Is your Brother printer not printing even though it is turned on and connected to your computer? This frustrating problem can happen when your printer stops responding, prints blank pages, or fails to process documents.
Whether your Brother printer won't print on Windows 10, Windows 11, or Mac, the issue may be related to connectivity, printer settings, outdated drivers, or ink and toner problems.
Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing?
Several problems can prevent a Brother printer from printing correctly.
Common reasons include:
Printer showing offline or unavailable.
Weak WiFi or USB connection.
Empty ink cartridges or low toner.
Paper jams or empty paper tray.
Outdated or corrupted printer drivers.
Stuck documents in the print queue.
Incorrect default printer settings.
Print Spooler service errors.
Clogged printhead nozzles on inkjet models.
How to Fix Brother Printer Not Printing? 10 Easy Solutions
1. Restart Your Brother Printer
Restarting your printer can resolve temporary software and communication problems.
Turn off your Brother printer.
Disconnect its power cable.
Wait approximately 30 seconds.
Reconnect the power cable.
Turn on your printer.
Try printing a test page.
If your Brother printer still won't print, continue troubleshooting.
2. Check WiFi or USB Connection
If your Brother printer is connected but not printing, check its connection.
For wireless printers, ensure your computer and printer are connected to the same network.
For USB printers, inspect the cable and try another working USB port.
3. Check Ink or Toner Levels
Low or empty ink cartridges can interrupt printing.
Open your printer's ink or toner status menu and check the remaining supplies.
Replace empty cartridges or toner units with compatible replacements.
If your Brother printer prints blank pages, check ink levels and run the appropriate print-quality test.
4. Clear the Print Queue
Pending print jobs can prevent new documents from printing.
Open Windows Settings.
Select Bluetooth & devices.
Open Printers & scanners.
Choose your Brother printer.
Open the print queue.
Cancel stuck print jobs.
Restart the printer and try printing again.
5. Disable Printer Offline Mode
If your Brother printer is offline and not printing, check its status.
Open Control Panel, select Devices and Printers, and open your Brother printer's print queue.
Under the Printer menu, uncheck Use Printer Offline if enabled.
6. Restart the Print Spooler
The Print Spooler manages printing tasks on Windows.
Press Windows + R.
Type services.msc.
Locate Print Spooler.
Right-click and select Restart.
Submit a new print job.
This may resolve Brother printer not printing on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
7. Update Brother Printer Drivers
Outdated printer drivers can cause printing errors.
Visit Brother's official website, locate your printer model, and obtain the compatible driver for your operating system.
Install the driver and restart your computer.
8. Fix Brother Printer Not Printing on Mac
If your Brother printer is not printing on Mac, follow these steps:
Open System Settings.
Select Printers & Scanners.
Choose your Brother printer.
Open the print queue.
Resume paused jobs or remove stuck documents.
Remove and re-add the printer if necessary.
Check whether your Mac can print a test document.
9. Check for Paper Jams and Printhead Problems
Inspect the paper tray and accessible paper path for jammed paper.
For Brother inkjet printers, use the built-in print-quality check and cleaning function if output is missing or faded.
For laser printers, inspect toner and drum-related error messages.
10. Reinstall Your Brother Printer
If the problem continues, remove your Brother printer from the computer.
Restart your computer and add the printer again through Windows Settings or macOS Printers & Scanners.
Verify the connection before printing a test page.
How to Prevent Brother Printer Printing Problems
Keep your printer drivers updated, maintain a stable connection, and check ink or toner levels regularly.
Use suitable paper, remove completed print jobs, and follow the recommended printer maintenance schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Brother printer connected but not printing?
Your printer may have a stuck print queue, incorrect settings, outdated drivers, or a communication problem.
Why is my Brother printer not printing black ink?
Low black ink, clogged printhead nozzles, or incorrect print settings may cause this problem on inkjet models.
Why is my Brother printer not printing from my computer?
Check the printer connection, default printer selection, driver compatibility, and print queue.
Final Thoughts
If your Brother printer is not printing, start by restarting the printer, checking its connection, and clearing pending print jobs.
Need Additional Assistance?
If you’ve tried the troubleshooting steps above and still need help with your Brother Printer Not Printing issue, dial +1-803-866-1601 (USA). Our independent technical support team can assist with printer troubleshooting. We are not affiliated with or authorized by Brother or any other printer manufacturer.