Brother is a printer manufacturer known for its high-end printers available for less price than the competitors. Brother is one such company with a catalog of printers available for every type of usage. From homes to offices, Brother printers can be found everywhere.
Brother printer showing offline is not a big issue and can be solved quickly. Brother printer says offline can be because of a driver issue with your printer or the print spooler being stopped. There are many small reason or issues that can cause the Brother printer offline problem. You will need to identify these problems and fix them correctly. Follow this brother printer offline fix step-by-step and get your printer online in minutes.
Brother Printer is Offline: How To Get It Back Online?
A printer going offline regularly happens because of varying conditions, particularly the WIFI, connectivity and power supply issues. Brother printer offline is no exception as it also has its share of issues. Printer issues can be due to overload, or perhaps it may be an issue with the driver, or the network may be undergoing some connectivity problems and also loose connection might be the culprit. Trouble can happen anywhere along the line, a system hardware failure cannot also be discounted. The problem is diverse and only a critical assessment can pinpoint the actual cause, so remedial measures can be taken up.
Printers are sensitive devices that easily reacts and send a ‘printer offline’ message even when there is only a little deviation in the power supply. This is inherent in all printers because a shortfall in power would naturally affect the performance of the device. In some instances a simple reboot of the device is all is needed to turn it back online.
However if the ‘offline’ thing occurred because the user made some changes in the computer, it is a valid issue. To turn the back on ‘online’ after a valid issue happened, here are a list of steps to follow to allow the printer to go online:
Step 1 Open the printers’ ‘start’ menu and click on ‘control panel’ and tap on ‘printers and faxes’ icon. This sequence of moves will open up a new window and a list of printers will appear.
Step 2 The list includes all the printers currently setup on the serving computer. Double click on the icon of the printer if the user wants to reconnect online. A pop-up window will then appear, this consist of details of all current print jobs scheduled on the printer.
Step 3 And last, go to ‘printer’ in the menu window and tap ‘use printer offline’ and automatically this action will reconnect the printer ‘online’ from the ‘offline’ status.
The process is really simple as it will turn a brother printer offline to active status, so printing jobs perhaps in a queue can continue. Anyone can do the sequence easily by just following the simple instruction detailed herein. Remember, a brother printer offline is no cause for alarm, solutions to turn it right online is available for the users peace of mind.
How to Resolve Brother Printer Offline Problem on Windows
To resolve a Brother printer offline issue on Windows, begin by checking the printer’s status in Windows settings and ensuring it’s not marked as offline. Then, verify the printer is set as the default, clear any pending print jobs, and update or reinstall the printer drivers. If issues persist, temporarily disabling the Windows firewall or resetting the printer might be helpful.
Detailed Steps:
1. Check Printer Status:
- Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
- Locate your Brother printer icon.
- Right-click the icon and select “See what’s printing”.
- If “Use Printer Offline” is checked, uncheck it.
- If “Pause Printing” is checked, uncheck it.
2. Set as Default Printer:
- Right-click the printer icon in Devices and Printers.
- Select “Set as Default Printer”.
3. Clear Print Queue:
- Right-click the printer icon in Devices and Printers.
- Select “See what’s printing”.
- Cancel any pending print jobs by selecting them and clicking “Cancel”.
4. Update/Reinstall Drivers:
- Visit the Brother Support website.
- Download and install the latest drivers for your printer model.
5. Disable Firewall Temporarily:
- Note: This is a temporary measure for troubleshooting.
- Go to Control Panel > Windows Firewall.
- Temporarily disable the firewall.
- If the printer is now online, you may need to reconfigure the firewall settings.
6. Reset the Printer (if necessary):
- Refer to your printer’s manual for specific reset instructions.
- This may involve powering off the printer, holding down a specific button while powering on, or using a reset function in the printer’s settings.
Check the status of the printer in the Windows settings
Go to “Control Panel” > “Devices and Printers” and locate your Brother printer. Right-click the printer icon and click “See what’s printing.” If it shows printer offline, unmark the “Use Printer Offline” check box to put the printer online.
