Printer keeps going offline on a Mac

macOS loses printers when their IP changes. A reservation and the right protocol fix it for good.

1. 1

   Delete and re-add the printer

   System Settings > Printers & Scanners, remove the printer, then add it again from the list.

2. 2

   Choose IPP or AirPrint, not Bonjour

   When re-adding, pick the AirPrint or IPP entry rather than a raw Bonjour entry for a stable connection.

3. 3

   Reserve the printer's IP

   In your router, bind the printer's MAC address to a fixed IP so macOS never loses track of it.

4. 4

   Reset the printing system as a last resort

   Right-click the printer list and choose Reset printing system. This clears corrupt queues, then re-add.

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