Brother Printer Offline? Get It Back Online
If your Brother printer is offline, Windows or your computer may show the printer as unavailable even though the printer itself is switched on. The problem can be caused by the printer’s connection, a stuck print queue, the wrong printer being selected, Wi-Fi changes, or a communication issue between the printer and computer.
The good news is that an offline status does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the printer hardware. Start by checking the printer itself, then work through the connection and computer settings.
Quick Diagnosis: Start Here
| What you’re seeing | Start here |
|---|---|
| Brother printer is powered off or showing an error | Go to Fix 1 |
| Printer is connected by USB but shows offline | Go to Fix 2 |
| Printer was working but suddenly went offline | Go to Fix 3 |
| Windows shows Brother printer as offline | Go to Fix 4 |
| Print jobs are stuck in the queue | Go to Fix 5 |
| Wireless Brother printer went offline | Go to Fix 6 |
| Printer was moved or the Wi-Fi/router changed | Go to Fix 7 |
| Brother printer still stays offline | Go to Fix 8 |
Why This Happens
A Brother printer can appear offline when the computer cannot communicate with it properly. Common causes include:
- The printer is turned off or has an unresolved error.
- A USB connection is loose or connected through a hub.
- The wrong Brother printer is selected on the computer.
- A print queue is stuck.
- Windows has marked the printer as offline or paused.
- The printer has lost its Wi-Fi connection.
- The router, Wi-Fi network or printer IP address has changed.
- Multiple copies of the same Brother printer have been installed.
- The printer driver or Windows printer setup is no longer communicating correctly.
The right fix depends on where the communication is breaking down.
Fix 1: Check the Brother Printer for Errors
Start with the printer itself before changing anything on your computer.
Make sure the Brother printer is powered on and awake. If its display is blank or the LEDs are off, check the power cable and power outlet.
Then look at the printer display or indicator lights for an error such as:
- Paper jam
- No paper
- Ink or toner issue
- Cover open
- Other machine errors
If the printer is displaying an error, clear that problem first. A printer with an unresolved error may remain unavailable to the computer.
Once the printer is ready, try printing again.
Fix 2: Check the USB Connection
If your Brother printer is connected directly to your computer with USB, check the physical connection.
Disconnect the USB cable from both ends and reconnect it firmly.
If possible:
- Connect the printer directly to the computer.
- Avoid using a USB hub.
- Try another USB port on the computer.
- Make sure the printer remains switched on while Windows detects it.
If Windows has created multiple copies of the same Brother printer after changing USB ports or reinstalling the printer, make sure you are selecting the copy that is actually connected and available.
Fix 3: Make Sure You Are Using the Correct Brother Printer
It is possible to have more than one printer installed on a computer, including duplicate entries for the same Brother machine.
For example, you might see:
- Brother [model name]
- Brother [model name] (Copy 1)
- Brother [model name] (Copy 2)
If you select an old or inactive printer entry, Windows may report it as offline even though the physical printer is working.
Open your printer settings and check which Brother printer is currently available.
On Windows 11:
Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners
Select your Brother printer and check its current status.
If another Brother printer entry is available and appears to be the active one, select that printer when printing.
Fix 4: Check Whether Windows Has Marked the Printer Offline
Windows can sometimes retain an offline or paused state for a printer.
Open:
Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners
Select your Brother printer and open its print queue.
Check whether there are options indicating that printing has been paused or the printer has been set to offline.
If the printer is available but Windows is still treating it as offline, clear the offline state and try sending a new print job.
On older versions of Windows, you may also find these options under:
Control Panel → Devices and Printers
Open the Brother printer’s print queue and check the Printer menu for an enabled Use Printer Offline or Pause Printing option.
Fix 5: Clear the Stuck Print Queue
A failed print job can sometimes prevent subsequent jobs from reaching the printer.
On Windows 11:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Choose your Brother printer.
- Open the print queue.
- Cancel all pending documents.
- Wait for the queue to become empty.
