Nothing is more frustrating than trying to print an important document, only to see that your Brother printer is showing offline in Windows 10. This issue can occur due to several reasons, including connectivity errors, outdated drivers, or incorrect printer settings. Fortunately, this guide will help you fix the offline error and get your Brother printer back online—step-by-step.

Why Is My Brother Printer Offline on Windows 10?

Before jumping into the solution, it's important to understand what causes this issue:

  • Loose USB/Wi-Fi connection

  • Outdated or missing printer drivers

  • Printer set as offline manually

  • Miscommunication between printer and computer

  • Paused or stuck print jobs

Now let’s move on to the solutions.

Step-by-Step Methods to Fix Brother Printer Offline in Windows 10

Method 1: Check the Physical Connection

For USB Connection:

  1. Ensure the USB cable is securely plugged into both the printer and the PC.

  2. Try a different USB port.

  3. Restart both your printer and computer.

For Wireless Connection:

  1. Make sure your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.

  2. Check if the Wi-Fi indicator on the printer is solid (not blinking or red).

  3. Reconnect your printer to Wi-Fi using the control panel menu.

Method 2: Set Brother Printer as Default

  1. Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.

  2. Right-click your Brother printer from the list.

  3. Select Set as default printer.

  4. Make sure no other printer has a green checkmark.

Method 3: Disable "Use Printer Offline" Mode

  1. Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

  2. Right-click your Brother printer and choose See what’s printing.

  3. Click on the Printer tab in the menu bar.

  4. Uncheck the option Use Printer Offline.

  5. If it’s already unchecked, try checking and unchecking it again.

Method 4: Cancel All Print Jobs

Stuck print jobs can also cause the printer to go offline.

  1. Go to Devices and Printers.

  2. Right-click your Brother printer and select See what’s printing.

  3. Click Printer > Cancel All Documents.

  4. Restart the printer and try printing again.

Method 5: Restart Print Spooler Service

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

  2. Find Print Spooler in the list.

  3. Right-click it and choose Restart.

  4. Double-click it, and make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic.

  5. Click Apply > OK.

Method 6: Update or Reinstall Brother Printer Drivers

  1. Visit the Brother Support Website.

  2. Enter your printer model and download the latest driver for Windows 10.

  3. Uninstall the existing printer from Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

  4. Run the new driver installer and follow the setup instructions.

Method 7: Remove and Re-add the Printer

  1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners.

  2. Click on your Brother printer and choose Remove device.

  3. Restart your computer.

  4. Go back to Printers & Scanners and click Add a printer or scanner.

  5. Let Windows detect and install your printer again.

Method 8: Check for Windows Updates

Sometimes, a Windows update can include essential printer fixes.

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

  2. Click Check for updates.

  3. Install all available updates and restart your system.

Bonus Tips

  • Use Brother Printer Utility Software: Brother’s support tools can diagnose and fix issues automatically.

  • Avoid VPN Conflicts: If you’re using a VPN, disconnect it temporarily and test the printer.

  • Use a Static IP (for wireless printers): Assigning a static IP to your printer can prevent it from going offline due to network changes.

When to Contact Brother Support

If you’ve tried all the methods above and your printer is still showing offline, it might be time to contact Brother Support. You could be dealing with:

  • Hardware malfunctions

  • Network firewall restrictions

  • Internal software conflicts

Visit Brother Support for live chat, drivers, and personalized troubleshooting.

Conclusion

Fixing a Brother printer that shows "Offline" in Windows 10 doesn’t require deep tech knowledge. By carefully following the methods above—starting from checking the connection to updating drivers—you should be able to get your printer back online in just a few minutes.

Regularly updating your drivers, restarting your printer, and ensuring proper network setup can prevent future offline issues. With this guide, you're now equipped to tackle the problem confidently and get back to printing without delays.