If your Brother printer is not responding, it can be a frustrating situation that disrupts productivity. Whether you're using the printer for personal or professional purposes, addressing the issue efficiently is essential. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting steps to resolve the "Brother Printer Not Responding" problem, whether it's caused by network connectivity, driver issues, or printer settings.
Step 1: Check the Printer’s Physical and Network Connections
Before diving into software-related solutions, ensure that the printer is properly connected to your device.
Power and Cable Connections:
Confirm that the printer is powered on. Check the power cable and ensure it is securely plugged into the wall outlet and the printer.
If you are using a USB connection, make sure the cable is properly connected to both the computer and the printer. Try switching to a different USB port or cable to rule out a faulty connection.
For wireless printers, check if the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. Use the printer’s control panel to verify the connection status.
Check the Network Connection:
If using a Wi-Fi printer, ensure your device and the printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
On the printer’s control panel, check the network settings or print a network configuration report to ensure the printer has a valid IP address and is connected to the network.
Restart Devices:
Sometimes a simple restart can resolve the issue. Power off the printer, computer, and router. Wait for about 30 seconds before powering them back on. This can help re-establish connections.
Step 2: Ensure the Printer is Set as Default
A common reason for a Brother printer not responding is that it’s not set as the default printer.
On Windows:
Go to Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
Locate your Brother printer, right-click on it, and select Set as default printer.
A green checkmark should appear next to the printer, indicating that it is now the default printer.
On macOS:
Go to System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
Select your Brother printer from the list and click the Set as default option.
Clear Print Queue:
If there are any pending print jobs stuck in the queue, they might be causing the printer to be unresponsive. In Windows, right-click on your Brother printer, select See what’s printing, and cancel all pending jobs.
For macOS, open System Preferences → Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click Open Print Queue to cancel jobs.
Step 3: Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
Outdated or corrupted printer drivers are one of the main reasons why a printer may stop responding.
Download the Latest Printer Drivers:
Visit the Brother support website and search for your printer model.
Download the latest drivers that match your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
Reinstall Printer Drivers:
On Windows, open Device Manager, locate your Brother printer under the Printers category, right-click, and choose Uninstall device. Then restart your computer, which will trigger the automatic reinstallation of the printer drivers.
On macOS, go to System Preferences → Printers & Scanners, select your printer, click the minus sign (–) to remove it, and re-add it by clicking the plus sign (+).
Update Printer Firmware:
Brother occasionally releases firmware updates to improve printer performance and fix bugs. Check the Brother support site for any available firmware updates for your model, and follow the instructions to install them.
Step 4: Check Firewall or Antivirus Settings
Sometimes, a firewall or antivirus program may block the communication between your computer and the printer, especially if it's a network printer.
Temporarily Disable Firewall/Antivirus:
Add Printer to the Allowed List:
Step 5: Verify Printer Status and Restart Print Spooler (Windows)
If your Brother printer is listed as offline or paused, it won’t respond to print commands.
Set Printer to Online:
Restart Print Spooler:
Step 6: Reset the Printer Network Settings
If you're using a wireless Brother printer, resetting the network settings can sometimes resolve connection issues.
