Your Brother printer could emerge offline if it is unable to communicate with the computer. It can be very annoying to see your Brother printer offline when you attempt to print something urgently.

In Brother printers, the offline error happens once in a while. Here, we have explained ‘why is my brother printer offline and its troubleshooting’ for both Windows and Mac operating systems.

A printer going offline error occurs due to fluctuating conditions, especially the Wi-Fi, connectivity, and power supply problems. Brother printer offline is no exemption as it also has its part of issues. Printer issues can be due to overload, or possibly it may be a problem with the driver, or the network may be experiencing some connectivity problems, and, also loose connection might be the reason. Printers are sensitive devices that react and send a ‘printer offline’ message even when there is only a little deviation in the power supply.

Why does my Brother printer keep saying offline?

• Inappropriately attached cables at either your computer or printer side.
• Brother printer’s default status gets set to offline.
• Brother printer spooler service is not working accurately.
• Wrong installations or out-of-date Brother printer drivers.
• Interruptions in PC to computer communication.
• Paper jam problems with Brother printer.
• Ink toner blockage.
• If the printers ‘ use offline mode’ is chosen, it may also display the offline error message.
• Issues and incompatibility with the latest updates on your computer system.
• Viruses or Malware attacks problems with your system.
• Any additional software issues.

How do I login to my Netgear router?

For Windows

(Windows): Make sure your Brother printer gets set as the default printer:-

Initiate the printers folder and make sure there is a checkmark on your Brother printer's icon:

(Windows 8 or following):

• Launch the Control Panel.
• Tap on the Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers fields displayed on the screen.

(For Windows 7):

• Hit Start > Devices and Printers.

If in case the checkmark is not present on your Brother printer, then right-click the icon for your Brother printer and choose Set as default printer.

(Windows): Eliminate all print jobs from the Devices and Printers screen:-

(Windows 7 or succeeding):

For this, Right-click the icon for your Brother printer> See what's printing> Printer> Cancel All Documents.

If Cancel All Documents greyed out, then click Open As Administrator. Type in the password for an administrator and hit Yes.

 (Windows): Check the Brother printer status in the Devices and Printers screen:-

If the printer status shows Offline -

(Windows 7 or later):

Right-click on the icon available for your Brother printer> See what's printing> Printer> Use Printer Offline (get rid of the checkmark).

If Use Printer Offline greyed out, then hit Open As Administrator, next enter your administrator password, and then hit Yes.

If the printer status shows Paused -

(Windows 7 or next):

You need to Right-click the icon available for your Brother printer> See what's printing> Printer> Pause Printing (eliminate the checkmark).

If Pause printing greyed out, click Open As Administrator and enter the password for an administrator, and then click Yes.

If a copy of your Brother printer's icon listed in the Devices and Printers (For instance:- Brother XXX-XXXX (Copy 1)):-

A copy of your Brother printer with the same printer name may get generated if you:

• Connected the Brother printer to a separate USB port on your computer.
• Installed the same Brother printer driver several times on the device.

It may lead to some copies of your printer driver not working accurately. For printing, choose a printer driver that you know is running.

For checking which printer driver is running, you need to perform the following:

• Switch ON the Brother printer. If any other devices are connected, then only turn the Brother printer ON that you want to use.
• Initiate the Brother printers folder:

• (Windows 8 or following):
  • Launch the Control Panel.
  • Hit Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
• (Windows 7)
  • Hit Start > Devices and Printers.
• Hover the cursor over the Brother printer icon till the printer status pop-up emerges.

If the status shows Ready, it indicates that the printer driver is operating correctly. Choose this printer driver while printing.

• If you want to print using this printer continuously, then right-click on the icon of the printer and choose Set as default printer. The checkmark will arrive on the printer's icon. When you print next, the printer driver will get selected automatically.

 If the issue still persists:-

Verify the solution appropriate for your case:

(For USB connection): You need to follow these steps -

• Check the status of your Brother printer.
• Check the connection of your Brother printer and the computer as well.
• Examine the printer driver settings.
• Attempt to print from another application.
• Restart your Brother printer and the computer.
• Reinstall the printer driver on your device.
• Make sure that the Device Manager identifies your Brother printer.

(For network connection): Follow these steps -

• Examine the connection.
• Restart your router or hub.
• Examine the Firewall setting.
•  Download and operate the Network Connection Repair Tool.

For macOS

Make sure you are applying the right Printer Driver for the Brother printer:-

• Choose the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners.
• Choose your Brother printer in the Printers section.
• Verify which printer driver is used, and this is available next to Kind.

If you have chosen the AirPrint printer driver, add the CUPS printer driver to your Mac, as described below.

1. Got to the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners.
2. Hit the +

• Hit the Default icon, positioned at the top of the dialogue box.
• Select your Brother printer from the Name
• Make sure that "XXXXXXX + CUPS" gets chosen in the Use list, where XXXXXXX is your printer model name.
• Tap on Add.
• Your Brother printer is now available in the Printers segment.
• Pick Quit System Preferences from the Apple Menu.

If the issue still remains:-

Examine the resolution appropriate in your case:

(For USB connection):  Follow these steps to solve this problem:

• Verify the status of your Brother printer.
• Examine the connection between your Brother printer and your computer.
• Check your Brother printer driver settings.
• Attempt the printing process from another application.
• Restart your Brother printer and your computer.
• Reinstall your Brother printer driver.

(For network connection): Follow these steps to solve this problem:

Examine the connection.

• Verify the IP Address.
• Make sure your router supports communication on the network through Bonjour.
• Restart your router or hub.