when you don’t want guesswork:

Cancel all print jobs on all devices
Power off printer, unplug 30 seconds, restart
Confirm printer has no physical errors
Confirm your device is on the same Wi-Fi network (or confirm USB cable)
Print a built-in test pattern from the printer if possible
On Windows/macOS: clear queue fully
On Windows: disable “Use Printer Offline” and confirm correct port/IP
Re-add the printer cleanly if it still fails
Stabilize IP (router reservation) if the problem returns after a few days

Preventing “Offline” from coming back

Reserve the printer’s IP in the router
Avoid guest Wi-Fi for printing
Keep printer within solid Wi-Fi range
Don’t leave multiple duplicate printer entries installed
Disable VPN when printing locally
Print something occasionally so the printer stays actively connected and tested

When the printer is stable on the network and the computer targets the correct port/IP, “Offline” stops being a recurring mystery and becomes a rare event with a predictable fix.