Brother printer not printing fix steps can help when your Brother printer is connected but will not print, prints blank pages, stays stuck in the queue, or does not respond from your computer or phone.
This problem can happen because of an offline printer status, a stuck print job, weak WiFi connection, wrong printer selection, low ink or toner, paper feed issue, outdated driver, or temporary printer error.
Start with the simple checks below before reinstalling the printer or changing advanced settings.
Quick Fix
Restart your Brother printer and computer, check that paper and ink or toner are available, then clear stuck print jobs. Make sure the correct Brother printer is selected and try printing a test page again.
Try This First
• Printer says offline → check the connection and bring the printer online
• Print job is stuck → cancel old jobs and restart the printer
• Printer prints blank pages → check ink, toner, and print quality settings
• Wireless printer will not print → reconnect the printer to WiFi
• Printer is connected but does nothing → set the Brother printer as default
Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing?
A Brother printer may stop printing when your computer cannot communicate with the printer, the print queue is blocked, or the printer is not ready to receive new jobs.
In many cases, the printer itself is not broken. The issue is usually caused by a connection problem, offline status, wrong printer setting, driver issue, or a temporary error that can be cleared with basic troubleshooting.
What Causes Brother Printer Printing Problems?
Common causes include:
• Brother printer set to offline
• stuck print jobs in the queue
• wrong printer selected
• weak or disconnected WiFi
• USB cable or port problem
• low ink or toner
• paper jam or paper feed issue
• outdated or damaged Brother driver
• printer sleep mode or paused status
• network or router problem
Brother Printer Not Printing Fix: Best Solutions to Fix This Issue
Restart the Printer and Computer
- Turn off your Brother printer.
- Unplug the power cable from the printer.
- Wait for 60 seconds.
- Plug the printer back in.
- Turn the printer on and wait until it is ready.
- Restart your computer.
- Try printing again.
Restarting clears temporary printer, computer, and connection problems. This should always be the first step when a Brother printer suddenly stops printing.
Check Whether the Brother Printer Is Offline
- Open Settings on Windows.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select your Brother printer.
- Open the print queue.
- Make sure the printer is not paused.
- If you see Use Printer Offline, turn it off.
- Try printing one test page.
If your Brother printer appears offline even though it is turned on, follow this guide: Brother Printer Offline Fix
Offline status is one of the most common reasons a Brother printer will not print.
Clear the Print Queue
- Open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Click your Brother printer.
- Click Open print queue.
- Cancel old or stuck print jobs.
- Restart the printer.
- Send one small test print.
A stuck print job can block every new document. Clearing the queue gives the printer a clean start.
Set the Correct Brother Printer as Default
- Open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select your Brother printer.
- Click Set as default if the option appears.
- Open the document again.
- Click Print.
- Make sure the Brother printer is selected.
Sometimes the print job goes to an old printer, disconnected printer, or PDF printer instead. Setting the correct printer as default helps prevent this.
Check the Printer Connection
- If using USB, make sure the cable is firmly connected.
- Try another USB port if possible.
- If using WiFi, make sure the printer and computer are on the same network.
- Restart your router if other wireless devices are also having problems.
- Move the printer closer to the router if the signal is weak.
- Try printing again.
Brother wireless printers can stop printing when they lose WiFi connection or connect to a different network than your computer.
If the printer is connected to WiFi but the internet or network still seems unstable, see WiFi Connected But No Internet Fix.
Check Paper, Ink, Toner, and Printer Warnings
- Make sure paper is loaded correctly.
- Remove damaged, curled, or stuck paper.
- Check the printer screen or lights for warnings.
- Check ink or toner levels.
- Reinstall cartridges if they are not seated properly.
- Close all covers fully.
- Try printing again.
Brother printers may stop printing if a cover is open, paper is jammed, toner is low, or the printer detects a cartridge problem.
Run a Test Print or Print Quality Check
- Open the Brother printer menu or Brother printer software.
- Look for a test print, maintenance, or print quality option.
- Print a test page.
- If the page is blank or faded, check ink or toner.
- Run cleaning only if the printer software recommends it.
A test print helps you confirm whether the printer can print on its own. If the test page works, the issue is more likely with the computer, driver, or connection.
Update or Reinstall the Brother Printer Driver
- Open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select your Brother printer.
- Remove the printer if it still will not print.
- Restart your computer.
- Download the correct Brother driver from the official Brother support website.
- Install the driver.
- Add the printer again and test printing.
A damaged or outdated driver can stop print jobs from reaching the printer correctly. Reinstalling the driver gives the printer a fresh setup.
Try Printing From Another Device
- Try printing from another computer, phone, or tablet.
- Use the same Brother printer.
- If another device prints correctly, the first computer likely has a driver or settings issue.
- If no device can print, the problem is likely with the printer, WiFi, router, ink/toner, or hardware.
Testing another device helps separate printer problems from computer-specific problems.
How to Prevent Brother Printer Printing Problems
• Keep the Brother printer connected to a stable network
• Do not leave old print jobs stuck in the queue
• Use the correct Brother printer as default
• Keep ink or toner from running completely empty
• Restart the printer occasionally
• Keep Brother drivers updated
• Use the correct paper size and paper type
• Turn the printer off properly instead of unplugging it suddenly
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Brother printer connected but not printing?
Your Brother printer may be connected but not printing because it is offline, paused, stuck in the print queue, using the wrong driver, or blocked by a connection, ink, toner, or paper issue.
Why is my Brother printer printing blank pages?
A Brother printer may print blank pages because ink or toner is low, the cartridge is not seated correctly, print quality settings are wrong, or the printhead/nozzles need maintenance.
Should I reinstall my Brother printer?
Reinstall the Brother printer only after restarting the printer, checking the connection, clearing the queue, checking ink or toner, and confirming that the correct printer is selected.
For related printer problems, see Printer Offline Fix and HP Printer Not Printing Fix.