Dial 1-888-966-6097 Is your Brother printer showing as offline on Windows 10? You're not alone. This is a common issue that can prevent your printer from receiving print commands — even when it’s connected. Whether you're working from home or printing important documents, a non-responsive printer can be frustrating. But don’t worry — this guide will walk you through quick and effective solutions to bring your Brother printer back online.
🔍 Why Does the Brother Printer Show Offline on Windows 10?
There are several possible reasons:
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Loose USB or network cable connections
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Incorrect printer settings
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Outdated or corrupted printer drivers
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Windows spooler service issues
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Printer paused or set to offline manually
✅ Step-by-Step Troubleshooting to Fix Brother Printer Offline Error
1. Check Printer Connection
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For USB printers: Ensure the cable is properly connected to both the printer and your PC.
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For network/Wi-Fi printers: Confirm the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. You can print a network configuration page from your printer’s control panel to verify.
🔄 Restart both the printer and your router if needed.
2. Set Brother Printer as Default
Sometimes, Windows may redirect print jobs to another printer.
Steps:
-
Press
Windows + I
to open Settings. -
Go to Devices > Printers & scanners.
-
Click on your Brother printer, then select Manage.
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Click Set as default.
3. Disable “Use Printer Offline” Option
Windows might have set your printer to work offline.
Steps:
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Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
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Right-click your Brother printer and choose See what’s printing.
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In the new window, click Printer on the top menu.
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Make sure “Use Printer Offline” is unchecked.
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Also ensure that Pause Printing is not selected.
4. Restart Print Spooler Service
The Print Spooler manages all print jobs. Restarting it can fix communication errors.
Steps:
-
Press
Windows + R
, typeservices.msc
, and hit Enter. -
Scroll down and right-click Print Spooler > click Restart.
5. Update or Reinstall Brother Printer Drivers
Outdated drivers can lead to offline errors.
Option A: Update Driver Automatically
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Go to Device Manager (
Right-click Start > Device Manager
). -
Expand Printers, right-click your Brother printer, and select Update driver.
Option B: Install Latest Driver Manually
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Visit the official Brother Support Website.
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Enter your printer model and download the latest driver for Windows 10.
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Install and restart your PC.
6. Re-add the Printer
If nothing else works, remove and re-add the printer.
Steps:
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Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
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Click your Brother printer > Remove device.
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Click Add a printer or scanner and follow the on-screen steps.
🧪 Additional Tips
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Make sure the printer has enough paper and ink/toner.
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Disable any firewall or third-party antivirus temporarily to check if it's blocking the connection.
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Use the Brother Printer Troubleshooter from the official website for automated diagnostics.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why does my Brother printer keep going offline on Windows 10?
A: It may be due to power-saving settings, network instability, or outdated drivers. Follow the steps above to resolve it.
Q2: Can I fix the issue without reinstalling the printer?
A: Yes, most issues are resolved by adjusting settings, restarting services, or updating drivers.
🟢 Conclusion
Getting your Brother printer back online on Windows 10 is usually a quick fix — once you identify the cause. Start with simple checks like cable connections and printer settings, and work your way toward updating drivers or reinstalling the printer if needed.
By following this troubleshooting guide, you should be able to resolve the Brother printer offline issue and resume smooth printing operations.