Brother Printer Printing Slowly? Speed Fix Guide (2026)

Introduction

Is your Brother printer taking too long to print documents?

Slow printing can be frustrating, especially when you need documents quickly for work, school, or business.

You may notice:

• Long delays before printing starts
• Slow page output
• Large documents taking forever
• Network printing delays
• Printer pauses between pages

The good news is that most slow printing issues are caused by settings, drivers, or communication problems rather than hardware failure.

This guide explains why your Brother printer is printing slowly and how to improve printing speed.

If your printer has broader printing issues, see our Brother Printer Not Printing? guide.

Fix 1: Change Print Quality Settings

High-quality printing requires more processing time.

If speed is more important than maximum quality, adjust the settings.

Recommended Settings

• Normal Quality
• Standard Mode
• Fast Printing Mode

Avoid using:

• Best Quality
• Photo Quality
• High Resolution

for everyday documents.

Fix 2: Restart the Printer

Temporary software glitches can reduce printer performance.

Steps

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

This refreshes printer memory and communication processes.

Fix 3: Clear the Print Queue

Large or failed print jobs can slow the entire queue.

Symptoms include:

• Delayed printing
• Jobs waiting for processing
• Long pauses between pages

Clear pending jobs and send a fresh print request.

For additional help, see: Brother Printer Print Queue Stuck? Guide.

Fix 4: Update Printer Drivers

Outdated drivers often reduce printer performance.

Updated drivers improve:

• Communication speed
• Print processing
• Compatibility
• Stability

Install the latest Brother printer driver for your model.

For detailed instructions, visit: Brother Printer Driver Unavailable? Guide.

Fix 5: Check WiFi Signal Strength

Wireless printers may print slowly if network communication is weak.

Common symptoms include:

• Delayed print jobs
• Long processing times
• Random pauses

Check:

• Router distance
• Signal strength
• Network stability

Moving the printer closer to the router often improves performance.

Fix 6: Use a Wired Connection

If possible, test printing with a USB connection.

USB connections often provide:

• Faster communication
• More reliable data transfer
• Fewer network interruptions

If printing speed improves, the issue is likely network-related.

Fix 7: Print Smaller Documents

Large files require additional processing time.

Examples include:

• High-resolution photos
• Graphic-heavy PDFs
• Large spreadsheets

Try printing a simple text document.

If it prints quickly, the original file may be the cause.

Fix 8: Restart Your Computer

Slow printing sometimes originates from the computer rather than the printer.

Restarting refreshes:

• Print services
• Drivers
• System memory
• Background applications

After restarting, test printing again.

Fix 9: Update Printer Firmware

Firmware updates improve performance and communication.

Update using:

• Brother Utilities
• Printer maintenance settings
• Brother software

Restart the printer afterward.

Fix 10: Check Printer Memory Usage

Some printers slow down when processing large jobs.

Common examples include:

• Complex graphics
• Large PDFs
• High-resolution images

Breaking large jobs into smaller sections may improve speed.

Fix 11: Disable Unnecessary Background Applications

Heavy system usage can affect printing performance.

Close:

• Unused applications
• Large downloads
• Resource-intensive software

This gives the print spooler more resources.

Fix 12: Check for Connection Problems

Sometimes slow printing is actually a communication issue.

Common signs include:

• Delayed print start
• Printer appears connected but inactive
• Jobs remain processing

See: Brother Printer Connected But Not Printing? Guide for additional troubleshooting.

How to Improve Brother Printer Speed Long-Term

Follow these best practices:

✅ Keep drivers updated

✅ Update firmware regularly

✅ Use strong WiFi signals

✅ Clear failed print jobs

✅ Avoid unnecessarily high-quality settings

✅ Restart the printer periodically

These habits help maintain consistent performance.

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

✅ lower print quality settings
✅ restart printer
✅ clear print queue
✅ update drivers
✅ improve WiFi signal
✅ test USB connection
✅ print smaller documents
✅ restart computer
✅ update firmware
✅ check memory usage
✅ close background applications
✅ inspect communication issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Brother printer taking so long to print?

The most common causes are high-quality print settings, large documents, outdated drivers, and network delays.

How can I make my Brother printer print faster?

Use normal print quality, update drivers, clear the queue, and ensure a stable connection.

Does WiFi affect printing speed?

Yes. Weak wireless connections can significantly slow print processing.

Can outdated drivers slow printing?

Yes. Old drivers often reduce communication efficiency and print performance.

Why does my printer pause between pages?

This usually indicates processing delays, memory limitations, or communication issues.

Final Thoughts

Brother printers that print slowly usually suffer from configuration, communication, or performance-related issues rather than hardware failure.

Most users improve printing speed by:

• lowering print quality settings
• updating drivers
• improving WiFi connections
• clearing print queues
• restarting devices

Start with the simplest fixes first.

If slow printing continues after troubleshooting, deeper network or software diagnostics may be required.

Following the steps above will help restore fast, reliable printing and improve overall Brother printer performance.