A Brother printer not responding can quickly disrupt your work, whether you’re printing important documents at home or in the office. This issue can occur due to connectivity problems, outdated printer drivers, incorrect printer settings, print spooler errors, or network interruptions. Fortunately, most Brother printer communication issues can be resolved without professional repair.

In this guide, you’ll learn the most common reasons why your Brother printer is not responding, how to diagnose the problem, and the best solutions for Windows, macOS, USB, and wireless Brother printers. We’ll also cover preventive maintenance tips to help avoid similar issues in the future.

What You’ll Learn

• Common causes of a Brother printer not responding
• How to fix Brother printer communication issues
• Troubleshooting USB and wireless connection problems
• Updating Brother printer drivers
• Restarting the Print Spooler service
• Clearing stuck print jobs
• Resetting your Brother printer
• Preventing future printer problems

Why Is My Brother Printer Not Responding?

If your Brother printer is not responding, it usually means the printer and your computer cannot communicate properly. The problem may be caused by software, hardware, or network-related issues.

Common causes include:

• The printer is set to Offline
• Poor Wi-Fi connection
• Loose or damaged USB cable
• Outdated or corrupted printer driver
• Print Spooler service failure
• Stuck print queue
• Firewall or antivirus blocking communication
• Incorrect default printer settings
• Firmware issues
• Network IP address changes

Identifying the root cause helps you apply the correct solution quickly.

Check the Printer’s Power and Connection

Before making software changes, verify that your printer is properly connected.

Follow these steps:

1. Make sure the printer is powered on.
2. Check for any error messages on the printer display.
3. Confirm the USB cable is securely connected if using a wired connection.
4. Restart your Wi-Fi router if using a wireless printer.
5. Ensure the printer and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

If you’re using Ethernet, inspect the network cable for damage.

Restart Your Brother Printer and Computer

A simple restart often fixes temporary communication problems.

Steps:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Shut down your computer.
3. Unplug the printer for one minute.
4. Restart your router.
5. Turn everything back on.
6. Try printing a test page.

Restarting clears temporary software glitches and refreshes network communication.

Make Sure the Brother Printer Is Set as the Default Printer

Windows may accidentally switch to another printer after software updates or installing a new printer.

To set your Brother printer as the default:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth & Devices.
3. Click Printers & Scanners.
4. Choose your Brother printer.
5. Select Set as Default.

This ensures all print jobs are sent to the correct device.

Clear the print queue.

A stuck print job can prevent new documents from printing.

Windows

1. Open Printers & Scanners.
2. Select your Brother printer.
3. Open the print queue.
4. Cancel all pending print jobs.

macOS

1. Open System Settings.
2. Select Printers & Scanners.
3. Open the print queue.
4. Delete all pending documents.

Once the queue is empty, send a new test print.

Restart the Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler manages print jobs in Windows. If it stops running, your Brother printer may appear unresponsive.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type services.msc.
3. Locate Print Spooler.
4. Right-click and select Restart.
5. Retry printing.

If the problem returns frequently, reinstalling the printer driver may help.

Update or Reinstall the Brother Printer Driver

Printer drivers allow your computer to communicate with the printer.

Signs of a driver issue include:

• Printer appears offline
• Print jobs fail
• Communication errors
• Missing printer features

Download and install the latest driver compatible with your operating system. If updating doesn’t work, uninstall the current driver before installing a fresh copy.

Troubleshoot Brother Printer Wi-Fi Connection

Wireless connection problems are among the most common causes of a Brother printer not responding.

Check the following:

• Printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
• Signal strength is strong.
• Router is functioning properly.
• No VPN is interfering with communication.
• Printer IP address hasn’t changed.

If necessary, reconnect the printer using the wireless setup wizard.

Fix USB Connection Problems

If you’re using a USB cable:

• Try another USB port.
• Replace the USB cable.
• Avoid USB hubs.
• Connect directly to the computer.
• Restart both devices.

Faulty cables frequently cause intermittent communication issues.

Check Firewall and antivirus settings.

Security software can sometimes block printer communication.

Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus and test printing. If the printer works, create an exception for the Brother printer software before re-enabling security protection.

Never leave your firewall permanently disabled.

Reset Your Brother Printer

Resetting the printer can resolve persistent software issues.

General reset process:

1. Open the printer’s Settings menu.
2. Select Initial Setup.
3. Choose Reset.
4. Confirm the reset.
5. Reconnect the printer to your computer or network.

Keep in mind that resetting may remove saved Wi-Fi settings.

Prevent Brother Printer Not Responding Issues

Regular maintenance can reduce future printer problems.

Best practices include:

• Keep printer drivers updated.
• Install firmware updates regularly.
• Restart your router occasionally.
• Use genuine or compatible Brother ink or toner.
• Keep the print queue clean.
• Print a test page every week.
• Avoid disconnecting the printer while printing.
• Maintain a stable Wi-Fi connection.

Routine maintenance improves reliability and extends printer lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Brother printer say not responding?

This usually happens because of network problems, outdated drivers, print spooler issues, or incorrect printer settings.

How do I get my Brother printer back online?

Restart the printer, clear the print queue, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and ensure it is set as the default printer.

Why won’t my Brother printer print even though it is connected?

The print queue may be stuck, the driver may be corrupted, or the Print Spooler service may need restarting.

Can updating the driver fix a Brother printer not responding?

Yes. Installing the latest printer driver often resolves communication and compatibility problems.

Should I reset my Brother printer?

A reset should be used only after other troubleshooting steps fail, as it may erase your wireless configuration.

Conclusion

If your Brother printer not responding issue persists, don’t assume the printer is defective. Most communication problems are caused by software glitches, outdated drivers, network interruptions, or incorrect settings that can be fixed with a few troubleshooting steps. By checking connections, clearing the print queue, updating drivers, restarting the Print Spooler, and maintaining your printer regularly, you can restore normal printing and reduce the chances of future issues.