printer is connected to wifi but says 'offline' on my computer every single time.

Diagnosis

The Canon PIXMA TS6520 typically suffers from a communication breakdown caused by Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lease expiration. By default, your router assigns a temporary IP address to the printer. When the router reboots or the lease expires, the router assigns a new IP address to the TS6520, but the Windows print spooler continues to send data to the old, now-defunct address. This results in the "Offline" status because the computer is essentially knocking on a door that no longer exists. You can confirm this by comparing the IP address currently displayed on the printer's 1.42" OLED screen with the port address listed in your computer's printer properties. If the printer shows 192.168.1.15 but the computer is targeting 192.168.1.12, the handshake is broken. This is further complicated by the "WSD" (Web Services for Devices) port, which Canon uses by default; while intended to be "plug-and-play," WSD is notoriously unstable and frequently drops the connection during sleep cycles.

How to Fix It

To resolve this permanently, you must move the printer from a dynamic WSD port to a Static Standard TCP/IP port.

1. On the printer's OLED display, press the Setup (pliers/screwdriver icon) button.
2. Navigate to Device settings > LAN settings > Confirm LAN settings > Print LAN details.
3. Locate the IPv4 Address on the printed page (e.g., 192.168.1.XX) and write it down exactly.
4. On your Windows PC, open the Control Panel and go to Devices and Printers.
5. Right-click the Canon TS6500 series icon and select Printer Properties (not "Properties").
6. Click the Ports tab at the top. You will see a checkmark next to a port starting with "WSD-".
7. Click Add Port... > select Standard TCP/IP Port > click New Port....
8. In the "Printer Name or IP Address" field, type the exact IPv4 address you noted from the printed page.
9. Click Next, then Finish. Ensure the new TCP/IP port is now checked in the list.
10. Click Apply and then Close. The printer status should immediately flip to "Online."

If That Didn't Work

• Disable SNMP Status: In the same Ports tab mentioned above, highlight your new TCP/IP port and click Configure Port.... At the bottom of the window, uncheck the box that says SNMP Enabled. Some routers block SNMP packets, which tricks Windows into thinking the printer is offline even when the IP is correct.
• Clear the Print Spooler: If the status remains offline, press Win+R, type services.msc, find Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Restart. This flushes any "stuck" jobs that are preventing the status update.
• Assign a Static IP via Router: Access your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and look for Address Reservation or Static DHCP. Find the Canon printer in the device list and lock its MAC address to its current IP. This prevents the IP from ever changing again, even after a power outage.
• Disable "Use Printer Offline" Mode: Open the print queue by double-clicking the printer icon. Click the Printer menu at the top left. Ensure there is no checkmark next to Use Printer Offline. If there is, click it to disable the mode.

Heads Up

• Avoid WSD: Whenever you reinstall drivers for a Canon TS-series printer, always manually create a TCP/IP port. WSD is the primary cause of "Offline" errors across the entire PIXMA line.
• Power Cycle Sequence: If you change router settings, always reboot in this order: Router first, wait 2 minutes, then turn the printer on. This ensures the printer requests a fresh handshake.
• Sleep Mode Issues: The TS6520 has an aggressive energy-saving mode. If you experience intermittent drops, go to Device settings > Eco settings and increase the Auto power off timer.
• Network Bandwidth: Ensure the printer is connected to the 2.4GHz band of your Wi-Fi. The TS6520 can struggle with 5GHz "Smart Connect" bands that merge both frequencies into one SSID.