HP DeskJet 2855e Printer Keeps Going Offline: 15 Ways to Fix It

You're not the only one who sees his HP DeskJet 2855e printer keep going offline. One of the typical problems is that it occurs even when the printer is on the power and seems as connected to your wi-fi network. Typically, this is a problem created by how the printer and computer are communicating, not due to hardware problems. It may have to do with a weak Wi-Fi connection, a Windows setting, an out-of-date driver or even the printer going to sleep mode. This guide will take you through what's causing it and 15 practical steps to help you get your printer back online, for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Why Does My HP DeskJet 2855e Printer Keep Going Offline?

An HP DeskJet 2855e printer can be offline from Windows while the printer is still connected to the network and on, but Windows does not have a connection to the printer. This can be caused by several factors:

Slow or weak wireless signal — wireless signals may become weak or drop out breaking the communication between computer and printer.

Networks - the printer & computer could be on separate networks or on separate Wi-Fi bands.

Sleep/power-saving function — the printer may go into sleep/power saving mode, and stop responding.

Printers that are marked offline — Windows will sometimes mark a printer as offline when it hasn't gotten a response, even if it's operating normally.

Use Printer Offline — A Windows feature that can put a printer in offline state until it is manually switched off.

Print jobs that get stuck — If a print job gets stuck in the queue, then new print jobs will be blocked.

Outdated or corrupted drivers: If there is printer software that is not up to date or corrupted it may cause connection problems.

Print Spooler issues — These are background Windows services that deal with print jobs, and sometimes print spoolers go awry.

Improper printer setup — the printer might not have been installed properly.

Router problems — restarts or glitches in the router software can cause communication to be lost.

Temporary glitches — sometimes it's just a one-off software glitch on one or the other.

Though none of these causes will always be the cause of a problem, they encompass most of the situations people encounter.

Read More: How to Install an HP DeskJet 2855e Printer

15 Ways to Fix an HP DeskJet 2855e Printer That Keeps Going Offline

1: Make sure that the printer is turned on

Check that the power light is on and stable; not showing an error pattern. If the printer is off or in error, then Windows will, of course, indicate that the printer is offline, because there is no printer to communicate with.

2: Check the Wi-Fi Connection

Check the printer control panel or wireless indicator to ensure that it is connected to your network. Next, make sure that your computer is on the same WiFi network. One can easily mix networks, particularly on laptops that may be transported from one place to another.

3: If the problem persists, try to do the following:

Switch off the printer, wait for 30 seconds and switch it on again. This is a simple way of clearing out the temporary memory and can solve some minor problems with the connection that accumulate over time.

4: Restart the Computer and Router

A computer and router restart will refresh their network connections and may help resolve communication problems not solved by a printer restart.

5: Make Sure the Printer and Computer Are on the Same Network

Certain routers have the ability to establish a main network and a guest network, or two different frequency bands, either 2.4GHz or 5GHz. For example, if your printer and computer are on different bands/ networks, they won't communicate although they appear to be connected.

6: CheckThe Windows printer status is shown

On Windows 11, visit Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, click on HP DeskJet 2855e, and see its state. On Windows 10, go to Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners. If it's shown as offline here, then it's really Windows that's causing the flag.

7: Turn Off "Use Printer Offline"

There is a manual option to "put the printer in offline mode" in Windows. Open the print queue for your HP DeskJet 2855e and see if "Use Printer Offline" is checked. If it is, then click it to turn it off.

8: Remove jammed print jobs

Open the print queue and cancel any documents if they seem to have become stalled or are set to repeat. Then print out a test page to find out if the queue moves again.

9: Restart the Windows Print Spooler

Print Spooler is a background service that handles print jobs for your computer. To reboot it: Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Open the list, right click on "Print Spooler" and click "Restart". Easy solution for beginners and can fix problematic offline situations.

10: Remove and re-add the HP DeskJet 2855e

Removing the printer and reinstalling it if the connection to Windows has become corrupted will help. For Windows 11, head to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, choose the printer and remove it. Use "Add device" to re-connect it. It works the same on Windows 10, from Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners.

11: Update HP Printer Software or Drivers:

Outdated or corrupted printer software can cause communication problems between your computer and the printer. Check for updates on HP's official website or software.

12: Run Windows Printer Troubleshooting

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter to automatically identify and often resolve routine printer issues. It can usually be found in Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters. This tool can easily detect problems that may have been overlooked.

13: Check Whether the Printer Is in Sleep or Power-Saving Mode

Most printers by HP, such as DeskJet 2855e, go into sleep mode when they are not in use for a long time. It generally will wake up automatically to print, but sometimes it takes longer, causing Windows to display it as offline until it has been awakened.

14: Reset the Printer's Network Connection

If wireless connectivity appears to be a persistent issue, then resetting the network settings on the printer might be a solution. This will pull the printer out of your wi-fi network so you will need to re-connect the printer from the printer's control panel or the HP's setup software. Please refer to your printer's instructions or HP's official support documents.

15: Set Up the Printer Again if Windows Cannot Find It

If Windows cannot find your HP DeskJet 2855e printer at all, check to see if the printer is on and connected to the WiFi network, and then power both the HP DeskJet 2855e printer and computer back on. Next, look at the Windows printer settings to see if there is an old or duplicate entry, and delete it. Using the "Add device" option in Windows, add the printer back to your computer, or follow HP's official setup software to get the printer connected to your computer from scratch. This method also incorporates the case where you are just attempting to install the DeskJet 2855e for the first time on a different computer.

What If the HP DeskJet 2855e Is Offline but Connected?

If the printer is connected to your Wi-Fi network, but still Windows cannot communicate with the printer, then Windows will report it as "Offline". If this does happen, then go through this sequence:

• Check if both devices are connected to the same network.
• Restart the printer.
• Turn back on the router and computer.
• Monitor the status of Windows printers.
• Empty the print queue.
• If required, unplug and re-connect the printer.
• Doing this will keep your HP software and drivers up to date.

The same troubleshooting steps apply to the cases of "offline but connected" or "offline but online" in the printer settings; both indicate that there is a communication issue.

HP DeskJet 2855e Offline on Windows 11 vs Windows 10

Although the troubleshooting principles are the same for both operating systems, the menus are slightly different.

Windows 11: Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners

To add a printer to Windows 10: Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners

The fixes mentioned above would apply to both versions and there's no need to consider them as separate trouble shooting paths.

How to Prevent the HP DeskJet 2855e From Going Offline Again

• Make sure the printer is close to your Wi-Fi router.
• Keep the printer's software and drivers up to date.
• Ensure that Windows is patched and up to date.
• Empty print queues every if there are old or blocked print jobs.
• Restart the printer and the router.
• Always use HP's official setup/support tools.

When to call HP Support?

If you've already tried the troubleshooting steps listed above and they've been unsuccessful, it might be time to contact HP directly.

Conclusion

A printer that won't come back online is annoying, but typically not a sign of trouble. Most of the time, it is just a problem with the printer and computer communicating with each other, which can be fixed by taking a few easy steps: Making sure the Wi-Fi is working, restarting the printer and router, checking Windows printer settings, clearing the print queue, and re-adding the printer if necessary. By being patient, you should be able to get your HP DeskJet 2855e printer back online and printing again.