Then send a simple document to the printer again.
If a particular document remains stuck and cannot be removed normally, restarting the computer and printer can clear the queue and restore communication.
Fix 6: Check the Brother Printer’s Wi-Fi Connection
If your Brother printer uses Wi-Fi, check whether the printer is actually connected to your network.
The printer and computer need to be communicating through the same network.
Check:
- Is Wi-Fi enabled on the Brother printer?
- Is the printer connected to your current Wi-Fi network?
- Is your computer connected to the same network?
- Did you recently change your Wi-Fi password?
- Did you replace or reset your router?
If the printer lost its wireless connection, reconnect it to your current Wi-Fi network and then try printing again.
For supported Brother models, checking the printer’s network configuration can also help confirm whether it has a valid network connection and IP address.
Fix 7: Reconnect the Printer After a Router or Wi-Fi Change
If your Brother printer was working normally until you changed your router, Wi-Fi name or Wi-Fi password, the network connection is a strong place to look.
The printer may still be configured for the old network.
Reconnect the Brother printer to the new wireless network, then check whether your computer can see it again.
If the printer connects to Wi-Fi but Windows still shows it as offline, the computer may still be trying to communicate with the printer using an old network address.
In that situation, removing and adding the printer again can help establish a fresh connection.
For some Brother models, Brother’s Network Connection Repair Tool can also help update the printer’s IP address in the installed printer driver.
Fix 8: Remove and Add the Brother Printer Again
If the printer is powered on, connected to the network or USB, and still appears offline, the Windows printer setup may be the problem.
Before removing the printer, make sure you know which Brother model you are using.
Then:
- Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select the Brother printer.
- Remove the printer from Windows.
- Restart the computer.
- Turn the Brother printer off and back on.
- Add the printer again.
- Send a small test document.
If you use a wireless connection, make sure the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network before adding it again.
If the printer repeatedly goes offline after being re-added, the problem is more likely related to the network connection, printer driver or the printer’s network configuration rather than a temporary Windows status issue.
How to Prevent Brother Printer Offline Problems
A few habits can reduce the chances of the printer repeatedly going offline:
- Keep the printer connected to a stable Wi-Fi network.
- Avoid frequently changing the router or Wi-Fi network without reconnecting the printer.
- Connect USB printers directly to the computer where possible.
- Remove duplicate printer entries you no longer use.
- Keep the Brother printer selected as the intended printer.
- Clear failed print jobs instead of repeatedly sending the same document.
- Keep the printer and computer on the same network when printing wirelessly.
- Keep the Brother printer software and drivers up to date when necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Brother printer say offline when it is turned on?
Being powered on does not necessarily mean the computer can communicate with the printer. Check the USB or Wi-Fi connection, printer selection and Windows printer status.
How do I get my Brother printer back online?
First check that the printer has no error, then verify its USB or Wi-Fi connection. On Windows, check the printer’s status and clear any stuck print jobs. If it remains offline, removing and adding the printer again may restore communication.
Why does my Brother printer keep going offline?
Repeated offline problems can be caused by an unstable wireless connection, changes to the router or Wi-Fi network, an outdated printer setup, or communication between Windows and the printer driver.
Why is my Brother wireless printer offline but connected to Wi-Fi?
The printer can be connected to Wi-Fi while still being unreachable by the computer. Check whether the computer is on the same network and whether the printer’s network address has changed.
Why does Windows show two Brother printers?
Multiple entries can appear if the printer has been installed more than once or connected through different USB ports. Check which entry is currently available and remove old duplicates if necessary.
Do I need to reinstall my Brother printer if it goes offline?
Not always. A simple connection check, clearing the print queue or reconnecting Wi-Fi may solve the problem. Reinstalling the printer is better left until the simpler causes have been ruled out.
Why is my Brother printer offline after changing my Wi-Fi password?
The printer may still be configured with the old Wi-Fi credentials. Reconnect the printer to the new wireless network and then check its status on the computer.
