Skip to content
HassleFix
KitchenCleaningLaundryBathroomBedroom & SleepAir & TemperatureSmall Spaces & StorageHome Office & CablesPetsOutdoor & Garage
How we pick About

Printer Not Connecting to Computer? A Fresh USB Cable Often Fixes It

A Wi-Fi hiccup, a stuck print queue or a worn cable can all cut the link. Reset the connection first, then use a short USB cable for a link that stays up.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
20 min
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Easy
A home printer on a desk with a USB cable hanging loose from its back port next to a closed laptop
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Wi-Fi or USB: which one should you use?
  9. What to skip
  10. FAQ
  11. Related problems

Quick answer

When a printer is not connecting to your computer, the usual causes are a dropped Wi-Fi link, a printer marked Offline, or a worn or wrong cable. Restart the printer, the computer and the router, then remove and re-add the printer. If it still drops, a short USB A-to-B cable gives you a wired link that does not depend on Wi-Fi, and the printer usually shows up the moment you plug it in.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 15 minutes

Restart, clear Offline, re-add the printer

  • Restart the printer, the computer and the router
  • Check the printer and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network
  • Clear the Use Printer Offline setting and any stuck jobs
  • Remove the printer and add it again

How long it lasts: Often for weeks. A Wi-Fi printer can drop again when the router restarts or hands it a new address.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
USB A-to-B printer cable (illustration)
Illustration

A short USB A-to-B printer cable

A USB cable skips the router, the Wi-Fi signal and the network address that can change on you. Plug it in and the computer finds the printer straight away. The trade-off is that the printer has to sit within a few feet of the computer.

What to get: USB A-to-B printer cable

How long it lasts: Years. A wired link has no Wi-Fi signal to lose.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Printer network report

    Print it from the printer's menu to see if it is on Wi-Fi

    Free

  • A different USB port

    Plug straight into the computer, not a hub

    Free
  • Our pick
    USB A-to-B printer cable (illustration)
    Illustration

    USB A-to-B printer cable

    Check the shape of your printer's port first

    Check price
  • USB-C to USB-B printer cable (illustration)
    Illustration

    USB-C to USB-B printer cable

    For laptops that only have USB-C ports

    Check price

Why it happens

1

The printer shows as Offline

Windows or macOS marks a printer Offline after a missed signal, a sleep cycle or a paused queue. The printer is usually fine. The computer has simply stopped trying.

2

A Wi-Fi link that moved

A new router, a changed password or a router restart can hand the printer a new address, so the computer looks in the wrong place. Many printers only join a 2.4 GHz network, so check which band yours is on.

3

A stuck print queue or a bad driver

One failed job can block everything behind it. A generic or outdated driver can also stop working after an operating system update.

4

A worn, loose or wrong cable

Printer cables get bent behind desks and pulled half out. A phone-charging cable may have no data wires at all, so the computer sees nothing. A very long cable can also drop out.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Restart everything

    Turn the printer off and unplug it for 30 seconds. Restart the computer and the router. Plug the printer back in and let it finish warming up before you test.

  2. Print a network report

    Tool used: Printer network report

    From the printer's menu, print the network configuration page. It should say connected and name the same Wi-Fi network your computer is on. If it shows nothing, run the printer's Wi-Fi setup again.

  3. Clear the Offline setting and the queue

    In Windows, open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners. Pick the printer, open its print queue, cancel stuck jobs and untick Use Printer Offline in the Printer menu.

  4. Remove the printer and add it again

    Delete the printer from your list, then add it fresh. Download the driver from the printer maker's website rather than relying on a generic one.

  5. Test with a USB cable

    Tool used: USB A-to-B printer cable

    Connect a USB A-to-B cable from the printer to a port on the computer itself, not a hub. Wait a minute for the computer to set it up. If it does not appear, try another port. Keep the cable under about 15 feet.

    USB A-to-B printer cable (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    USB A-to-B printer cable · Check the shape of your printer's port first

    Check price on Amazon

When free fixes aren't enough

If the printer reconnects but drops again within a day or two, the wireless link is the weak point. The router may be far away, the 2.4 GHz band may be crowded, or the printer may sleep and lose its address. Reserving a fixed address for the printer in your router settings helps, but a USB cable removes the problem entirely. A cable will not fix a faulty printer. If the printer does not show up over USB on a second computer either, contact the maker.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
USB A-to-B printer cable (illustration)
Illustration
USB A-to-B printer cable
a printer that keeps dropping off Wi-Fi or shows as Offline Anyone whose printer sits near the computer and who wants it to just work. Check price
Upgrade pick
USB-C to USB-B printer cable (illustration)
Illustration
USB-C to USB-B printer cable
a laptop with no USB-A port Owners of thin newer laptops that only have USB-C ports. Check price
Best pick
USB A-to-B printer cable (illustration)
Illustration

USB A-to-B printer cable

Fixes: a printer that keeps dropping off Wi-Fi or shows as Offline

Look for: A-to-B ends that match the squarish USB-B port on your printer; Six to ten feet long, enough to reach and short enough to stay stable; Shielded cable with snug connectors; Made as a data cable for printers, not a charge-only cable.

Who it's for
Anyone whose printer sits near the computer and who wants it to just work.
Honest downside
Your printer has a USB-C port or no USB port at all, or sits across the room from the computer. Check the port first.
Check price on Amazon
Upgrade pick
USB-C to USB-B printer cable (illustration)
Illustration

USB-C to USB-B printer cable

Fixes: a laptop with no USB-A port

Look for: A USB-C end for your laptop and a USB-B end for the printer; Six feet or longer; Shielded, with strong strain relief at both ends.

Who it's for
Owners of thin newer laptops that only have USB-C ports.
Honest downside
Your computer still has a USB-A port. The A-to-B cable costs less.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on printer maker support guides, operating system printing documentation, and what owners report in reviews of printer cables. We do not test products by hand.

Wi-Fi or USB: which one should you use?

  • Wi-Fi: best when several people or phones print and the printer is far from the computer.
  • USB: best when one computer prints most of the time and the printer sits within reach. It is simpler and does not depend on your router.
  • Both: many people keep Wi-Fi for phones and use a USB cable as the dependable fallback.

What to skip

Long bargain cables, unpowered hubs and a new printer

Skip a very long cheap cable and skip plugging the printer into an unpowered hub. Both cause the same dropouts you are trying to fix. And do not buy a new printer until you have tried a cable. Most connection problems are not the printer.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my printer not connecting to my computer?
Most often the printer has lost its Wi-Fi link or the computer has marked it Offline. Restart both and the router, print a network report and re-add the printer. If you have a USB cable, plugging it in tells you quickly whether Wi-Fi is the problem.
Why does my printer keep disconnecting from the computer?
A Wi-Fi printer can lose its address when the router restarts, go to sleep or sit at the edge of the signal. Move it closer, join the 2.4 GHz network if that is all it supports, or reserve an address for it in the router. A USB cable avoids all three.
How do I know which USB cable my printer needs?
Look at the port on the back. Most home printers use USB-B, a nearly square socket with two slanted top corners. The other end of the cable goes into a USB-A port (the flat rectangle) or, on newer laptops, a USB-C port.
Will plugging in a USB cable stop Wi-Fi printing?
Some printers turn Wi-Fi off while a USB cable is connected. Others keep both. Check your manual, or unplug the cable when you want to print from a phone.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

USB A-to-B printer cable (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: USB A-to-B printer cable

Check price