Brother printers are known for their reliability, but like any device, they can sometimes run into technical hiccups. One of the most frustrating issues users face is the “Brother Printer Offline” error — especially on Windows 10. You might be connected via USB or Wi-Fi, but still find the printer status marked as offline, blocking any print job from proceeding.

Luckily, this issue is common and fixable. In this guide, we'll walk you through the Top 7 proven methods to fix your Brother printer when it shows as offline on Windows 10.

🛠️ 1. Check the Printer Connection (USB or Wi-Fi)

🔹 For USB Printers:

  • Ensure the USB cable is securely plugged into both the printer and your computer.

  • Try connecting to a different USB port.

  • Avoid using USB hubs — connect directly to the PC.

🔹 For Wireless (Wi-Fi) Printers:

  • Make sure the printer and PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

  • Restart your router, printer, and computer to refresh network settings.

  • Print a Network Configuration Report from the printer to verify connection details.

Tip: You can usually print a network report directly from the printer's control panel under Network or WLAN settings.

⚙️ 2. Set Brother Printer as the Default Printer

If Windows 10 sends print jobs to a different printer, the Brother printer may appear offline.

🔧 How to Set as Default:

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Navigate to Devices > Printers & scanners.

  3. Select your Brother printer from the list.

  4. Click Manage > Set as default.

✅ Also, disable “Let Windows manage my default printer” for more control.

📄 3. Unpause and Set Printer to Online

Sometimes your printer is paused or set to offline manually.

🔧 Steps:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

  2. Right-click on your Brother printer > Choose See what’s printing.

  3. In the queue window:

    • Click Printer in the top menu.

    • Uncheck Pause Printing.

    • Uncheck Use Printer Offline.

🔄 4. Restart the Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler is a Windows service that queues print jobs. Restarting it often resolves the offline issue.

🔧 Steps:

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

  2. Scroll down and find Print Spooler.

  3. Right-click it > Choose Restart.

  4. Try printing again.

⬇️ 5. Update or Reinstall Brother Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupt drivers can block communication between Windows and your printer.

🔧 How to Update:

  • Visit the Brother Support Website.

  • Enter your printer model.

  • Download and install the latest Windows 10 driver.

🔧 Or Update via Device Manager:

  1. Press Windows + X > Choose Device Manager.

  2. Expand Printers.

  3. Right-click your Brother printer > Click Update driver.

🌐 6. Check & Configure Printer Port Settings (For Network Printers)

A mismatch between your printer's IP address and Windows port settings can result in offline errors.

🔧 Steps:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

  2. Right-click your Brother printer > Printer Properties.

  3. Click the Ports tab > Highlight the active port.

  4. Click Configure Port.

  5. Ensure the IP address matches your printer’s current IP.

    • If not, update it or set a static IP from your router.

🧠 Setting a static IP helps prevent this issue in the future.

🚫 7. Disable SNMP Status (Advanced Fix)

Some Brother printers use SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) to communicate, but it can cause false “offline” errors.

🔧 To Disable SNMP:

  1. Go to Devices and Printers > Right-click Brother printer > Printer Properties.

  2. Under Ports tab, click Configure Port.

  3. Uncheck SNMP Status Enabled.

  4. Click OK, then test your printer again.

✅ Bonus: Reinstall Your Brother Printer

If none of the above solutions work, try a clean reinstall.

🔧 Steps:

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

  2. Select your Brother printer > Click Remove device.

  3. Restart your PC.

  4. Reinstall the printer using the latest driver from Brother’s website or using “Add a printer” in Windows.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why does my Brother printer keep going offline on Windows 10?

This can happen due to incorrect printer settings, driver issues, IP address changes, or communication errors.

Q2. Do I need to reinstall the printer to fix this error?

Not always. Reinstalling should be your last resort after trying the 7 methods listed above.

Q3. Can Windows 10 updates cause the printer to go offline?

Yes, major updates can reset driver configurations or change network settings, causing printers to show offline.

🔚 Conclusion

The Brother printer offline error on Windows 10 is annoying but usually easy to fix with a little troubleshooting. From checking the connection and setting it as default, to updating drivers and configuring the port — these 7 solutions cover everything you need.

With the right steps, you’ll have your Brother printer back online in no time and printing smoothly again.