Brother Printer Offline in Windows 10: How to Fix It

A Brother printer showing as offline in Windows 10 can be a frustrating issue, especially when you’re trying to print important documents. Even if the printer is properly connected, it may still appear as “Offline” due to various reasons, including network issues, outdated drivers, or incorrect printer settings. If you’re unable to resolve the issue on your own, you can reach out to Brother Printer Support at 1 844.513.1589, available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, and Saturday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. For general customer service and additional help, feel free to contact +1-844-513-1589.

If you are facing this problem, don’t worry! This guide provides step-by-step troubleshooting methods to get your brother printer offline windows 10.

Why Does a Brother Printer Show Offline in Windows 10?

Before moving to the solutions, let’s first understand some of the common reasons why your Brother printer goes offline in Windows 10:

1. Connection Issues – Faulty USB cables, WiFi disconnections, or incorrect network settings can cause an offline status.
2. Printer is Set to Offline Mode – Windows may have automatically enabled the “Use Printer Offline” mode.
3. Driver Issues – Outdated or corrupt printer drivers can prevent the printer from communicating with Windows 10.
4. Print Spooler Service Issues – If the Print Spooler service is not working correctly, print jobs may get stuck, causing the printer to go offline.
5. Firewall or Antivirus Blocking the Printer – Security software might block the connection between Windows 10 and the printer.
6. Hardware Issues – If the printer has hardware faults, it may fail to connect properly.

Now, let’s go through the solutions to bring your Brother printer back online.

How to Fix Brother Printer Offline Issue in Windows 10

1. Check Printer and Computer Connections

The first step is to check if the Brother printer is properly connected to your Windows 10 computer.

For USB Printers:

• Ensure that the USB cable is securely connected to both the printer and computer.
• Try using a different USB port on your PC.
• Replace the USB cable if it is damaged.

For Wireless (WiFi) Printers:

• Make sure your printer and PC are connected to the same WiFi network.
• Restart your router and printer to refresh the network connection.
• Move the printer closer to the router for a stronger signal.

For Ethernet (Wired) Printers:

• Ensure the Ethernet cable is properly connected.
• Restart both the printer and router.

After checking the connections, restart your computer and see if the printer comes back online.

2. Set Brother Printer as Default Printer

Sometimes, Windows 10 may select a different printer as the default, causing the Brother printer to appear offline.

Steps to Set Brother Printer as Default:

1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Locate your Brother printer, right-click on it, and select Set as Default Printer.
3. Try printing a document to check if the printer is online.

3. Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode

Windows 10 may automatically enable the “Use Printer Offline” option, preventing your printer from coming online.

Steps to Disable “Use Printer Offline” in Windows 10:

1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on your Brother printer and select See what’s printing.
3. In the new window, click on Printer from the top menu.
4. Uncheck the option Use Printer Offline if it is selected.

This should bring the printer back online.

4. Restart the Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler service manages print jobs in Windows 10. If this service is not working properly, the printer may go offline.

Steps to Restart Print Spooler Service:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down and find Print Spooler.
3. Right-click on Print Spooler and select Restart.
4. Once restarted, close the window and check if the printer is online.

5. Update Brother Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause your Brother printer to appear offline in Windows 10.

Steps to Update Printer Drivers:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Printers section.
3. Right-click your Brother printer and select Update Driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to update the driver.

Alternatively, you can visit the Brother official website to download and install the latest driver for your printer model.

6. Reinstall Brother Printer

If updating the driver doesn’t work, try reinstalling the printer.

Steps to Reinstall Brother Printer in Windows 10:

1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on your Brother printer and select Remove device.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners and click Add a printer or scanner.
5. Windows should detect your Brother printer and reinstall it automatically.

7. Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Sometimes, firewalls or antivirus software can block the connection between Windows 10 and the printer.

Steps to Allow Brother Printer Through Firewall:

1. Open Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall.
2. Click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
3. Find your Brother printer in the list and ensure both Private and Public boxes are checked.
4. Click OK and restart your computer.

If you are using third-party antivirus software, try disabling it temporarily and check if the printer comes online.

8. Reset Network Settings on Brother Printer (For Wireless Printers)

If you are using a WiFi Brother printer, you may need to reset its network settings and reconnect it.

Steps to Reset Network Settings on Brother Printer:

1. On the printer, press the Menu button.
2. Go to Network > Network Reset.
3. Confirm the reset and wait for the printer to restart.
4. Reconnect the printer to your WiFi network.

Once reconnected, check if the printer appears online in Windows 10.

9. Use Brother Printer Troubleshooter

Brother provides a Printer Troubleshooter tool that automatically diagnoses and fixes issues.

1. Visit the Brother Support Page.
2. Download the Brother Printer Troubleshooter.
3. Run the tool and follow the instructions.

This tool can detect and fix common issues related to printer connectivity, drivers, and print spooler errors.

Conclusion

If your Brother printer is offline in Windows 10, follow these step-by-step solutions to bring it back online:

✔ Check printer connections (USB, WiFi, Ethernet)
✔ Set Brother printer as the default
✔ Disable “Use Printer Offline” mode
✔ Restart the Print Spooler service
✔ Update or reinstall printer drivers
✔ Check firewall and antivirus settings
✔ Reset network settings (for WiFi printers)
✔ Use Brother Printer Troubleshooter

By following these methods, you should be able to fix the offline issue and get your Brother printer working smoothly again.

If the problem persists, contact Brother Customer Support for further assistance.

• Country: United States