Set printer as default
In the “Devices and Printers” window, right-click your Brother printer and select “Set as Default Printer.” This will route all print jobs from your computer to the proper printer by default.
Clear print queue
Stuck print jobs in the queue may also be one of the causes for the offline printer status. So right-click the printer in “Devices and Printers” and choose “See what’s printing.” Highlight all pending jobs and then click “Cancel” to clear the queue.
Update/Reinstall printer drivers
The old drivers may create a gap in communication between computer and printer. Access the Brother website, download the updated drivers for your model, and install them. If the problem remains unresolved, uninstall the present drivers via “Device Manager” and reinstall them.
Temporary disable Windows firewall
Sometimes, this prevents the printer from communicating with the computer. For troubleshooting purposes, temporarily turn off the firewall: Under “Control Panel,” click “System and Security,” then “Windows Defender Firewall,” and click “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall.” After that, try printing. If it works, change your firewall settings to permit printer communication.
Brother Printer Showing Offline Easy way to back online
Brother printers are vastly popular for their multifunctionality and affordability. The feature of wireless printing has taken the user experience to the next level. The flexibility and convenience that wireless printing gives is second to none, wireless printing has become a mandatory requirement of modern day printers. So, when your Brother printer goes offline it generates a great amount of frustration for the users.
Brother Printer Offline How to Fix
In this comprehensive guide we will help you with troubleshooting steps that can bring your Brother printer back online. We will also explain what are the possible reasons that your Brother printer went offline, and the ways to troubleshoot those reasons and restore the online connectivity of your Brother Printer.
Why Is My Brother Printer Showing Offline?
If you are finding the answer to why your brother’s printer is not showing online, you have come to the correct place. In this article we will provide you with the possible reasons your Brother Printer is showing offline and how you can resolve it.
The common issue that can cause your Brother Printer offline
- Connection Disruption
- Using Different WiFi Network
- Outdated Drivers
- Command Queue
- Configuration Problems
Connection Disruption:
You will get an error message “Your Brother Printer is Offline” if there is a connection issue. Make sure your printer is switched on and properly connected to your PC. In case it is connected through USB cable, make sure the cable is not damaged and property inserted in the USB port. In case you are using a wireless network it is in the close proximity of the router to receive strong and stable signals.
Brother Printer Shows Offline Check WiFi Network In Use:
A common reason for Brother Printer Showing Offline is using a different WiFi network, if your PC is connected to a different WiFi than the network used by your printer it can show offline. Make sure that the printer and the PC are on the same WiFi network.
Outdated Drivers:
Your brother printer can go offline if the drivers installed are not updated. Check and find if your drivers are updated and relevant to the printer software.
Command Queue:
If your Brother printer is offline, sometimes it can be an issue with the print queue. If there are so many print jobs in the queue the printer can refuse to take the new job.
Configuration Problems:
If your brother printer is offline you might want to check the configuration of the printer settings. Examine the printer configuration setting to make sure it is correct as per the requirements.
How to Get Brother Printer Online:
Your Brother Printer is offline wondering how to fix it. In this section of the article we will see step by step how we get Brother Printer online.
Brother Printer Keeps Going Offline Examine the Connectivity Issue:
Examining the connection issue will be a good idea if your printer keeps on going offline. If your printer is connected to your computer with a wired connection through USB Cable. Loosely fitted wire or USB cable can make your printer show offline. Carefully examine all the connections and make sure the printer is firmly connected and USB is firmly placed on the USB port.
In case you are connected through wireless connection then the first thing you have to do is to make sure that your printer is getting a strong and stable signal from your router. Make sure it is sitting in close proximity to the router.
Use Same WiFi Network for Printer & Computer:
It may sound strange but quite often it is the case where the user connects their printer to a different WiFi network while the device they are trying to send the print command to is on a different WiFi network. Check the WiFi network you are using and make sure your printer is connected to the same WiFi network to avoid getting my brother printer offline error.
