Brother Printer Not Printing? 10 Fixes That Actually Work (2026)

Brother printers are popular for their reliable printing performance, wireless connectivity, and advanced features. However, sometimes users experience the Brother Printer Not Printing problem, even when the printer is powered on and connected to a computer or WiFi network.

This issue can occur due to outdated printer drivers, empty ink cartridges, toner problems, paper jams, incorrect printer settings, or network connectivity errors. Whether your Brother printer is not printing black ink, printing blank pages, or refusing to print from Windows or Mac, several troubleshooting methods can help.

In this guide, you will learn why your Brother printer is not printing and how to fix common printing problems using simple steps.

Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing?

Before troubleshooting, understanding the possible causes can help you identify the problem.

Common reasons include:

• Brother Printer Offline: The printer is disconnected from your computer or network.

• Outdated printer drivers: Corrupted or incompatible drivers may prevent printing.

• WiFi connectivity problems: Weak wireless signals can interrupt communication.

• Empty ink or toner cartridges: Low or depleted supplies may affect printing.

• Paper jams: Jammed paper can stop printing operations.

• Print queue errors: Stuck documents may block new printing requests.

• Incorrect printer settings: Your computer may be using the wrong printer.

• Printhead problems: Clogged nozzles can cause faded or blank pages on inkjet models.

Identifying these issues makes it easier to restore normal printing.

How to Fix Brother Printer Not Printing: 10 Troubleshooting Methods

1. Check Your Brother Printer Connection

Start by confirming that your printer is connected properly.

• Ensure the printer is powered on.

• Check the WiFi connection on the printer.

• Verify that your computer and printer use the same network.

• Inspect USB cables if using a wired connection.

• Restart your router if the wireless connection is unstable.

After checking the connection, print a test document.

2. Restart Your Brother Printer

Restarting the printer can resolve temporary software and communication errors.

1. Turn off your Brother printer.

2. Disconnect its power cable if the model allows.

3. Wait approximately 30 seconds.

4. Reconnect the cable and turn on the printer.

5. Allow the printer to initialize completely.

Try printing again to check whether the problem is resolved.

3. Set Brother Printer as Default

Sometimes your computer sends printing requests to another device.

For Windows 10 and 11:

1. Open Settings.

2. Select Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners on Windows 11, or Devices > Printers & scanners on Windows 10.

3. Select your Brother printer.

4. Choose Set as default, if available.

Disable automatic default printer management if Windows does not display this option.

4. Clear Stuck Print Jobs

A blocked print queue can prevent new documents from printing.

1. Open Control Panel.

2. Select Devices and Printers.

3. Right-click your Brother printer.

4. Choose See what's printing.

5. Cancel pending documents.

6. Restart the printer.

Submit a new print job to check whether printing resumes.

5. Update Brother Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted printer drivers may cause printing failures.

To update the drivers:

1. Identify your Brother printer model.

2. Visit the official Brother support website.

3. Download the driver compatible with your operating system.

4. Install the updated software.

5. Restart your computer.

Updated drivers can help resolve compatibility and communication problems.

6. Check Ink or Toner Levels

If your Brother printer is not printing black or color, inspect the ink or toner supply.

• Check cartridge levels using the printer display or software.

• Replace empty cartridges when necessary.

• Confirm that cartridges are installed correctly.

• Check for toner or drum-related error messages.

For inkjet models, run a print-quality test to identify missing colors.

7. Fix Brother Printer Not Printing Blank Pages

If your Brother printer prints blank pages, the problem may involve clogged printhead nozzles, empty ink cartridges, or incorrect settings.

For inkjet models:

1. Open the printer's maintenance menu.

2. Select the print-quality check option.

3. Print a nozzle-check pattern.

4. Run printhead cleaning if necessary.

5. Repeat the quality test.

Avoid excessive cleaning cycles because they consume ink.

For laser models, check toner installation, protective packaging, and cartridge-related errors.

8. Restart the Print Spooler Service

Windows uses the Print Spooler service to manage printing requests.

1. Press Windows + R.

2. Type services.msc.

3. Find Print Spooler.

4. Right-click and select Restart.

5. Close the Services window.

Try printing another document.

9. Fix Brother Printer Not Printing on Mac

If your Brother printer is not printing from Mac, check the printer settings.

1. Open System Settings.

2. Select Printers & Scanners.

3. Choose your Brother printer.

4. Open the print queue and resume paused jobs.

5. Remove and re-add the printer if necessary.

Make sure your Mac and printer are connected to the same network when using wireless printing.

10. Check for Paper Jams and Hardware Errors

Paper jams and hardware warnings can stop printing completely.

• Open the printer's accessible paper covers.

• Remove jammed paper carefully.

• Check the paper tray alignment.

• Ensure that the correct paper size is loaded.

• Close all covers securely.

• Review error messages on the printer display.

Never force jammed paper or touch internal components while the printer is operating.

Brother Printer Connected to WiFi but Not Printing

Sometimes a Brother printer shows a successful WiFi connection but refuses to print.

This may happen because the computer has an outdated printer IP address, the print queue is paused, or the printer driver is malfunctioning.

Print a network configuration report to verify the printer's IP address. If necessary, remove the old printer entry and add the printer again using its current network connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Brother printer not printing even though it has ink?

Your printer may have clogged printhead nozzles, incorrect settings, a blocked print queue, or connectivity problems. Check the printer's maintenance options and print a quality test.

How do I reset my Brother printer when it won't print?

Start with a normal power restart. If the issue continues, consult your model's instructions before performing a network or factory reset, as resetting can erase saved settings.

Why is my Brother printer not printing from my computer?

Possible causes include outdated drivers, offline status, incorrect printer selection, or a USB or WiFi connection problem.

Why is my Brother printer printing blank pages?

Blank pages may result from empty ink cartridges, clogged inkjet nozzles, incorrect cartridge installation, or toner-related problems.

Conclusion

The Brother Printer Not Printing issue can occur because of connection problems, outdated drivers, low ink or toner, paper jams, or incorrect printing settings. Most common problems can be resolved by restarting the printer, clearing pending jobs, checking supplies, and updating the printer software.

If your Brother printer still won't print after completing these troubleshooting steps, review the official Brother support documentation for your specific printer model.

Need Additional Assistance?

If you’ve tried the troubleshooting steps above and still need help (Dial +1-803-866-1601 USA), our independent technical support team can assist with printer troubleshooting. We are not affiliated with or authorized by Brother or any other printer manufacturer.