One of the most frustrating things about a non-jogging Brother printer is that same special day when you need to print an important document. The good news is that a formulaic approach to these things will help fix most of the standard issues. In this guide, we will take a look at possible reasons and a complete guide to fix Brother Printer Not Responding.
Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing ?
Before diving into troubleshooting, it’s helpful to know why your Brother printer might not be printing. Some of the most common issues include:
- Connectivity Problems: Issues with USB, Wi-Fi, or network connections can interrupt communication between your printer and computer.
- Paper Jams or Low Paper: Sometimes, a simple paper jam or an empty paper tray can stop the printing process.
- Driver or Software Issues: Outdated or corrupted printer drivers and software can prevent print jobs from being processed.
- Printer Queue Errors: Stuck or paused print jobs can block new print tasks from starting.
- Hardware Malfunctions: Occasionally, the issue might be due to hardware problems such as faulty cartridges or internal errors.
Understanding these potential causes will guide you through a targeted troubleshooting process.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Follow these steps to diagnose and resolve the printing issue with your Brother printer.
1. Check Printer Power and Connections
- Power On: Ensure that your printer is turned on. Look for indicator lights on the printer’s display panel.
- Cable Check: For wired connections, verify that the USB or Ethernet cable is securely connected to both the printer and your computer or network hub.
- Wireless Connection: If you’re using Wi-Fi, make sure your printer is connected to the correct network. Check the Wi-Fi indicator on the printer to confirm connectivity.
2. Inspect the Paper Tray and Check for Paper Jams
- Paper Availability: Confirm that there is sufficient paper loaded in the tray. Sometimes the printer may simply be out of paper.
- Clear Paper Jams: Open the printer’s access panel and remove any jammed paper. Be sure to clear any small scraps that might be obstructing the paper path.
3. Verify Printer Status and Settings
- Printer Status: On your computer, go to the “Devices and Printers” section (or “Printers & Scanners” on macOS) and check the status of your Brother printer. Look for any error messages or warnings.
- Default Printer: Ensure that your Brother printer is set as the default printer in your system settings.
4. Clear the Print Queue
- Stuck Print Jobs: Sometimes, a stuck job can block subsequent tasks. Open the print queue on your computer, cancel any pending jobs, and try printing again.
- Restart the Print Spooler: On Windows, you can restart the print spooler service by typing “services.msc” in the Run dialog, finding the “Print Spooler” service, and restarting it.
5. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
- Driver Update: Outdated or corrupt drivers can hinder printing. Visit Brother’s official support website, enter your printer model, and download the latest drivers and software.
- Reinstall Drivers: If updating doesn’t help, uninstall the existing printer driver from your computer and then reinstall the latest version from Brother’s site.
6. Perform a Hard Reset on the Printer
- Power Cycle: Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power outlet. Wait for about 60 seconds before plugging it back in and powering it on. This can help clear temporary glitches.
- Factory Reset: If the issue still continues, find the procedure for a factory reset in your printer user guide. However, this may force the printer to be reset to its default settings, so you may have to set your network and preferences afterwards.
7. Check for Firmware Updates
- Firmware Updates: Just like software, printer firmware updates can resolve bugs and improve performance. Visit Brother’s support website and follow their instructions to update your printer’s firmware.
8. Consult the User Manual or Brother Support.
- User Manual: Refer to the troubleshooting section in your Brother printer’s user manual for model-specific advice.
- Customer Support: If none of the above steps work, it may be time to contact Brother customer support. Provide them with details about your issue, including any error codes or messages that appear on your printer’s display.
Conclusion
There are two possible causes of this; the first, and perhaps the most common one, is a simple connectivity issue, and the other includes driver or hardware-related failures. However, when you go through the system of elimination above, in many cases the problem can be corrected, and you can get back to printing effortlessly and reliably.