Outdated Drivers:
Outdated drivers can also be the culprit if your Brother Printer is showing offline. To install the most updated driver you need to visit the official portal https://support.brother.com/ and select your country region and go to download, find the printer model type and download the most updated drivers.
Command Queue:
If there are so many print jobs pending in the queue, your printer can refuse to take new tasks and appear offline. You can review the print queue and cancel any pending print job to clear the queue, it will be best if you restart your device before sending a new print job.
Review Configuration & Settings:
Review the printer setting specifically to see if the option of show offline is turned on. If it is accidentally turned then your printer will not show online, turn this off to bring your printer back online. Make sure the network SSID is correct and password should be entered accurately.
How to Resolve Brother Printer Is offline Windows 10 Issue:
To resolve Brother printer offline issue you can try the the methods explained in this guide, however, there few additional thing that you can try with in Windows 10 by following these steps
Make Brother Printer as Your Default Printer
- Access control by typing control panel in window search box
- Now select Device & Printer
- Now select the printer you are facing issue with
- Now right click and make the printer as your default printer
- Just to make sure that new settings are saved and applied, restart the device.
Turn off Use Printer Offline Option:
To make sure that your printer is not reflecting offline because of this setting.
- Access control by typing control panel in window search box and select device & printer
- Select “What is Printing Option” by right clicking on the printer icon.
- Now got printer option to see if User Printer Offline is checked, uncheck this option
- After this you would need to click on cancel all documents.
- Now restart the device to see the issue is resolved.
Restart the Printer Spooler Service:
Printer spooler is responsible for managing print job access this option by typing service.msc in run command, now select printer spooler.
- Right click on printer spooler and select the stop option
- Type C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
- Delete all the files it populate
- Now start the printer spooler service again
How to Resolve Brother Printer Says Offline? [Windows/Mac]
When you connect the printer to the system, it must be active to print the documents. But, in a few exceptional cases, it does not print and remains offline. Also, when you look at the print properties, it shows the printer is offline. You may find it weird as the printer is On. Then, what obstructs it not from getting online? Generally, it can be a connection issue. But, in a few cases, other reasons can also be behind it.
Whether you are using the printer with a WiFi network or using a USB cable, you can find the offline error in any case if there is a technical glitch. You must inspect all of the factors and find out what is causing the Brother printer says offline. It is not a major issue you cannot resolve; a few simple steps can fix it. This blog will guide you with complete instructions to troubleshoot the problem.
Step 1: Verify the printer is on and ensure there are no errors.
- If the printer’s screen is blank, check if it is off or in sleep mode.
- Ensure the printer is correctly plugged into the electric socket and switches are ON.
- If you cannot power on the printer, then must be some printer issue.
- Check the system or the printer’s LCD for any error message like paper jam, empty cartridge, etc.
- If you find any error, you must troubleshoot it, and then you will be able to turn it On.
Step 2: Ensure the printer is connected to the system.
- If you are using a wired connection, ensure the USB cable is inserted into both printer and the system.
- For an Ethernet cable connection, ensure the cable is attached to both router/switch/hub and printer.,
- If you use a wireless connection, check the IP address by printing the network configuration page.
- If the problem continues, move on to the next step to resolve it.
Step 3: Ensure your Brother printer is a default printer.
- First, open the printer list on the system and ensure a checkmark on your machine.
- Move to the control panel window and click on the Hardware and Sound option.
- Select Devices and Printers, locate your printer, and check if there is a checkmark on it or not.
If there is a checkmark icon, right-click on your printer and tap the “Set as default printer” option.
If the printer does not function after the above instructions, follow the next step.
Step 4: Cancel all print jobs of your printer.
- First, right-click on the printer and tap the “See what’s printing” option.
- After that, choose the “Cancel all documents” option to delete all print jobs.
- If you cannot tap on the cancel option, tap “Open As Administrator.” Enter the admin password and click Yes.
