Why Is My Brother Printer Offline on Windows 10?

 

 

When you're trying to print something urgently and see the message "Brother Printer is Offline" on your Windows 10 computer, it can be incredibly frustrating. This is a common problem faced by many Brother printer users and can stem from a variety of causes—both hardware and software-related.

In this guide, we’ll explore all the possible reasons why your Brother printer is showing offline in Windows 10, and walk you through the best methods to bring it back online.

What Does "Printer Offline" Actually Mean?

The "offline" status means that your PC can’t communicate with your Brother printer. This doesn’t necessarily mean the printer is broken—it may be turned off, disconnected from the network, paused, or facing driver-related issues.

 Common Reasons Why Your Brother Printer Goes Offline in Windows 10

Here are some of the most frequent causes:

1. Loose or Unplugged Cables

If you're using a USB connection, a loose or damaged cable might be the reason. Always check the physical connection first.

2. Wi-Fi or Network Disconnection

For wireless Brother printers, any disruption in Wi-Fi or network connectivity can cause the printer to appear offline.

3. Incorrect Default Printer Setting

If another printer is set as the default or your Brother printer isn’t selected properly, Windows might treat it as offline.

4. Enabled "Use Printer Offline" Mode

This Windows feature can unintentionally keep your printer offline even if it’s properly connected.

5. Outdated or Corrupted Printer Drivers

Old or malfunctioning drivers are a major cause of communication issues between your PC and the printer.

6. Paused Print Queue or Spooler Service Problems

Pending print jobs or issues with the Print Spooler service can lead to offline status.

How to Fix Brother Printer Offline on Windows 10

Follow these step-by-step solutions to resolve the issue:

Solution 1: Check Physical Connections

• Ensure that your Brother printer is turned ON.

• For wired connections, make sure the USB cable is properly plugged in.

• If you’re using a network printer, verify that it’s connected to Wi-Fi and your PC is on the same network.

Solution 2: Set Brother Printer as Default

1. Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

2. Click on your Brother printer and select Manage.

3. Click Set as default.

If another printer is the default, print commands may go elsewhere.

Solution 3: Uncheck "Use Printer Offline" Mode

1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

2. Right-click your Brother printer > See what's printing.

3. In the queue window, click Printer from the top menu.

4. Make sure Use Printer Offline is not checked.

Solution 4: Restart Print Spooler Service

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

2. Scroll down to find Print Spooler.

3. Right-click and choose Restart.

4. If that doesn't work, choose Stop, wait a few seconds, and then click Start.

The print spooler manages print jobs; restarting it can resolve stuck queues.

Solution 5: Clear the Print Queue

1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

2. Right-click your Brother printer > See what's printing.

3. Cancel all documents.

4. Restart your printer and try printing again.

Solution 6: Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

1. Visit the official Brother Support Website.

2. Search for your printer model.

3. Download the latest drivers for Windows 10.

4. Install the driver and restart your system.

Outdated or corrupted drivers can prevent proper communication between devices.

Solution 7: Reconnect the Printer

1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.

2. Click your Brother printer > Remove device.

3. Click Add a printer or scanner and follow the prompts.

Solution 8: Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

2. Click Additional troubleshooters.

3. Select Printer > Run the troubleshooter.

This tool will automatically detect and fix common printer issues.

Solution 9: Disable Firewall or Antivirus Temporarily

Sometimes, firewall or antivirus programs block printer communication. Temporarily disable them to test if that’s causing the issue. If it works, create an exception for the printer in your security settings.

Additional Tips

• Keep your printer firmware updated for optimal performance.

• Avoid using multiple printers unless necessary—this reduces driver conflicts.

• Restart your PC and printer after making major changes or updates.

Final Thoughts

A Brother printer going offline on Windows 10 can be annoying, but it’s usually fixable with some basic troubleshooting. Whether it’s a simple settings tweak or a driver update, these solutions should help restore functionality and get your documents printed without further hassle.