14 Ways To Fix Epson Printer Offline on Mac – Step-by-Step Troubleshooting GuideUpdated 15 hours ago
If your Epson printer shows “offline” on your Mac, you're not alone. This is a common issue that prevents the printer from responding to print commands. It typically happens when your Mac loses communication with the printer—due to network issues, incorrect settings, driver conflicts, or even system updates.
The good news? This problem is usually fixable in just a few steps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through simple and effective troubleshooting steps to bring your Epson printer back online on macOS.
What Does “Printer Offline” Mean?
When your Epson printer appears as “offline” on your Mac, it means that your computer cannot communicate with the printer. This could be due to:
Disconnected Wi-Fi or USB cable
Outdated or corrupted printer drivers
Print queue errors or stuck print jobs
macOS settings needing reset
Printer being turned off or in sleep mode
Let’s go through how to fix each potential cause, one step at a time.
Step 1: Check Power and Physical Connections
Start with the basics:
Make sure the printer is turned on. Look for lights or status on the printer display.
If using USB, ensure the cable is securely connected to both the printer and the Mac.
If using Wi-Fi, verify the printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. You can usually check this on the printer’s screen or settings panel.
Restart both your Mac and the Epson printer to eliminate any temporary glitches.
Step 2: Check the Printer’s Status in System Settings
On macOS Ventura and later:
Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
Select your Epson printer from the list.
If it shows “Offline,” click Pause Printer or Resume Printer as needed.
On older macOS versions:
Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Select your printer.
If it says “Paused” or “Offline,” click Resume.
If this doesn’t work, proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Clear Stuck Print Jobs
A stuck print queue can cause the printer to go offline.
Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
Select your Epson printer and click Open Print Queue.
Cancel all print jobs by clicking the X or Cancel next to each.
Close the window and try printing again.
Step 4: Reset the Printing System (If Needed)
If your printer continues to show offline even after clearing the queue, resetting the printing system can help.
Warning: This will remove all printers and scanners from your Mac, so you’ll need to re-add them.
To reset the printing system:
Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Right-click (or Control + Click) in the printer list area.
Choose Reset printing system.
Enter your Mac password if prompted, and confirm.
After resetting, your printer list will be empty. Re-add your Epson printer:
Click the + button.
Select your Epson printer from the list.
Click Add.
Try printing again to see if the issue is resolved.
Step 5: Reinstall or Update Epson Drivers
Outdated or incompatible drivers are a common cause of offline errors.
To update drivers:
Visit the Epson Support Website.
Search for your printer model (e.g., Epson L3250, ET-2850, etc.).
Download the latest macOS-compatible driver or Epson Printer Utility.
Open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation.
After reinstalling the driver, restart your Mac and printer, then try printing again.
Step 6: Reconnect the Printer to Wi-Fi (For Wireless Models)
If your Epson printer is wireless and was previously working, it might have dropped from your Wi-Fi network.
Reconnect it using the printer’s control panel:
Go to Home > Wi-Fi Setup > Wi-Fi Setup Wizard.
Choose your Wi-Fi network and enter the password.
Wait for a confirmation message (like “Wi-Fi connection successful”).
Once reconnected, go back to Printers & Scanners on your Mac and ensure the printer is listed and shows as “Idle” or “Ready.”
Step 7: Use Epson Software for Setup
Epson’s official utilities can make installation and troubleshooting easier.
Recommended tools:
Epson Printer Utility – For printer setup and status monitoring.
Epson ScanSmart – For scanning functions.
Epson Software Updater – Keeps your drivers and firmware updated.
All of these are available on the Epson website under your printer’s support page.
Step 8: Try Printing from Another Device (Optional)
To determine if the problem lies with the Mac or the printer itself, try printing from another device (another Mac, a Windows PC, or even a mobile phone using the Epson Smart Panel app). If it works on another device, the issue is likely on your Mac.
Bonus Tip: Enable Bonjour or AirPrint (if available)
Many Epson printers support AirPrint, Apple's native printing technology.
If your Epson printer supports AirPrint, it may automatically appear in the printer list without needing a driver.
Ensure Bonjour (mDNS) is enabled on your network router and printer.
This makes wireless printing faster and more stable on macOS.
Final Thoughts
If your Epson printer is showing as offline on your Mac, don’t worry — the fix is usually simple. Whether it's a print queue issue, outdated driver, or a Wi-Fi dropout, the steps above should help you get back to printing smoothly. Start with the basic checks, update your drivers, reset your printer settings if needed, and always use official Epson tools for best compatibility.
If none of the above works, you may want to contact Epson Customer Support for more advanced help or hardware-related issues.