Brother Printer Offline? 10 Fast Fixes to Get It Back Online (2026)

Introduction

Is your Brother printer showing Offline even though it’s powered on and connected?

This is one of the most common Brother printer problems.

You send a document to print, but nothing happens. When you check the printer status, Windows or macOS displays an offline message.

The good news is that an offline printer does not usually mean the printer is broken.

In most cases, the issue is caused by:

• network communication problems
• incorrect printer settings
• outdated drivers
• WiFi interruptions
• temporary software glitches

This guide focuses specifically on fixing Brother printer offline errors and restoring communication between your printer and device.

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

Why Does My Brother Printer Say Offline?

A printer appears offline when your computer cannot communicate with it properly.

Even if the printer is powered on, Windows may still display an offline status if communication is interrupted.

Common causes include:

• WiFi disconnection
• network changes
• printer sleep mode
• incorrect printer settings
• driver issues
• print spooler errors
• router problems
• USB communication failures

Fortunately, most of these issues are easy to fix.

Fix 1: Restart the Printer

A simple restart often restores communication.

Steps

1. Turn off the Brother printer
2. Disconnect the power cable
3. Wait 60 seconds
4. Reconnect power
5. Turn the printer back on

After restarting, check whether the printer appears online.

Fix 2: Restart Your Computer and Router

Network devices occasionally lose communication with each other.

Restarting both devices refreshes:

• network connections
• printer communication
• router sessions
• device discovery services

Steps

1. Restart computer
2. Restart router
3. Wait until internet connection returns
4. Test the printer again

This simple fix solves many offline issues.

Fix 3: Disable “Use Printer Offline”

Windows includes a setting that can force printers into offline mode.

Windows Steps

1. Open Control Panel
2. Select Devices and Printers
3. Right-click Brother printer
4. Choose “See What’s Printing”
5. Click Printer menu
6. Uncheck “Use Printer Offline”

After disabling this option, test printing again.

Fix 4: Verify WiFi Connection

Wireless Brother printers depend on a stable network connection.

Check:

• WiFi signal strength
• printer network status
• router functionality
• network name (SSID)

If your printer lost its wireless connection, it may appear offline.

For complete setup instructions, see:

Brother Printer WiFi Setup Guide (Windows, Mac & Mobile)
(Internal Link)

Fix 5: Set Brother Printer as Default

Windows may accidentally send print jobs to another printer.

This can create confusion and make the printer appear unavailable.

Steps

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

Retry printing afterward.

Fix 6: Clear Stuck Print Jobs

A stuck print job can block communication.

Symptoms include:

• printer appears offline
• documents remain pending
• printer stops responding

Fix

1. Open print queue
2. Cancel all jobs
3. Restart printer
4. Retry printing

If print jobs frequently get stuck, see:

Brother Printer Print Queue Stuck? Clear Jobs & Fix Spooler
(Future Internal Link)

Fix 7: Update Brother Printer Drivers

Driver issues commonly cause offline errors.

Symptoms include:

• printer appears disconnected
• driver unavailable warnings
• communication failures

Update Drivers

1. Open Device Manager
2. Locate Brother printer
3. Update driver
4. Restart computer

For deeper troubleshooting, see:

Brother Printer Driver Unavailable? Fix Driver Problems Fast
(Internal Link)

Fix 8: Remove and Reinstall the Printer

Corrupted printer profiles may prevent communication.

Removing and re-adding the printer often restores functionality.

Steps

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

Test printing after installation.

Fix 9: Restart the Print Spooler

The print spooler manages printer communication.

If it stops working, printers may show offline even when connected.

Steps

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

Retry printing.

Fix 10: Check USB Connection (For Wired Printers)

If you use a USB connection, inspect:

• cable condition
• USB ports
• loose connections
• damaged cables

Try another USB port if available.

A faulty cable can cause offline errors.

When Offline Problems Become Bigger Printing Problems

Sometimes an offline message is only a symptom.

If your printer also:

• connects but does not print
• shows driver errors
• loses WiFi repeatedly

additional troubleshooting may be needed.

Useful guides:

Brother Printer Connected But Not Printing? Fix It Fast
(Future Internal Link)

Brother Printer Driver Unavailable? Fix Driver Problems Fast
(Internal Link)

Brother Printer WiFi Setup Guide
(Internal Link)

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

✅ restart printer
✅ restart computer
✅ restart router
✅ disable Use Printer Offline
✅ verify WiFi connection
✅ set printer as default
✅ clear print queue
✅ update drivers
✅ reinstall printer
✅ restart spooler
✅ check USB connection

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Brother printer keep going offline?

This is usually caused by unstable WiFi, outdated drivers, communication interruptions, or incorrect printer settings.

How do I get my Brother printer back online?

Restart the printer, disable offline mode, reconnect to WiFi, update drivers, and restart the print spooler.

Can WiFi issues cause offline printer errors?

Yes. Weak wireless connections are one of the most common causes of offline status.

Does restarting the router help?

Yes. Restarting the router refreshes network communication and often restores printer connectivity.

Can outdated drivers make a Brother printer appear offline?

Yes. Driver problems frequently interrupt communication between the printer and computer.

Final Thoughts

Brother printer offline errors are usually caused by communication issues rather than hardware failures.

Most users restore printing by:

• reconnecting WiFi
• restarting devices
• updating drivers
• clearing print queues
• correcting printer settings

Start with the simplest fixes first.

If the printer continues showing offline after troubleshooting, deeper network or driver diagnostics may be required.

Following the steps above will resolve the majority of Brother printer offline problems and get your printer back online quickly.