How to Get Your Brother Printer Back Online When It Shows Offline

A Brother printer showing as offline can disrupt your workflow and cause frustration. This guide provides a comprehensive set of troubleshooting steps to get your printer back online.

1. Check Physical Connections

A loose cable can instantly disconnect your printer. Ensuring proper connections is the first step in troubleshooting.

1. Verify that the power cable is securely plugged into both the printer and the wall outlet.
2. If using a USB connection, ensure the USB cable is firmly connected to both the printer and your computer.
3. If using an Ethernet cable, confirm it is plugged into both the printer and your router or network switch.

2. Restart the Printer and Computer

A simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Power cycling both devices can refresh their connections.

1. Turn off the Brother printer by pressing the power button.
2. Turn off your computer.
3. Wait for approximately 30 seconds.
4. Turn on your computer.
5. Turn on the Brother printer.

3. Verify Wi-Fi Connection (Wireless Printers)

An incorrect Wi-Fi connection can cause your printer to appear offline. Ensuring the correct network settings is key to wireless printing.

1. On your printer’s control panel, navigate to the network settings.
2. Verify that the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
3. Ensure the Wi-Fi signal strength is adequate.
4. If necessary, reconnect the printer to your Wi-Fi network by entering the correct password.

4. Check Router Connection

A malfunctioning router can disrupt network connectivity. Verifying your router’s status is crucial for network printing.

1. Ensure your router is powered on and functioning correctly.
2. Restart your router by unplugging it, waiting for 30 seconds, and plugging it back in.
3. Check if other devices are connected to the same network and have internet access.

5. Set Printer as Default

If multiple printers are installed, your computer might be trying to print to a different device. Setting the Brother printer as the default can resolve this.

1. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select your Brother printer.
3. Click Manage.
4. Click Set as default.
5. On macOS, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
6. Select your Brother printer.
7. Ensure it is set as the default printer.

6. Update Printer Drivers

Outdated printer drivers can cause compatibility issues. Installing the latest drivers ensures proper communication.

1. Visit the Brother support website.
2. Enter your printer’s model number.
3. Download the latest drivers for your operating system.
4. Install the drivers following the on-screen instructions.

7. Check Printer Status in Control Panel/System Preferences

Your computer might be displaying an incorrect printer status. Manually checking the printer’s status can give a more accurate picture.

1. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select your Brother printer and click Manage.
3. Check the printer status.
4. On macOS, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
5. Select your Brother printer.
6. Check the printer status.

8. Disable Offline Printing (Windows)

Windows has an offline printing feature that can sometimes cause issues. Disabling it can help.

1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select your Brother printer and click Manage.
3. Click Open print queue.
4. Click Printer in the menu bar.
5. Uncheck Use Printer Offline.

9. Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Firewall or antivirus software might be blocking communication with the printer. Temporarily disabling them can help diagnose the issue.

1. Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus software.
2. Try printing a test page.
3. If the printer works, add an exception for the Brother printer in your firewall or antivirus settings.

10. Check IP Address (Network Printers)

An incorrect IP address can prevent your computer from communicating with the printer. Verifying the IP address is essential for network printing.

1. Print a network configuration page from your printer.
2. Verify the printer’s IP address.
3. Ensure your computer is on the same network subnet.
4. If necessary, manually configure the printer’s IP address in your computer’s printer settings.

11. Run the Brother Printer Troubleshooter

Brother provides troubleshooting tools that can automatically detect and fix common issues. Running these tools can save time.

1. Visit the Brother support website.
2. Enter your printer’s model number.
3. Download and run the Brother Printer Troubleshooter.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

12. Check for Paper Jams or Low Ink/Toner

While not directly related to offline status, paper jams or low ink/toner can prevent printing and sometimes cause the printer to appear offline in some systems.

1. Open the printer and check for any paper jams.
2. Replace any empty or low ink/toner cartridges.
3. Attempt to print a test page.

By systematically working through these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue causing your Brother printer to appear offline. If the problem persists, consider contacting Brother support for further assistance.