How to Get Your Brother Printer Online: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s digital world, printers play a vital role in both personal and professional environments. Among the leading printer brands, Brother printers are known for their reliability, efficiency, and performance. However, one of the most common issues users encounter is the printer going “offline.” This can happen for several reasons, ranging from connectivity problems to configuration errors. Fortunately, getting your Brother printer back online is usually a straightforward process once you know the underlying causes and the steps required to fix them.

This article will cover everything you need to know about how to get brother printer online, the potential causes of the issue, and preventive measures to avoid it in the future.

1. What Does “Brother Printer Offline” Mean?

When your Brother printer shows an “offline” status, it means your computer is unable to communicate with the printer. This typically occurs when there is a problem with the printer’s connection to your network or the computer itself. The printer being offline can prevent you from printing documents, and it can be frustrating if you don’t know why it’s happening.

Some common symptoms of an offline Brother printer include:

Error messages that state “printer is offline” or “not connected.”
Unresponsive printer when you try to send a print job.
Jobs stuck in the print queue without being processed.

While the issue may seem complex, there are several troubleshooting steps that can help you bring your Brother printer back online.

2. Common Causes of Brother Printer Going Offline

Before diving into the solutions, it is essential to understand the potential causes behind this issue. Here are some of the most common reasons your Brother printer may go offline:

(i) Connectivity Problems

Wi-Fi or network connection issues: If you’re using a wireless Brother printer, any interruptions in your Wi-Fi or network connection can lead to the printer going offline.
Loose or disconnected cables: For wired printers, if the USB or Ethernet cables are not properly connected, the printer may lose its connection to the computer or network.

(ii) Printer Driver Problems

Outdated or corrupted printer drivers: A driver acts as a bridge between your computer and printer. If the driver is outdated, incompatible, or corrupt, it can cause the printer to go offline.
Recent system updates: Sometimes, system updates can conflict with the installed printer drivers, leading to communication problems.

(iii) Printer Settings Misconfiguration

“Use Printer Offline” setting enabled: This Windows-specific feature can cause your printer to go offline, even when it is connected correctly.
Incorrect default printer: If your computer has multiple printers installed and your Brother printer is not set as the default, print jobs may be directed to the wrong device, leading to confusion.

(iv) Firewall or Antivirus Software

Firewall or security software may block the communication between your computer and printer, causing it to appear offline.

(v) Paper Jams and Ink/Toner Issues

Physical issues, such as paper jams or low ink levels, may cause the printer to enter a non-functional state and go offline.

3. How to Get Your Brother Printer Online: Step-by-Step Solutions

(i) Check and Reconnect Cables (For Wired Printers)

If you’re using a wired Brother printer, the first step is to ensure that all physical connections are secure.

Inspect the USB or Ethernet cable: Check that the cable is properly plugged into both the printer and the computer or network router. Try unplugging and reconnecting the cable to make sure it’s secure.
Use a different port: If the printer is still offline, try connecting it to a different USB or Ethernet port on your computer or router.
Restart the printer: Turn off your Brother printer for 10–15 seconds, then turn it back on to refresh the connection.

(ii) Check Wi-Fi or Network Connection (For Wireless Printers)

For wireless Brother printers, connection issues are a common cause of the printer going offline.

Verify the Wi-Fi connection: Make sure the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. You can check the Wi-Fi status by accessing the printer’s control panel or printing a network configuration report.
Restart the router: If the Wi-Fi connection is unstable, try restarting your router. Unplug it for about 30 seconds, then plug it back in and allow it to reboot.
Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi: If your printer is still offline, it may be necessary to reconnect it to your Wi-Fi network. This can be done from the printer’s control panel by selecting the network settings and following the prompts to join your Wi-Fi.

(iii) Set Your Brother Printer as the Default Printer

If your Brother printer is not set as the default printer, your computer may send print jobs to a different printer or queue, leading to the “offline” issue.

Open the Control Panel on your computer.
Navigate to Devices and Printers.
Right-click on your Brother printer and select Set as default printer.
If your Brother printer is not listed, click Add a printer, and follow the instructions to reinstall it.

(iv) Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode

In some cases, Windows may automatically set the printer to “Use Printer Offline” mode, preventing it from receiving print jobs.

Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Right-click on your Brother printer and select See what’s printing.
In the menu, click Printer and uncheck Use Printer Offline if it’s selected.

(v) Clear the Print Queue

Sometimes, print jobs can get stuck in the queue, causing the printer to go offline.

Open the Control Panel and go to Devices and Printers.
Right-click on your Brother printer and select See what’s printing.
If there are any print jobs listed, right-click and select Cancel to clear the queue.
Restart the printer and computer to reset the connection.

(vi) Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

An outdated or corrupted printer driver can cause your Brother printer to appear offline.

Check for driver updates: Go to the Brother Support website, enter your printer model, and download the latest driver compatible with your operating system.
Reinstall the printer driver: If updating doesn’t work, try uninstalling and then reinstalling the printer driver.
- Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
- Right-click on your Brother printer and select Remove device.
- Once removed, reinstall the driver using the setup file from the Brother website.

(vii) Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Your firewall or antivirus software might block the communication between your computer and printer.

Open your firewall settings and ensure that your Brother printer software is allowed through the firewall.
Disable your antivirus software temporarily and check if the printer comes online. If so, adjust your antivirus settings to allow the printer to communicate with your computer.

(viii) Fix Paper Jams and Ink/Toner Issues

If the printer has any physical issues, such as a paper jam or low ink, these should be resolved to bring the printer back online.

Check for paper jams: Open the printer’s access panels and remove any stuck paper.
Check ink/toner levels: Replace or refill the ink/toner cartridges if they are empty or low.

4. Preventing Brother Printer from Going Offline

Once you’ve fixed the issue and your printer is back online, there are several steps you can take to prevent it from going offline in the future.

(i) Regularly Update Drivers and Firmware

Keeping your Brother printer drivers and firmware up to date ensures compatibility with your operating system and helps prevent bugs that could cause the printer to go offline.

Visit the Brother website regularly to check for driver updates.
Use Brother’s Driver Deployment Wizard to automate the update process.

(ii) Assign a Static IP Address

If your Brother printer frequently disconnects from your network, consider assigning it a static IP address. This will prevent the printer from losing its connection due to changes in dynamic IP addresses.

Access your router settings and assign a permanent IP address to your printer under the DHCP settings.

(iii) Monitor Network Stability

Ensure that your Wi-Fi network is stable by using a reliable router and keeping the network traffic balanced. Avoid placing the printer too far from the router to prevent weak signal issues.

(iv) Perform Regular Maintenance

Regularly inspect and maintain your printer to ensure it is functioning properly. Clean the printer to prevent paper jams and ensure smooth operation.

(v) Avoid Frequent Printer Restarts

Refrain from turning the printer off and on too frequently, as this can cause network reconnection issues. Allow the printer to remain on or in sleep mode when not in use.

5. Contact Brother Support for Further Assistance

If none of the above solutions work, there may be a more complex issue with your Brother printer. In such cases, contacting Brother’s customer support is your best option.

Information to Provide to Brother Support:

Printer model number.
Description of the problem, including error messages.
Steps you’ve already taken to resolve the issue.

Conclusion

Getting your Brother printer back online doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you can quickly resolve the issue and ensure smooth printing operations. Regular maintenance, keeping drivers up-to-date, and ensuring stable network connectivity are key factors in preventing your Brother printer from going offline again.