Fix the HP Envy 4520 Printer Offline Error
The HP Envy 4520 often flips to “offline” when the Wi-Fi changes, the driver points to an old IP, or Windows/macOS queues get stuck. This step-by-step guide will bring it back online: reconnect to Wi-Fi, repair the driver, clear the queue, and lock in settings so it stays available. Follow the sections in order—you can usually restore printing in a few minutes.
Confirm the Printer Is Ready
Power on the Envy 4520, open the output tray, and check for any blinking lights or error messages. Load a few sheets of plain paper and make sure cartridges are installed correctly. If you see a paper jam or low-ink warning, clear it first; the printer may stay offline until obvious errors are resolved. Keep the printer within strong Wi-Fi range for initial troubleshooting.
Reconnect the Printer to Wi-Fi
On the touchscreen, tap the Wireless icon or navigate to Wireless Settings > Wireless Setup Wizard. Select your 2.4 GHz network (the Envy 4520 does not use 5 GHz), enter the password, and wait for the confirmation checkmark. If you recently changed the password or router, this step is mandatory. For WPS, tap Wi-Fi Protected Setup, choose Push Button, then press the WPS button on your router.
Print a Network Configuration Page
From the wireless menu, print a Network Configuration or Wireless Test page. Note the IP address and confirm the status shows connected. If the report shows a failed connection, rerun the wizard and ensure the password is correct. Avoid guest networks that block local devices, and disable MAC filtering until the printer is paired.
Use HP Smart (Windows/macOS)
Install or open the HP Smart app. Click Set Up a New Printer or + to add your Envy 4520. HP Smart can push Wi-Fi settings and repair driver entries. If the app cannot find the printer, temporarily connect a USB cable and let HP Smart configure wireless for you; it will remove the cable when finished. After setup, print a test page from within HP Smart to confirm connectivity.
Fix Offline Status in Windows
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the Envy 4520, and click Open print queue. If jobs are stuck, cancel all. Click Printer and uncheck Use Printer Offline. Then open Printer properties > Ports and confirm the selected port matches the current IP from your network page or is an HP TCP/IP port. If it points to an old address, add a new Standard TCP/IP port with the correct IP. Restart the Print Spooler service or reboot to apply changes.
Fix Offline Status on macOS
Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the Envy 4520, and click Open Print Queue. Clear stuck jobs. If the printer still shows offline, remove it with the minus button, then click plus to re-add it. Choose HP Smart or the HP driver in the Use field rather than AirPrint if available. If the printer does not appear, add it by IP using the address from the network page and protocol IPP.
Stabilize the Network Connection
Reserve the Envy 4520's IP address in your router so it does not change. Keep the printer on the main network, not a guest network, and place it where Wi-Fi is strong. If you use a mesh system, pair the printer with the main node first. Turn off VPN on your computer while adding the printer to avoid discovery issues.
USB as a Quick Fix
If you need to print immediately, connect the printer via USB. Windows will usually install the driver automatically; on macOS, it will add using AirPrint if no HP driver is present. Once USB printing works, you know the hardware is fine, and you can focus on repairing the wireless setup. Remember to remove duplicate printer entries later to prevent confusion.
Firmware and Driver Updates
In HP Smart or the Embedded Web Server (enter the printer's IP in a browser), check for firmware updates. New firmware often improves Wi-Fi stability. Update HP Smart itself and reinstall the full feature software from HP if the driver seems corrupted. On Windows, completely remove old HP devices and software via Apps > Installed apps before reinstalling if problems persist.
Print Quality and Maintenance
Sometimes “offline” appears when the printer pauses for head cleaning or when cartridges are empty. Check ink levels in HP Smart, reseat cartridges, and run a Print Quality Diagnostic page. Replace low or incompatible cartridges with genuine HP or high-quality compatibles. Keep paper dry and flat; jams can stall jobs and cause the host computer to mark the printer offline.
Quick Recovery Checklist
- Reconnect to Wi-Fi with the Wireless Setup Wizard or WPS.
- Print a network report and note the current IP address.
- Use HP Smart to add or repair the printer; use USB temporarily if needed.
- On Windows, clear the queue, uncheck “Use Printer Offline,” and set the correct port.
- On macOS, remove and re-add the printer or add by IP if Bonjour fails.
- Reserve the IP in your router and keep firmware and drivers updated.
With these steps, the HP Envy 4520 should switch from “offline” to “ready” and stay available for every device on your network.