Brother Printer Offline? 10 Fixes That Actually Work (2026)

A Brother printer offline error is a common printing problem that can occur even when your printer is powered on and connected to WiFi. You may see messages such as "Brother Printer Offline," "Printer Not Responding," or "Brother Printer Connected but Offline" when trying to print documents.

This issue can affect Brother wireless and USB printers on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Mac computers. Fortunately, most offline printer problems can be resolved through simple troubleshooting steps.

In this guide, you'll learn why your Brother printer keeps going offline and how to get your Brother printer back online.

Why Is My Brother Printer Offline?

Several factors can cause your Brother printer to display an offline status.

Common reasons include:

WiFi connection issues: The printer loses communication with the wireless router.
Outdated printer drivers: Incorrect or outdated drivers prevent printing.
Incorrect printer settings: The printer is accidentally set to offline mode.
Print queue problems: Stuck documents interrupt printing.
Network configuration errors: The printer's IP address changes.
USB connection problems: Loose or damaged cables prevent communication.
Printer hardware errors: Paper jams or cartridge problems interrupt operation.

Identifying the underlying cause helps you select the correct troubleshooting solution.

How to Fix Brother Printer Offline: 10 Easy Solutions

1. Restart Your Brother Printer

Restarting the printer can resolve temporary communication errors.

Turn off your Brother printer.
Wait approximately 30 seconds.
Turn the printer back on.
Restart your computer.
Try printing a test page.

If the printer remains offline, continue troubleshooting.

2. Check Your Brother Printer WiFi Connection

A weak or disconnected wireless connection can cause offline errors.

Verify that the printer is connected to WiFi.
Confirm that your computer uses the same local network.
Check the wireless indicator on the printer.
Restart your router if necessary.
Reconnect the printer using its wireless setup menu.

3. Disable Use Printer Offline on Windows

Incorrect printer settings may prevent documents from printing.

Open Control Panel.
Select Devices and Printers.
Right-click your Brother printer.
Select See what's printing.
Open the Printer menu.
Uncheck Use Printer Offline if selected.

The exact menu layout may vary depending on your Windows version.

4. Set Brother as Your Default Printer

Selecting the wrong printer can cause printing failures.

Open Settings > Printers & scanners, select your Brother printer, and set it as the default device. You may need to disable Windows automatic default printer management first.

5. Clear the Print Queue

Stuck documents can prevent new printing requests.

Open your Brother printer's queue and cancel pending jobs. Restart the printer and send a fresh document to check whether printing resumes.

6. Update Brother Printer Drivers

Outdated drivers may cause your Brother printer to show offline on Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Visit Brother's official support website, find your printer model, and install the compatible driver. Restart your computer after installation.

7. Restart the Print Spooler Service

The Windows Print Spooler manages printing tasks.

Press Windows + R.
Type services.msc.
Find Print Spooler.
Right-click and select Restart.
Try printing again.

8. Fix Brother Printer Offline on Mac

If your Brother printer appears offline on Mac:

Open System Settings.
Select Printers & Scanners.
Choose your Brother printer.
Check and clear stalled print jobs.
Verify the printer's network connection.
Remove and re-add the printer if necessary.

9. Check the Printer IP Address

Your Brother printer may go offline if its network address changes.

Print a network configuration report and verify the printer's current IP address. If Windows is using an outdated address, update the printer port or re-add the printer.

10. Reinstall Your Brother Printer

If previous solutions fail, remove the printer from your computer and install it again.

Use the operating system's printer setup options or Brother's official installation software. Ensure the printer is connected correctly before printing a test page.

Why Does My Brother Printer Keep Going Offline?

Repeated offline errors may occur because of unstable WiFi, router changes, sleep-related communication issues, or outdated printer configurations.

For wireless models, improving signal strength and configuring a stable IP address through your router may help prevent recurring problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get my Brother printer back online?

Restart the printer, check WiFi connectivity, disable offline mode, and clear pending print jobs. Reinstall the printer if necessary.

Why is my Brother printer offline but connected to WiFi?

The printer may have an outdated IP address, incorrect driver, or communication problem even though it remains connected to the wireless network.

How do I fix Brother printer offline on Windows 11?

Check Printers & scanners, verify the connection, restart Print Spooler, and update the printer driver.

Why is my Brother printer offline on Mac?

Network interruptions, stalled printing jobs, or incorrect printer configurations can cause offline errors on macOS.

Conclusion

The Brother printer offline issue can usually be fixed by checking network connectivity, correcting printer settings, clearing the print queue, or updating drivers. Follow these troubleshooting methods to restore printing on Windows and Mac.

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.