Brother Printer Offline? Try These 8 Proven Solutions

Dial 1-888-966-6097 Nothing’s more frustrating than sending a print job only to see your Brother printer status stuck on “Offline.” Whether you're using Windows, macOS, or a Wi-Fi network, this is a common issue that many users face. Fortunately, there are proven ways to fix it—fast.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through 8 tested solutions to fix the Brother printer offline issue 1-888-966-6097, no matter your device or operating system.

🛠 Why Does My Brother Printer Say “Offline”?

Before diving into the fixes, here are the most common reasons your Brother printer might go offline:

Weak or lost Wi-Fi connection
Wrong default printer settings
Print queue errors or stuck jobs
Outdated or corrupt printer drivers
Printer is powered off or in sleep mode
Windows “Use Printer Offline” setting enabled
IP address of printer changed on the network

Now, let’s look at how to fix each issue step-by-step.

✅ Solution 1: Check Printer Power & Connectivity

Sometimes the fix is simpler than you think.

✔️ Do this:

Make sure the printer is turned on and shows no error lights.
Reconnect the power cable and restart the printer.
Ensure it’s connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.
If using a USB cable, ensure it’s firmly connected to both printer and PC.

🧠 Tip: Use the printer’s control panel to check Wi-Fi signal and network connection status.

✅ Solution 2: Set Brother as the Default Printer

If your Brother printer is not the default, the computer may be trying to print to a virtual or offline device.

💻 Windows:

Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Right-click your Brother printer
Select "Set as default printer"

🍎 macOS:

Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners
Select your Brother printer
Click “Set as Default”

✅ Solution 3: Disable “Use Printer Offline” Option (Windows Only)

If this setting is checked, your printer won’t respond even if it’s online.

Steps:

Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Right-click your Brother printer > Select “See what’s printing”
Click Printer from the top menu
Uncheck “Use Printer Offline”

✅ Solution 4: Clear the Print Queue

Stuck or corrupted print jobs can force the printer into an offline loop.

How to clear:

Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Right-click Brother printer > Click “See what’s printing”
Click “Cancel All Documents”
Restart the printer

✅ Solution 5: Restart Print Spooler Service (Windows)

The print spooler manages print jobs. Restarting it can restore connectivity.

Steps:

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter
Find Print Spooler, right-click and select Restart
Try printing again

✅ Solution 6: Update or Reinstall Brother Printer Drivers

Outdated drivers can lead to compatibility and offline issues.

💻 To update drivers:

Visit https://support.brother.com
Enter your printer model
Download and install the latest driver for your OS

Bonus: You can also use Brother’s “Printer Driver Information Cleanup Tool” to remove faulty drivers before reinstalling.

✅ Solution 7: Reconnect Brother Printer to Wi-Fi Network

If the printer’s IP address has changed or the network drops, it may appear offline.

Reconnect using Control Panel:

Go to your printer’s Menu > Network > WLAN
Choose Setup Wizard
Select your Wi-Fi and enter password
Print a Network Configuration Page to confirm connection

✅ Solution 8: Use Brother Printer Offline Fix Tool (Windows)

Brother offers a free utility to diagnose and fix offline printer problems.

How to use:

Visit: https://support.brother.com/g/b/downloadlist.aspx
Select your printer model
Download the “Brother Printer Driver Information Tool” or “Printer Connection Repair Tool”
Run the tool and follow on-screen instructions

🔁 Bonus Tip: Restart Everything!

Sometimes a full reboot of your printer, router, and PC is all you need. Restart your:

Brother printer
Wi-Fi router
Computer or Mac

Reconnect everything and try printing again.

❓ FAQs – Brother Printer Offline

Q1: Why does my Brother printer keep going offline on Windows 10/11?

A: Common causes include driver issues, Wi-Fi drops, and incorrect printer settings. Follow the steps above to resolve.

Q2: How do I get my Brother printer back online on a Mac?

A: Reset the printing system, set Brother as the default, and check Wi-Fi settings under System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.

Q3: Is there an official Brother tool to fix this?

A: Yes, Brother provides a Printer Connection Repair Tool on its official support site.

Q4: How can I find my Brother printer’s IP address?

A: Print a Network Configuration Page from the printer’s control panel. It will display the current IP address.

📝 Final Thoughts

When your Brother printer goes offline, it doesn’t mean your device is broken. It’s often a software, network, or settings issue that can be fixed using one of these 8 proven solutions.

Start with the basic checks, move on to driver updates or network fixes, and you’ll be back to printing in no time.