Your Brother printer is connected, but Windows or Mac still says it’s “Offline”? You’re not alone. The Brother Printer Offline Error is a common issue that frustrates both home and office users. Fortunately, it’s fixable in most cases with a few simple steps.
This guide covers why this error happens and provides step-by-step fixes for both Windows and macOS users.
Why Does My Brother Printer Say Offline?
Here’s what often happens:
- Printer not set as default
- Communication problem over USB or Wi-Fi
- Print spooler service error
- Change of IP address (in the case of wireless printers)
- Outdated drivers
- Power-saving or sleep mode
How to Fix Brother Printer Offline Error – Windows
Set Your Brother Printer as Default
- From Control Panel, go to Devices and Printers.
- Right-click on your Brother printer.
- Click “Set as default printer.”
- If your printer has a gray checkmark icon, the default does not reside there yet.
Uncheck the “Use Printer Offline” Option
- Go to Devices and Printers
- Right-click on your Brother printer > Click “See what’s printing.”
- Click Printer from the top menu bar.
- Uncheck “Use Printer Offline” if it was already checked.
Restart the Print Spooler Service.
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc
- Scroll to Print Spooler
- Right-click > Restart
Update or Reinstall the Printer Driver
- Go to Brother Support
- Search your printer model.
- Download and install the latest driver for your operating system.
Reconnect the Printer
- Right-click on your Brother printer > Click “See what’s printing.”
- Click Printer from the top menu bar.
- Uncheck “Use Printer Offline” if it was already checked.
How to Fix Brother Printer Offline Error – Mac
- Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners
- Select your Brother printer.
- Click the “-” button to remove it.
- Click the “+” button to re-add it.
- Make sure the printer shows “Idle” and not “Offline.”
Conclusion
This error can be aggravating—especially when you know that your printer is connected, but you’re not quite sure how to fix the issue. Be it making the printer the default one, resetting the print spooler, updating the drivers, or fixing an IP conflict, these fixes will get your printer working in a jiffy.
With the help of troubleshooting steps in our guide, you will be able to get rid of the current problem and eliminate the possibility of facing it in the future. If this doesn’t solve the problem, let Brother customer service or a service center know.