This is not a new behavior in macOS 27.0.1 Golden Gate; it is actually a long-standing characteristic of the underlying CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) that macOS uses to manage print queues.
The status "Idle" simply means that the local print queue on your Mac is empty, healthy, and waiting for work. macOS does not constantly poll or ping network printers in the background to verify their physical presence. Doing so would waste network bandwidth and battery life.
Instead, the OS makes a "passive assumption":
- The Passive State: It assumes every printer is ready and "Idle" until you actually send a print job.
- The Active State: Only when you hit print does macOS attempt to establish a connection. If it's on a completely different network (like your office printer while you are at home), it will then pause, try to look for it, and eventually show an error or an "Unreachable/Offline" status for that specific job.
The sidebar in Print Center will show all known and local printers, so what you see in your screenshot is normal.
More information from Apple: Manage printers and print jobs with Print Centre on Mac – Apple Support
It does not appear that you are having any printing problems. If you are, or for future reference:
Solve printing problems on Mac - Apple Support
