Brother Printer won't Scan? 10 Fixes That Actually Work (2026)

A Brother printer won't scan issue can interrupt important work, especially when you need to digitize documents, photos, or office paperwork. Sometimes, your Brother printer prints normally but refuses to scan, displays a scanner connection error, or cannot communicate with your computer.

Whether your Brother printer scanner is not working on Windows 10, Windows 11, or Mac, the problem may involve outdated drivers, network connectivity, incorrect scanner settings, or software conflicts.

This guide explains why your Brother printer won't scan and provides practical troubleshooting solutions to restore scanning functionality.

Why Is My Brother Printer Not Scanning?

Several factors can prevent a Brother multifunction printer from scanning documents.

Common causes include:

• Scanner driver problems: Missing or outdated drivers prevent scanning.

• WiFi connection issues: The printer cannot communicate with your computer.

• Incorrect scanner settings: The wrong scanning device is selected.

• Software errors: Scanning applications may stop responding.

• Firewall restrictions: Security software can block network scanning.

• USB connection problems: Damaged cables or loose connections interrupt communication.

• Outdated firmware: Compatibility problems may affect scanner functionality.

• Hardware issues: Scanner mechanism errors can prevent operation.

How to Fix Brother Printer Won't Scan: 10 Easy Solutions

1. Restart Your Brother Printer and Computer

Restarting your devices can resolve temporary scanning errors.

1. Turn off your Brother printer.

2. Close any scanning applications.

3. Restart your computer.

4. Turn the printer back on.

5. Open your scanning application.

6. Try scanning a document.

If the scanner still does not respond, continue troubleshooting.

2. Check Your Brother Printer Connection

A disconnected printer cannot communicate with scanning software.

For wireless scanners:

• Confirm that the printer is connected to WiFi.

• Ensure your computer uses the same accessible local network.

• Check the wireless signal indicator.

• Restart the router if necessary.

For USB scanners, reconnect the cable and try another USB port.

3. Update Brother Scanner Drivers

Outdated scanner drivers are a common cause of scanning failures.

To update them:

1. Visit Brother's official support website.

2. Search for your printer model.

3. Select your operating system.

4. Download the compatible scanner driver or software package.

5. Install the software.

6. Restart your computer.

Try scanning again after installation.

4. Check Brother Scanning Software

Brother multifunction printers may use Brother iPrint&Scan or ControlCenter software, depending on the model.

Open the installed scanning application and confirm that the correct printer is selected.

If the software fails to detect your device, update or reinstall the application.

5. Fix Brother Printer Won't Scan on Windows 11 or 10

Windows users can check scanner detection through system settings.

1. Open Settings.

2. Navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, or the equivalent section on your Windows version.

3. Select your Brother device.

4. Confirm that Windows recognizes its scanning functionality.

5. Open Windows Scan or another compatible scanning application.

6. Attempt a test scan.

If the scanner is missing, reinstall the appropriate Brother scanner driver.

6. Restart the Windows Image Acquisition Service

The Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service supports communication with compatible scanners.

1. Press Windows + R.

2. Type services.msc.

3. Locate Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).

4. Right-click and select Restart, if available.

5. Open your scanning application again.

This may resolve certain Windows scanning errors.

7. Fix Brother Printer Won't Scan on Mac

If your Brother scanner is not working on Mac:

1. Open System Settings.

2. Select Printers & Scanners.

3. Choose your Brother device.

4. Open the scanner controls if available.

5. Try scanning through Image Capture.

6. Update compatible scanning software if necessary.

You can also remove and re-add the device if macOS cannot detect it.

8. Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Firewall restrictions can sometimes block network scanning.

Ensure that your scanning application is permitted to communicate over your trusted local network.

Avoid permanently disabling your firewall or antivirus protection.

9. Update Brother Printer Firmware

Firmware updates may resolve known scanner compatibility problems.

Find your printer model on Brother's official support website and follow the firmware update instructions.

Keep the printer powered on throughout the update.

10. Check Scanner Hardware and Document Placement

If your Brother printer still won't scan, inspect its physical components.

• Ensure the scanner cover closes properly.

• Place documents correctly on the scanner glass.

• Check the automatic document feeder for paper jams.

• Clean the scanner glass with an appropriate soft cloth.

• Look for error messages on the printer display.

If the scanner reports a mechanical error, professional servicing may be necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Brother printer printing but not scanning?

Printing and scanning use different drivers and services. Missing scanner drivers, incorrect software settings, or network restrictions may prevent scanning even when printing works.

How do I get my Brother printer to scan to my computer?

Install compatible Brother scanning software, connect the printer to your computer or network, select the correct scanner, and start scanning.

Why is my Brother scanner not detected on Windows 11?

Driver incompatibility, USB problems, or network discovery issues may prevent scanner detection.

How do I fix Brother scan to computer not working?

Check network connectivity, update scanner drivers, verify scanning software settings, and restart the relevant Windows scanning services.

Conclusion

A Brother printer won't scan problem can often be resolved by checking connectivity, updating scanner drivers, restarting scanning services, or reinstalling Brother scanning software.

If the scanner continues displaying hardware errors, consult official Brother support for model-specific assistance.

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.