Brother Printer Offline on Windows & Mac? Try These Fixes!Updated 3 months ago
Is your Brother printer appearing offline on Windows or Mac? This is a common issue that many users face, but fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve it. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss the possible causes and solutions to bring your Brother printer back online.
Why Is My Brother Printer Offline?
Before proceeding with the fixes, let’s explore the common reasons why your Brother printer might be offline:
Incorrect printer settings
Printer not set as default
Connectivity issues
Outdated or corrupt drivers
Print spooler problems
Security software blocking communication
Fixing Brother Printer Offline on Windows & Mac
Below are step-by-step solutions to fix your Brother printer on both Windows and macOS.
1. Restart Your Printer, Computer, and Router
A simple restart can resolve temporary communication issues:
Turn off your Brother printer and unplug it from the power source.
Restart your computer and WiFi router.
Plug in and turn on your printer.
Check if the printer status changes to online.
2. Set Brother Printer as Default
Your computer may not recognize the printer if it is not set as the default device.
On Windows:
Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Right-click on your Brother printer and select Set as Default Printer.
Print a test page to check if the issue is resolved.
On Mac:
Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Select your Brother printer and click Set as Default Printer.
3. Check Printer Status and Remove Pending Jobs
Pending print jobs can cause the printer to appear offline.
On Windows:
Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Right-click your Brother printer and select See what's printing.
Cancel all pending print jobs.
On Mac:
Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Select your Brother printer and click Open Print Queue.
Remove any stuck print jobs.
4. Reconnect the Printer to WiFi or USB
For Wireless Printers:
Ensure your printer is connected to the correct WiFi network.
Move the printer closer to the router.
Restart your router and reconnect your printer.
For USB Printers:
Try using a different USB cable and port.
Reinstall the printer if necessary.
5. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
Outdated drivers can lead to communication errors.
Visit the Brother Support website.
Enter your printer model and download the latest drivers.
Install the drivers and restart your computer.
6. Restart the Print Spooler (Windows Only)
The print spooler manages print jobs and may need to be restarted.
Press Win + R, type
services.msc, and hit Enter.Scroll down to Print Spooler, right-click, and select Restart.
Check if the printer is now online.
7. Disable Firewall or Security Software Temporarily
Sometimes, security software can block communication between the computer and printer. Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus and see if your printer comes online.
8. Reset Network Settings on Your Brother Printer
If your printer is still offline, a network reset might help.
Press Menu on your printer.
Navigate to Network > Network Reset.
Confirm the reset and reconnect the printer to WiFi.
9. Reinstall the Printer on Windows & Mac
If none of the above solutions work, try reinstalling the printer.
On Windows:
Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Remove the Brother printer.
Click Add a printer and follow the setup instructions.
On Mac:
Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Select your Brother printer and click Remove (-).
Click Add (+) to reinstall the printer.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Brother printer offline issue on both Windows and Mac. If the problem persists, contact Brother Customer Support for further assistance.
We hope this guide helps! Let us know if you have any questions or need additional support.