Step 5: Examine the status of your printer in the Printer’s lists.
- If you find the printer status is offline, right-click on the printer and select “See what’s printing.”
- After that, click on the Printer option on the menu bar and uncheck “Use Printer Offline.”
- If you cannot click on the offline option, tap “Open as administrator.” Type the administrator password and hit Yes.
Read Also:- How to Reset Brother Printer to Factory Default?
- When you see the status as paused, follow the same process and uncheck the “Pause Printing” option.
- If it is blocked, hit the “Open as administrator” option. Type the password of the admin and click Yes.
Step 6: Ensure the Device Manager detects your Brother printer.
- First, go to the Settings window of the system and then the control panel.
- Then, click Hardware and Sound and then go to the Devices and Printers section.
- Now, click the Device Manager option. A User Account Control screen may appear.
- If it appears, click Yes or Continue if you have administrator rights. If not, you may need to enter the admin password.
- Click on the View menu and select “Show hidden devices.”
- Expand the Printers option; if you can see your printer, it means the Device Manager recognizes your printer.
Conclusion
I hope you see this blog helpful in resolving the problem when the Brother printer says offline. The entire steps take a few minutes to troubleshoot the issue and switch the printer from offline to online mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is My Brother Printer Offline?
The printer status may show up as “Offline” or “Paused”. The cause of this problem can be that the “Use Printer Offline” checkbox is checked. You need to uncheck the box to rectify this error and get your Brother Printer back online.
Why Does my Brother Printer Keep Going Offline?
The Brother printer goes into an offline state usually when it is connected to wireless internet connection and the connection is unstable. There can be another reason for your printer to go into the offline mode, that is you may have unknowingly check the “Use the Printer Offline” option. You can un-select this option to use your Brother printer in online mode.
How to Get a Brother Printer from Offline to Online?
You can bring your printer online by following the given steps:
- Go to the “Devices and Printers” option through the “Start” menu.
- Right-click on the “Brother Printer” icon. Now you will be able to see the current job.
- Choose the “Printer” option that would be on the top of the window.
- Remove the mark in front of the “Use Printer Offline” option.
- If your documents are still not printing, try reconnecting your printer to the system.
- Turn your printer on.
Why is My Brother Printer offline on Mac?
To resolve the issue of Brother printer on Mac, you may follow the below written step-by-step instructions.
- Firstly, ensure that the Brother printer is getting a stable power supply.
- Check for any paper jammed in the paper tray.
- Choose a fast internet connection.
- Make sure that your printer has the latest version of the version.
- Delete all the jobs in the printing queue.
- In case of wired printers, check that the USB are well connected in the USB Ports.
How to Change Brother Printer Status from Offline to Online?
You can easily get the Brother printer back online by ensuring that the printer is selected as the “Default” printer. If not, select the Brother printer to be the default printer. You can also try to uninstall and reinstall the Brother Printer with your system. Make sure that any papers are not jammed into the paper tray before giving any printing commands to your printer.
How can I fix Brother Printer Offline Windows 10 problem?
At this moment, problems related to my brother printer are making me very infuriating. The minute before it was printing fine and now, it shows Brother Printer Offline Windows 10 error. What does that suppose to mean? I have no idea what to do now. Therefore, I needed someone’s guidance to bring back my brother printer online so that I can continue my printing work.
Why does my Brother printer keep going offline?
It could be due to network issues, outdated drivers, or incorrect settings. Check your connections and update your software.
How do I reset my Brother printer?
Refer to your printer’s user manual for specific instructions, usually involving a combination of button presses or accessing the settings menu.
Can a firmware update fix the offline issue?
Yes, firmware updates can resolve bugs and improve functionality, potentially fixing the offline problem.
What should I do if the printer is still offline after troubleshooting?
If you’ve tried all the steps and it’s still offline, contact Brother support for further assistance.
How often should I update my printer drivers?
Regularly check for updates, especially if you’re experiencing issues. Keeping drivers up-to-date ensures optimal performance.