How Do I Get My Brother Printer Back Online: 3 Easy Methods

The Brother printer appears offline, meaning I can't print anything further. Before, I would get frustrated as I didn't know how do I get my Brother printer back online. But, solving the same issue again and again, I learned and found various ways to fix this offline error. Be it my Windows or Mac computer, I've used Brother printer on both devices. And whenever my printer shows up offline, I try the same method to resolve the problem. Even though there may be slight differences depending on various operating systems, we do things the same way.

In this blog, I will show you a few solutions to fix this offline error for both Windows and Mac users. In addition, there will be some common ways suitable for all operating systems. So, let's start exploring this blog to learn further.

Method 1: Check If the Brother Printer is Turned On

I know you might be wondering, “How do I get my Brother printer back online?” But trust, there is nothing to wonder about. All you need to do is follow the simple steps I am providing here in this blog.

In this first step, we will basically check out the printer to confirm whether it is powered on or not. Also, we need to find some errors, if there are any. Follow the mentioned points below to check your Brother printer:

Check whether the machine's screen is blank. If it is blank, it means you haven't powered it on yet.
Also, check the machine to confirm if it wakes from sleep mode.
Next, you should check your LCD for available error messages. For example, if there were any errors, it might show “Paper Jam” or “Ink/Toner Empty.” If you find such an error, you need to resolve it accordingly.

Method 2: Verify the Connections

Many times, I saw that my printer was not properly connected to a USB cable, which led to the offline error. However, improper connection using the Ethernet cable and wireless network can also lead to this offline printer error. In order to rectify this issue, try the following steps.

Here are the points to check your connection:

If you have connected your printer and device with a USB cable, then check the cable and try to change the ports.
Note: Do not use a USB hub.
If you are using an Ethernet cable, ensure it is connected correctly to the printer and Wi-Fi router.
For wireless connection, you should print the configuration page to check your IP address.

If the issue still persists, then you need to shift to Method 3.

Method 3: Remove All the Print Jobs on Windows/Mac

Here, I will explain to you how do I get my Brother printer back online by removing all printer jobs. The instructions I am going to provide you below are for both Windows 11 and Mac computers. Let's start with a Windows 10 computer:

On Windows 11 or later

You need to click on the Start button and then type Settings and hit the Enter key.

Next, you have to select Bluetooth & devices from the left panel.
Afterward, you will need to select the Printers & scanners.

Now, here you will see your Brother printer, select it, and then click on Open Print Queue.
Further, click on the three dots given and then select the Cancel All option.

On Mac 13 or later

First, you have to move to the Apple menu and then choose System Preferences.
After that, you will need to scroll and then select the Printers & Scanners option given on the left navigation bar.

Now, you have to select the Brother printer and then hit the Print Queue.

Here, if you find any print jobs in the queue, then select them and click on the X button to delete them.

FAQs

Question 1: Why does my Brother printer say offline?

Answer: If your Brother printer appears offline, then it means your computer is not able to communicate with your printer. The reason behind this offline status may be associated with a connection, software-related issues, misconfigured settings, and many other reasons. However, you can easily fix them by solving the above-mentioned issues.

Question 2: How can I change the status of my Brother printer from offline to online?

Answer: If you don't know “how do I get my Brother printer back online,” then don't worry. There are many effective solutions you can try to get your printer back online. Here are a few methods that you should try to change the printer's status:

Check whether the printer is set as default. If not, set it as the default printer.
Confirm if there is any misconfigured setting, such as a ticked “Use Offline Printer” option.
Verify the cables, including power and USB cables.

Question 3: How to clean a long list of pending print jobs?

Answer: If you have a long list of pending print jobs on your Brother printer, then it might cause an offline error. For this, you have to clear the print queue by following the steps below:

First, navigate to the Control Panel.
After that, you will need to click on the option Devices and Printers.
On the next screen, right-click on your listed Brother printer.
Then, select the “See what's printing” option.
Now, hit the Printer option and then select Cancel All Documents from the top menu.

Final Words

In this blog, I have included 3 methods that answer the question: how do I get my Brother printer back online? With this easy-to-follow guide, you will be able to fix an offline error on your Brother printer. In addition, these solutions will work for all Brother printer issues. So you don't need to worry about this. Now, easily resolve the Brother printer offline issue on Windows 11 and Mac 13 computers. Print anything anytime without any errors!