Posted by If your Brother printer isn’t working properly, don’t worry. It is common. From paper jams and connection issues to offline errors and print quality problems, users often face various challenges. In this guide, we’ll walk you through official troubleshooting steps to fix your Brother printer problem quickly and effectively.
Common Brother Printer Problems and How to Fix Them
1. Brother Printer Not Printing
The key causes for Brother printer not printing are:
- Printer is offline
- Print queue is stuck
- Wrong default printer selected
Here are the fixes to use:
- Set Brother as default printer:
Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click on your Brother printer, and select “Set as default.” - Clear print queue:
Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, double-click your Brother printer icon, right-click on each job, and click Cancel. - Check status:
Ensure the printer is powered on, connected properly, and shows no error messages on the display.
2. Brother Printer Showing Offline
If your printer shows offline, use these measures:
- Restart your printer and computer.
- Disable ‘Use Printer Offline’:
Go to Devices and Printers, right-click your printer > See what’s printing > Printer menu > Uncheck “Use Printer Offline.” - Reinstall printer driver:
Visit the official Brother Support site and download the latest driver for your model.
3. Paper Jam in Brother Printer
Fix paper jam as follows:
- Turn off the printer and gently remove any jammed paper from the tray, output slot, or rear panel.
- Open the back cover and rotate rollers if needed.
- Ensure you use correct paper size and type as per your printer’s manual.
4. Brother Printer Not Connecting to Wi-Fi
Try these steps when your printer cannot connect wirelessly.
- Reconnect to Wi-Fi via the printer’s control panel under Network Settings > WLAN Setup Wizard.
- Ensure the SSID and password are correct.
- Move the printer closer to the router to avoid weak signal issues.
- Reinstall the printer on your computer using Brother iPrint&Scan or Wireless Setup Wizard.
5. Poor Print Quality
If you find faded prints, streaks or smudges, or blank page output, use these measures:
- Run a print head cleaning: Use the printer menu > Ink > Cleaning option.
- Replace low or empty cartridges.
- Use genuine Brother ink and toner for best results.
- Ensure you select the correct media type and quality settings in your print driver.
6. Contact Brother Support
If you’ve tried all the above steps and your printer still doesn’t work, it might be time to:
- Check warranty status.
- Contact Brother support via support.brother.com for live chat or phone help.
- Use the Brother iPrint&Scan app for mobile diagnostics.
Additional tips to Keep Your Brother Printer Running Optimally
Beside following the solutions above, use these tips to keep your Brother printer functional.
- Regularly update your printer firmware.
- Avoid third-party ink/toner if possible.
- Keep the printer in a dust-free, dry area to prevent hardware damage.
Conclusion
Fixing your Brother printer doesn’t have to be complicated. Most issues, whether it’s not printing, showing offline, or having connection troubles can be resolved with a few simple steps. By following the official Brother guidelines and performing regular maintenance, you can keep your printer running smoothly and extend its life. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to reach out to Brother Printer support for further assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why is my Brother printer not printing even though it’s connected?
This usually happens when the printer is offline, there’s a stuck print job, or the driver is outdated. Set the printer as default, clear the queue, and update or reinstall the driver from Brother’s official website.
2. How do I reconnect my Brother printer to Wi-Fi?
Go to the printer’s control panel, select Network Settings > WLAN > Setup Wizard, and follow the prompts to reconnect using your correct Wi-Fi name (SSID) and password.
3. What should I do if my Brother printer is showing ‘offline’ status?
Right-click on the printer icon in Devices and Printers, choose “See what’s printing”, then click Printer > Use Printer Online. Also, make sure your printer is powered on and connected to the same network as your computer.
4. How do I fix streaky or faded prints from my Brother printer?
Run a print head cleaning from the printer menu. Replace any low ink or toner cartridges and make sure you’re using genuine Brother supplies for optimal performance.