Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing? (FIXED)

Richard starkRichard stark
5 min read

The Brother printer at my home office desk has always been a reliable option for printing. It prints everything quickly without causing any problems. But one Monday morning, out of nowhere, when I clicked on "Print," nothing happened. The printer refused to print, showing an "Error—Printing" status on my PC.

I thought it might be a small glitch, so I went through the basics to check. I checked the Wi-Fi; it was fine, the cables were correctly plugged in, and the paper cartridges were not empty. Still, the printer was not printing. That's when I asked myself, "Why is my Brother printer not printing?"

Since I had also experienced some printer issues earlier, I knew this issue could be resolved with some effective solutions. After following the steps and some trial and error, I finally got the prints again. Here are the solutions that worked for me.

Common Reasons Why Your Brother Printer Is Not Printing

Before I go straight to the troubleshooting section, it is important to tell you why this issue arises. There may be several reasons why the printer won't print. Some of the following reasons are:

Rough Usage

Improper handling, such as rough usage, is a common reason why electronics like printers may stop working. People usually take care of their devices when they're new, mostly for a few weeks; after that, they don't care. Moreover, if you let them plug in all day, spilling liquids on them and dropping them—all these things make the printer not print.

Frequent Power Surges

Even modern devices like printers are vulnerable to damage from frequent power surges. If one of your power switches or the whole electrical system is wrong, you risk the device's and your own life.

Network Connection

A poor or lost connection between your printer and the computer or a Wi-Fi network may prevent printing.

Paper Jams

If your printing system has a paper jam, your Brother printer cannot print. This problem can occur for different reasons, such as paper scraps in the path, incorrect paper loading, and more.

Software Issues & Driver Problems

If there is a fault with your printing software, it can cause the printer not to print. It may be because of the issue with the printer driver. It can be caused by the printer driver or a minor glitch that prevents your printer from printing.

Computer Viruses

You might be thinking that computer viruses have something to do with the printer not printing. Computer viruses can disrupt system operations, leading to corruption or deletion of printer drivers, which are essential for printing.

Now that you understand the reasons your Brother printer is not printing, let’s explore the solutions.

4 Best Solutions to Resolve Brother Printer Not Printing

Now that you understand the reasons your printer is not printing, let me walk you through the troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1: Check Printer Power

If your printer is receiving power but is still not printing, proceed to the next troubleshooting step.

If you are still here, then you have checked if the printer is receiving power. Now, the outlet you use to connect the printer might not be working. Connect the printer's plug to another switch; there is a possibility that the issue is with the switch.

Now, you have to check for burnt, broken, or disconnected cables. If any of the cables is not in the right condition, you should replace it.

Solution 2: Check Printer Is Connected to Your PC

One cause is that your printer is not printing, even though it is not connected to any device. Check that the cable connecting your system and the printer is right and intact. If you are using a wireless network, you might have to check whether both the printer and computer are added to the same wireless network.

Solution 3: Set Printer as Default

You might have made another printer your default printer. Check it, and if that is the case, make your printer your default device. These are the steps through which you can set your printer as the default device:

  1. Click on the Windows Start icon on your computer.

  2. In the search bar, type “Control Panel”.

  3. Go to the Control Panel.

  4. Head over to the "Hardware and Sound" option.

  5. Click on "Devices and Printers."

  6. In the list of devices, find your printer model.

  7. Right-click on your printer and click on "Set to default."

Solution 4: Update or Fix Printer Drivers

When the drivers are corrupt, it might be the reason why your printer is not printing. Both corrupted and outdated drivers can cause printing issues. Printer drivers can become corrupted due to viruses or accidental file deletion. The following steps are to check if the drivers are working fine:

  1. In File Explorer, right-click on “This PC,” select “Show more options,” and then click on “Manage.”

  2. On the new window, go to the Device Manager option.

  3. Look for the printer driver and right-click on it.

  4. Choose either "Update" or "Uninstall"

  5. If you choose the Update option, you are trying to fix the issue by getting the latest version of the printer driver.

  6. If you choose the Uninstall option, then you have to reinstall the driver from Brother's official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won't the Brother printer print from a computer?

If your printer is not printing from a computer, the issue could be due to software problems, connection issues, or hardware malfunctions. To fix the issue, first verify the physical connection (network or USB cable), and then check the driver and other potential problems like ink levels or paper jams.

Why is Brother printer connected but not printing?

A Brother printer might be connected but not printing due to software conflicts, connection issues, or hardware malfunctions, such as clogged nozzles or faulty rollers. To resolve the issue, check that the printer is properly powered and ensure there are no issues like paper jams or using incompatible or low-quality paper. In addition, ensure the printer drivers are installed properly.

How to get Brother printer to print?

If you want to print using the printer, make sure it is powered on and connected to your mobile device or computer (via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB). Start by loading paper into the printer, opening the document you want to print on your device, and selecting "Print." Choose the printer as the destination and adjust the Print settings accordingly.

Visit: setup.brother.com

brother printer setup

Source: Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing

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Written by

Richard stark
Richard stark

Richard Stark, a Columbus-based software developer, creates innovative solutions, mentors aspiring developers, and contributes to impactful open-source projects. Brother printers are always in high demand due to their technological advancements and in-built smart features. These printers can easily connect to your computer or mobile devices. To begin the setup process, go to the support.brother.com website, where you’ll find detailed guidelines on how to download the latest brother printer driver and set up your Brother printer efficiently.