How To Fix a Brother Printer Not Responding

Perhaps you’ve got a deadline due and need to print off your work as soon as possible. Or maybe you need a physical copy of some important documents. Whatever the reason, an unresponsive Brother printer can be a major inconvenience and cause frustration. Before you go into panic mode, there are a few steps you can take to fix the problem.

In this article, we’ll go over some common reasons why your Brother printer may not be responding. Plus, we’ll offer advice on how to mend the issue based on the device you’re using.

Why Is My Brother Printer Not Responding?

The “Brother Printer Is Not Responding” message is a common error among these printers. Like all printers, Brothers can cease to work for a few different reasons. This includes poor connectivity, an outdated driver, and other technical issues. Let’s take a closer look at some of the fixes available.

Check Your Connection

This may seem obvious, but before attempting any more complicated troubleshooting, some basic checks are needed. Start by ensuring that the connection between your device and the printer is in its regular state. This will help you check off any simpler reasons why your printer may be unresponsive.

If you’re using a USB printer, try simply re-plugging the USB cable. If this fails, you can attempt plugging the USB into a different port on your PC. Brother printers often fail to connect due to a faulty or broken USB port.

For those using a wireless printer, it’s vital that both the device you’re using and the printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. However, if your Wi-Fi connection is poor, then it’s worth considering going elsewhere to sort the issue.

Change Your Default Printer

Another way to fix Brother printer response issues is to update your default device. Your default printer is the one that is automatically used for your printing tasks. Therefore, setting your Brother printer as your default device should help you get the job done. Here’s what you’ll need to do.

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From a Windows PC:

1. Simultaneously hit the main Windows logo key and R on your keyboard to access the command for “Run.”
2. In the pop-up that appears, type “Control,” then click on “OK.”
3. Next to “View-By,” choose “Small Icons” from the dropdown menu.
4. Click on “Devices and Printers.”
5. From the options that appear, right-click on your Brother printer.
6. Hit “Save as Default Printer.”

From a Mac:

1. In the upper left corner of your screen, click “File.”
2. Next, choose “Page Setup.”
3. Where it says “Format For,” ensure that you have chosen your Brother printer.
4. Next, select your desired paper size, orientation, and scale.
5. When you’re happy, press “OK.”

Update Your Printer Driver

In some cases, your Brother printer may not be responding because you don’t have the latest version of the driver. Printer drivers are pieces of software that function as the “middleman” between your device and the printer in question. They work to convert the data from your computer into a format your printer can understand and process. If the driver is outdated, this can hinder it from successfully completing its job.

There are two ways of updating your printer’s driver: manually and automatically.

To update a Brother printer manually:

1. Head to the Brother printer’s support site.
2. Click on your country/region.
3. When prompted, enter your printer’s model number to locate the right driver.
4. Select “Download,” then “Operating System.”
5. Locate the correct driver and download the file.
6. Once the file is downloaded, double-click on it and follow the set of instructions that appear to complete the installation.

To automatically update your Brother printer:

1. Install Driver Easy onto your computer.
2. When the download is complete, open the file.
3. Click on “Scan Now.”
4. Driver Easy will proceed to scan your entire computer and notify you if any problems arise or updates are needed.
5. If it appears, select “Update,” which is located by the flagged Brother printer driver.

Use a Different Program

Occasionally, a printer may not respond to the program you are using to print from. In that case, it’s most likely that the program itself is the issue. To resolve this, try printing your document using an alternate program. If you’re successful, then it confirms that there was a problem with your initial program. In this case, it’s worth contacting your program’s support team for further assistance on the matter.

Clear Your Print Queue

If you have a large print queue that has gotten stuck, this can hinder your ability to print new documents. In this case, the course of action is to clear any queued tasks. Here’s how to do this on your PC:

1. Head to “Start.”
2. Search for “Services” and click on the window with the same name.
3. From the list that appears, right-click “Print Spooler.”
4. Select “Stop.”
5. On your keyboard, simultaneously select the Windows logo key and “E.”
6. In the file explorer, copy this address: %windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS
7. Hit “Enter.”
8. Delete all files within that folder.
9. Head back to “Services,” right-click “Print-Spooler,” then “Start.”
10. Once this is complete, restart your PC in order for the changes to register.

Conduct a Factory Reset

If you’ve tried everything and your Brother printer still won’t respond, it may be time to consider a factory reset. However, before doing this, it’s important to remember that doing so will wipe your entire printer slate clean. This means that all settings and archives will be wiped, and you will be left with a fresh printer just like when you first got it.

The method for resetting your printer will vary depending on your model. It’s best to refer to your specific version’s official documents for detailed instructions.

Oh Brother

Brother is renowned for producing sturdy and efficient printers. However, like all technology, it is not immune to errors.

Issues with your Brother printer can be frustrating, particularly if you have an urgent document. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you have a strong connection once again. By checking the connection, conducting a factory reset, or trying any of the other steps listed above, all your worries can be put aside.

However, if you find that you’re still experiencing issues after having completed any of the above steps, it may be worth contacting an expert to gain a second opinion. Or perhaps it’s just time to invest in a new printer. Either way, we hope that this article has helped you get a better idea of how to resurrect your unresponsive printer.