Printer offline on Mac
If your Mac says the printer is paused, unavailable, or disconnected, start with the connection and print queue. Do not reset the entire Mac printing system as a first step.
1. Check the printer itself
Make sure it is on, has paper, and is not showing a jam, open cover, ink/toner warning, or other message that needs attention.
2. Check the connection
USB: reconnect the cable at the Mac and printer. Wi-Fi/network: make sure the Mac and printer are on the same normal home or office network. Guest Wi-Fi can keep devices from seeing one another.
3. Check Printers & Scanners
- Click Apple menu → System Settings.
- Click Printers & Scanners.
- Click the printer.
- Open its Printer Queue.
If you see Resume, click it. If one job shows an error, remove only that job and retry.
4. If the printer is missing
In Printers & Scanners, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax. Apple notes that network printers can take a minute or two to appear. If the printer supports AirPrint, macOS can often add it without a separate driver download.
5. Re-add only this printer before resetting everything
If the printer remains unavailable, remove this one printer and add it again. If that works, stop. This is less disruptive than resetting the whole printing system.
6. Reset Printing System is a last resort
Apple says Reset Printing System deletes every printer from the Mac, completed print-job information, and printer presets. Use it only after the earlier checks and printer re-add have failed.