Introduction

Brother printers are widely known for their reliability, print quality, and user-friendly features. However, like any technology, they sometimes encounter problems. The good news is that many of the most common Brother printer issues are software-related and can often be resolved without professional repairs. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting methods for these problems so you can get back to printing smoothly.

If you ever feel stuck or need expert guidance, you can always contact Brother Printer Support at +1–872–999–5616 for quick assistance.

1. Brother Printer Not Connecting to Wi-Fi

One of the most frequent complaints users’ faces is when their brother printer won’t connect to Wi-Fi. Without a proper connection, printing wirelessly becomes impossible.

Causes:

• Incorrect Wi-Fi password entered.

• Printer not within the router’s range.

• Router settings or firewall blocking the printer.

• Outdated printer firmware or drivers.

Solutions:

1. Re-enter Wi-Fi credentials: Double-check your SSID and password when reconnecting.

2. Reboot router and printer: Power cycling can fix temporary connectivity glitches.

3. Update printer firmware: Visit Brother’s official website and download the latest firmware.

4. Check firewall settings: Ensure your security software isn’t blocking the printer.

If the Wi-Fi issue persists, reach out to the Brother support team at +1–872–999–5616 for personalized troubleshooting.

2. Brother Printer Showing “Offline” Status

A very common issue among Brother printer users is the dreaded “Printer Offline” error, even when the device is powered on and connected.

Causes:

• Wrong default printer selected.

• Print spooler service not working.

• Driver conflicts after system updates.

Solutions:

1. Set as default printer:

   • On Windows, go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers and select your Brother printer as default.

2. Restart Print Spooler service:

   • Open Run > type services.msc and restart the spooler.

3. Update or reinstall drivers:

   • Download the latest drivers from the Brother support page.

3. Slow Printing Speed

Brother printers are known for efficiency, but sometimes print jobs take far longer than expected.

Causes:

• High-resolution print settings.

• Too many queued print jobs.

• Outdated printer drivers.

• Large file size or graphics-heavy documents.

Solutions:

1. Adjust print settings: Use Draft Mode or reduce resolution for faster printing.

2. Clear print queue: Remove stuck jobs that may be slowing down the system.

3. Update drivers: Ensure you’re running the latest software version.

4. Check file optimization: Compress large PDFs before printing.

4. Brother Printer Not Responding to Print Commands

Sometimes, you hit “Print,” but nothing happens. This is usually a software or driver-related issue.

Causes:

• Outdated or corrupted drivers.

• Communication issues between PC and printer.

• Conflicts after system updates.

Solutions:

1. Uninstall and reinstall drivers: This often clears out corrupted files.

2. Run Windows Troubleshooter: On Windows, right-click the printer icon and select “Troubleshoot.”

3. Check connection method: Ensure the printer is connected via Wi-Fi or USB correctly.

5. Error Messages on Brother Printer

Brother printers sometimes display error messages like “Unable to Print”, “Check Connection”, or “Paper Jam” (even when no jam exists). These errors are often software glitches.

Causes:

• Driver conflicts.

• Firmware errors.

• Spooler malfunctions.

Solutions:

1. Restart the printer: A simple reboot often clears temporary glitches.

2. Update firmware and drivers: Download the latest updates from Brother’s website.

3. Reset print spooler: Clear the cache and restart services.

6. Compatibility Issues After OS Updates

When Windows or macOS rolls out updates, some Brother printers face compatibility issues until drivers catch up.

Causes:

• Outdated drivers.

• Missing updates from Brother.

Solutions:

1. Check Brother’s support page: Download OS-compatible drivers.

2. Use Generic Printer Drivers: Temporary workaround if official drivers aren’t available.

3. Rollback OS update: If necessary, revert to the previous version until Brother releases updates.

7. Brother iPrint&Scan App Not Working

Brother’s mobile app, iPrint&Scan, allows printing directly from smartphones. However, sometimes it fails to detect the printer.

Causes:

• Network mismatch (phone and printer not on the same Wi-Fi).

• Outdated app version.

• Permissions not granted.

