How to Fix a Brother Printer That Keeps Going Offline

If you’re experiencing the frustrating issue of your Brother printer constantly going offline, don’t worry – there are solutions to help you get it back online. In this article, we’ll explore some common reasons why this problem occurs and provide step-by-step instructions to fix it.

Reasons for Offline Status

There are several reasons why your Brother printer may go offline. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Dynamic IP address: This occurs when your printer uses default port settings, resulting in a constantly changing IP address.
• Print offline in Windows: The “Use Printer Offline” feature in Windows 10 can cause your printer to remain offline even when it’s available.
• Antivirus and firewall: Sometimes, your security software may block communication between your computer and printer, considering it as a potential threat.
• Driver issues: Faulty or outdated printer drivers can prevent your printer from going online.

How to Fix the Issue

Here are step-by-step instructions to fix each of the above-mentioned issues:

1. Dynamic IP address

1. Open the Control Panel on your computer.
2. Go to “Devices and Printers”.
3. Right-click on your Brother printer icon and select “Printer Properties”.
4. In the “Ports” tab, identify the currently marked port, usually “Standard TCP/IP Port”.
5. Select the port and click on the “Configure Port…” button.
6. Enter the IP address of your computer in the “Port name” and “Printer name or IP address” fields.
7. Make sure the “SNMP Status Enabled” option is unchecked.
8. Click “OK” to save the changes.

2. Print offline in Windows

1. Open “Devices and Printers” from the Control Panel.
2. Right-click on your Brother printer icon and click “See what’s printing”.
3. In the top menu, select the “Printer” tab.
4. Uncheck the “Use printer offline” option.

3. Antivirus and firewall

Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall software to see if they are causing the offline issue. Ensure they are fully turned off, as some programs may still run in the background.

4. Driver issues

1. Visit the Brother support page and download the latest drivers for your printer model.
2. Before installing the new drivers, uninstall the current drivers by going to the Device Manager in your Windows settings.
3. Expand the “Imaging Devices” section and right-click on your printer name.
4. Select “Uninstall Device” and confirm the removal of the current drivers.
5. Follow the instructions on the Brother support website to install the new drivers.

Keep Your Printer Online

If none of the above solutions resolve the offline issue, it’s recommended to contact customer service for further assistance. However, in most cases, one of these solutions should get your Brother printer back online and ready for use. Don’t forget to share your experience and which method worked for you in the comments section!

FAQs

1. Why does my Brother printer keep going offline?

There can be several reasons for your Brother printer going offline, including dynamic IP address settings, “Use Printer Offline” feature in Windows, antivirus or firewall blocking printer communication, and driver issues.

2. How can I fix the offline status of my Brother printer?

To fix the offline status of your Brother printer, you can try the following steps:

• Check and update the IP address settings.
• Disable the “Use Printer Offline” feature in Windows settings.
• Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall.
• Update or reinstall the printer drivers.

If the issue persists, it’s recommended to contact customer service for further assistance.