Brother Printer Connected But Not Printing? Fix It Fast (2026)

Introduction

Is your Brother printer showing as connected but refusing to print?

This is one of the most frustrating printer problems because everything appears normal:

• The printer is powered on
• The printer is connected to WiFi or USB
• The computer detects the printer
• No major error messages appear

Yet when you click Print, nothing happens.

Fortunately, this issue is usually caused by communication or software problems rather than hardware failure.

This guide explains why your Brother printer is connected but not printing and how to fix it quickly.

If your printer has broader printing problems, see our Brother Printer Not Printing? 15 Proven Fixes That Actually Work guide.

Why Is My Brother Printer Connected But Not Printing?

When a printer appears connected but does not print, communication is only partially working.

The computer can see the printer, but something is preventing print jobs from being processed correctly.

Common causes include:

• Stuck print queue
• Offline communication errors
• Corrupted drivers
• Incorrect printer settings
• WiFi connection instability
• Print spooler problems
• Outdated firmware
• Hardware interruptions

Most issues can be resolved without professional assistance.

Fix 1: Restart the Printer

Always begin with the simplest fix.

Steps

1. Turn off the printer
2. Disconnect power
3. Wait 60 seconds
4. Reconnect power
5. Restart printer

This refreshes communication between the printer and your device.

Fix 2: Restart Your Computer

Communication services sometimes stop working correctly.

Restarting the computer refreshes:

• Printer services
• Network communication
• Driver processes
• Print spooler functions

After restarting, send a test print.

Fix 3: Check the Print Queue

A stuck print job is one of the most common causes of this problem.

Symptoms include:

• Documents remain pending
• Printer appears idle
• New jobs never print

Steps

1. Open Printers & Scanners
2. Select Brother printer
3. Open Print Queue
4. Cancel all pending jobs
5. Retry printing

A blocked queue often prevents all future print jobs.

Fix 4: Verify the Printer Is Not Offline

A printer may appear connected while actually being marked as offline by Windows.

Check:

1. Open Devices and Printers
2. Select Brother printer
3. Open Printer menu
4. Ensure “Use Printer Offline” is unchecked

If offline status is the issue, visit: Brother Printer Offline? 10 Fast Fixes to Get It Back Online

Fix 5: Set Brother Printer as Default

Windows may be sending jobs to another printer.

Steps

1. Open Settings
2. Select Printers & Scanners
3. Choose Brother printer
4. Click Set as Default

Then print a test page.

Fix 6: Update Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers frequently cause communication failures.

Symptoms include:

• Printer detected but inactive
• Driver errors
• Failed print jobs

Update the driver through Device Manager.

For complete troubleshooting, see: Brother Printer Driver Unavailable? Fix Driver Problems Fast

Fix 7: Restart the Print Spooler

The print spooler manages all print jobs.

If it crashes, the printer may appear connected but never print.

Steps

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type services.msc
3. Press Enter
4. Locate Print Spooler
5. Right-click
6. Select Restart

Test printing again afterward.

Fix 8: Check WiFi Connectivity

Wireless communication issues often cause partial printer connectivity.

The printer may appear connected while network communication fails.

Verify:

• Printer connected to WiFi
• Router functioning correctly
• Strong wireless signal
• Correct network selected

For setup help, see: Brother Printer WiFi Setup Guide (Windows, Mac & Mobile)

Fix 9: Reconnect the Printer

Removing and re-adding the printer often resolves communication problems.

Steps

1. Open Printers & Scanners
2. Remove Brother printer
3. Restart computer
4. Add printer again

This refreshes printer communication settings.

Fix 10: Check USB Connections

For wired printers:

Inspect:

• USB cable
• USB port
• Cable damage
• Loose connections

Try another USB port if available.

Faulty cables frequently cause communication issues.

Fix 11: Run a Test Print

A test page helps determine whether the problem is:

• Printer-related
• Software-related
• Document-related

Steps

1. Open Printer Properties
2. Select Print Test Page

If the test page prints successfully, the original document may be the problem.

Fix 12: Check for Error Messages

Hidden printer errors can block printing.

Look for:

• Paper Jam
• Error State
• Toner warnings
• Drum warnings
• Maintenance alerts

Resolve any active warnings before continuing.

Fix 13: Update Printer Firmware

Firmware updates improve compatibility and communication stability.

Update using:

• Brother Utilities
• Brother software
• Printer maintenance settings

Restart the printer after updating.

When Connected But Not Printing Is Actually a Driver Problem

Many users assume the printer is connected properly when the real issue is the driver.

Common signs include:

• Driver unavailable messages
• Communication failures
• Failed print jobs

See: Brother Printer Driver Unavailable? Fix Driver Problems Fast for detailed driver troubleshooting.

When Connected But Not Printing Is Actually a WiFi Problem

Wireless printers may lose communication even while appearing connected.

Common signs include:

• Intermittent printing
• Delayed jobs
• Network disconnections

Use: Brother Printer WiFi Setup Guide for network troubleshooting.

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

✅ restart printer
✅ restart computer
✅ clear print queue
✅ verify printer is online
✅ set printer as default
✅ update drivers
✅ restart print spooler
✅ check WiFi connection
✅ reconnect printer
✅ inspect USB cable
✅ print test page
✅ check for active errors
✅ update firmware

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Brother printer connected but not printing?

The most common causes are stuck print jobs, driver issues, offline status, WiFi communication problems, and print spooler failures.

How do I get my Brother printer to print again?

Restart the printer, clear the queue, verify printer settings, update drivers, and restart the print spooler.

Can WiFi issues cause a printer to stop printing?

Yes. Network communication failures are one of the leading causes of connected-but-not-printing problems.

Why does my printer show connected but nothing happens?

Usually a print queue, driver, communication, or spooler problem is preventing print jobs from being processed.

Should I reinstall my Brother printer?

Yes. Reinstalling often resolves persistent communication and configuration issues.

Final Thoughts

A Brother printer that is connected but not printing usually suffers from communication or software-related problems rather than hardware failure.

Most users resolve the issue by:

• restarting devices
• clearing print queues
• updating drivers
• verifying WiFi connections
• restarting the print spooler
• reinstalling the printer

Start with the simplest fixes first.

If the issue persists after troubleshooting, deeper driver or network diagnostics may be required.

Following the steps above will resolve the majority of Brother connected-but-not-printing issues and restore normal printing functionality.