Solutions:

1. Ensure same Wi-Fi network: Both printer and mobile device must be on the same connection.

2. Update the app: Download the latest version from the App Store or Google Play.

3. Grant permissions: Allow storage and network access in your device settings.

8. Brother Printer Spooler Issues

A corrupted print spooler can cause jobs to get stuck, leading to errors or endless “Processing” status.

Solutions:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and locate Print Spooler.

2. Right-click and choose Restart.

3. Clear the spooler folder:

   • Go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete pending files.

9. Brother Printer Driver Installation Failures

Sometimes, installing or updating drivers fails due to software conflicts.

Solutions:

1. Uninstall old drivers: Remove previous versions before reinstalling.

2. Run installer as Administrator: Right-click and select Run as Admin.

3. Disable antivirus temporarily: Security software may block installation.

10. Brother Printer Won’t Print in Color

Occasionally, Brother printers refuse to print in color, even if cartridges are fine.

Causes:

• Incorrect settings (monochrome mode enabled).

• Corrupted driver files.

• Software bugs.

Solutions:

1. Check printer settings: Ensure “Grayscale” or “Monochrome” is not selected.

2. Update or reinstall drivers.

3. Run Brother Printer Diagnostic Tool (available on the official site).

Final Thoughts

Brother printers are dependable, but like any device, they may experience occasional software-related problems. From Wi-Fi connectivity errors to spooler malfunctions, most issues can be fixed with simple troubleshooting steps. Keeping your drivers updated and regularly checking firmware releases from Brother ensures smooth performance.

If you’ve tried the steps above and your Brother printer still isn’t functioning correctly, don’t worry—help is just a phone call away. Contact Brother Printer Support at +1–872–999–5616 for expert assistance. Their team can remotely diagnose and resolve issues quickly, ensuring your printer runs smoothly without unnecessary downtime.

FAQs

• How do I reset my Brother printer?

To reset your Brother printer, press the Menu button on the control panel, navigate to Initial Setup > Reset > Factory Reset, and confirm the action. The printer will restart and return to its default settings. Keep in mind that this will erase all custom settings, including Wi-Fi and network configurations.

• How to fix “Driver is unavailable” on my Brother printer?

This error usually means the printer driver is outdated or corrupted. To fix it, uninstall the existing driver from your computer, then download and install the latest Brother printer driver from the official Brother support website. Restart your computer and reconnect the printer to complete the setup.

• Why is my Brother printer not printing anything?

If your Brother printer isn’t printing, the issue may be due to incorrect printer settings, a stalled print queue, outdated drivers, or connectivity problems. Try setting your Brother printer as the default, clear any pending print jobs, update the driver, and check the Wi-Fi/USB connection.

• What is the most common error in Brother printers?

One of the most common errors in Brother printers is the “Printer Offline” message. It often happens due to connection issues, incorrect default printer settings, or outdated drivers. Restarting the printer, setting it as default, and updating drivers usually resolves the problem.

• Why is my Brother printer not connecting to Wi-Fi?

Your Brother printer may fail to connect to Wi-Fi due to incorrect network credentials, weak signal strength, outdated firmware, or router firewall settings. Double-check your Wi-Fi password, place the printer closer to the router, update the firmware, and ensure the network isn’t blocking the connection.

• Why is my Brother printer offline even though it’s connected to Wi-Fi?

Your Brother printer may appear offline due to incorrect default printer settings, a stalled print queue, outdated drivers, or temporary network glitches. Setting it as the default printer, clearing the print queue, updating drivers, and restarting both the printer and router usually resolves the issue.

• How do I get my Brother printer to go back online?

To bring your Brother printer back online, first ensure it’s powered on and connected to the correct network. Set it as the default printer on your computer, clear any pending print jobs in the print queue, and restart both the printer and your computer. Updating the printer driver can also help resolve persistent offline issues.

• How do I connect my Brother printer to my wireless network?

To connect your Brother printer to Wi-Fi, press the Menu button on the printer, go to Network > WLAN > Setup Wizard, select your Wi-Fi network, and enter the password. Once connected, the printer will display a confirmation message.