Brother printers are known for their reliability, but like any device, they can run into occasional issues. One of the most common and frustrating problems users face is the "Brother Printer Offline" error. Whether you're using Windows 10, Windows 11, or a Mac system, this issue can halt productivity and leave you wondering what went wrong.

In this article, we’ll explore the causes behind this error and provide step-by-step solutions to bring your Brother printer back online quickly.

Why Does Your Brother Printer Show Offline?

Before jumping into solutions, it’s important to understand why this error happens. When a printer goes offline, it means your computer and printer are no longer communicating properly. This could be due to a number of reasons:

1. Loose or Unstable Connections

Improper cable connections or weak Wi-Fi signals can result in communication failure between your computer and printer.

2. Outdated or Corrupt Printer Drivers

Drivers allow your computer to talk to the printer. If they’re outdated, missing, or corrupted, the printer may show as offline.

3. “Use Printer Offline” Mode Enabled

If this option is accidentally turned on in Windows settings, your printer will not process any print jobs.

4. Printer in Sleep Mode or Powered Off

Sometimes, the printer is in sleep mode or turned off, making it appear offline even when everything is correctly connected.

5. Print Spooler Service Not Working

The print spooler is a Windows service that handles print jobs. If it stops working, your printer might appear offline.

How to Fix Brother Printer Offline Error

Now that you understand the possible causes, let’s go through some tried-and-tested solutions:

1. Check Physical and Network Connections

  • For USB-connected printers: Ensure the USB cable is securely plugged in at both ends.

  • For Wi-Fi printers: Verify the printer is connected to the correct wireless network. You can usually check this on the printer’s display screen.

  • For Ethernet printers: Make sure the network cable is properly connected and the router is working.

👉 Tip: Restart your printer, router, and computer to refresh the connection.

2. Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode (Windows)

  1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

  2. Right-click your Brother printer and select See what’s printing.

  3. In the menu bar, click on Printer.

  4. Uncheck Use Printer Offline if it is selected.

This will force Windows to communicate with the printer again.

3. Set Your Brother Printer as the Default Printer

If your computer is trying to send print jobs to a virtual or outdated printer, you'll get an offline error.

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

  2. Click on your Brother printer.

  3. Select Manage > Set as default.

4. Restart the Print Spooler Service

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

  2. Find and right-click Print Spooler.

  3. Choose Restart from the menu.

This refreshes the print job management system.

5. Update or Reinstall the Printer Driver

  1. Visit the Website.

  2. Search for your printer model and download the latest drivers.

  3. Install them and restart your computer.

If the driver is already installed but the issue persists, uninstall it from Device Manager and then reinstall the new driver.

 

6. Assign a Static IP to Your Printer (For Wireless Models)

Dynamic IP addresses can change, making it harder for your computer to locate the printer. Assigning a static IP helps maintain a consistent connection.

  • Access the printer’s network settings.

  • Set a manual (static) IP from the printer menu.

  • Update the port configuration in your computer’s printer settings accordingly.

7. Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

  2. Select Printer > Run the troubleshooter.

  3. Follow the prompts to detect and fix issues automatically.

Brother Printer Offline on Mac? Try This:

If you're using a Mac, here’s what you can do:

  • Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.

  • Select your Brother printer and click the minus (-) sign to remove it.

  • Click the plus (+) sign to add the printer again.

  • If the printer still appears offline, reset the printing system by right-clicking in the printer list area and selecting Reset printing system.

When to Contact Brother Support

If none of the above solutions work, your issue may be hardware-related. This could include:

  • Faulty network adapter

  • Firmware glitches

  • Internal hardware failure

In such cases, it's best to contact Brother’s official customer support for further assistance or repairs.

Conclusion

The Brother Printer Offline error is a common but solvable problem. Most of the time, it comes down to a simple connectivity issue or a misconfigured setting. By following the steps above, you can diagnose and fix the issue on your own without needing technical expertise.

Keep your drivers updated, maintain a strong network connection, and always check your printer settings if it goes offline. With these tips, you'll ensure smooth and uninterrupted printing.