Having your Brother printer show up as "offline" on your Mac can be frustrating, especially when you need to print something urgently. However, this issue is common and can be resolved with some troubleshooting steps. In this guide, we'll walk you through various methods to get your Brother printer back online, so you can resume your printing tasks smoothly.

Why Does My Brother Printer Show as Offline on My Mac?

Before diving into the solutions, it's important to understand why your Brother printer might be showing as offline. Common reasons include:

Network Connectivity Issues: Your printer may have lost its connection to the Wi-Fi network.

Incorrect Printer Settings: The default printer setting might be incorrect or outdated.

Outdated Printer Drivers: Your Mac may have outdated or incompatible printer drivers.

Paper Jams or Hardware Issues: Mechanical problems like paper jams can cause the printer to go offline.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Brother Printer Offline on Mac

1. Check Printer and Network Connection

The first step is to ensure that your Brother printer is properly connected to your network.

Verify Wi-Fi Connection: Ensure that your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. If the printer is disconnected, try reconnecting it to your Wi-Fi.

Restart Your Devices: Turn off your Brother printer and unplug it for a few seconds. Restart your Mac as well. Then, power on the printer and check if it appears online.

Check Cables: If you're using a wired connection, ensure that all cables are securely connected.

2. Set Brother Printer as Default Printer

Sometimes, your Mac may be trying to print to a different printer that’s not connected.

Go to System Preferences: Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.

Select Printers & Scanners: Click on the Printers & Scanners option.

Set Default Printer: If your Brother printer is not set as the default, select it and click Set as Default.

3. Remove and Re-Add Your Brother Printer

Removing and re-adding your printer can help reset its connection and resolve any issues.

Open Printers & Scanners: Go to System Preferences and click Printers & Scanners.

Remove Printer: Select your Brother printer from the list and click the Minus (-) button to remove it.

Re-Add Printer: Click the Plus (+) button, select your Brother printer from the list, and click Add.

4. Reset the Print System

If removing and re-adding the printer doesn’t work, resetting the print system may help.

Reset Print System: In Printers & Scanners, right-click (or Control-click) anywhere in the printer list and select Reset Printing System. This will remove all printers from the list.

Re-Add Your Printer: After resetting, add your Brother printer back by clicking the Plus (+) button and selecting it from the list.

5. Update Printer Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues between your Mac and the printer.

Check for Driver Updates: Visit the Brother Support website and check for the latest drivers for your specific printer model. Download and install the updated drivers.

Automatic Updates: You can also enable automatic updates for your printer drivers in System Preferences > Software Update.

6. Check Printer Queue

Sometimes, print jobs stuck in the queue can prevent your printer from functioning properly.

Open Print Queue: In Printers & Scanners, select your Brother printer and click Open Print Queue.

Clear Stuck Jobs: If there are any jobs in the queue that are not printing, cancel them and try printing a new document.

7. Disable Offline Mode

Your printer might be set to offline mode by mistake.

Check Printer Status: Go to Printers & Scanners, select your Brother printer, and check if it is set to offline. If it is, change the status to online.

8. Check for Firmware Updates

Firmware updates can resolve bugs and improve connectivity.

Update Firmware: Visit the Brother Support website and check if there’s a firmware update available for your printer model. Follow the instructions to update the firmware.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

Check for Paper Jams: Inspect your printer for any paper jams or hardware issues that might be causing it to go offline.

Restart Router: If the issue persists, try restarting your Wi-Fi router to refresh the network connection.

Use a USB Connection: If you’re unable to resolve the issue wirelessly, try connecting your printer to your Mac via USB as a temporary solution.

FAQs

1. Why does my Brother printer keep going offline on my Mac?

Your Brother printer might be going offline due to network issues, outdated drivers, or incorrect printer settings.

2. How do I reconnect my Brother printer to Wi-Fi on a Mac?

To reconnect your Brother printer to Wi-Fi, access the printer's network settings via its control panel and select your Wi-Fi network. Ensure it’s connected to the same network as your Mac.

3. Can I print to my Brother printer using a USB connection instead of Wi-Fi?

Yes, if you’re having trouble with Wi-Fi, you can connect your printer to your Mac using a USB cable and print directly.

4. How do I update the drivers for my Brother printer on my Mac?

Visit the Brother Support website, download the latest drivers for your printer model, and follow the installation instructions.

5. How can I check if my Brother printer is set as the default printer on my Mac?

Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, select your Brother printer, and click Set as Default Printer if it isn’t already set.

Conclusion

Fixing a Brother printer that appears offline on your Mac is a straightforward process when you know where to look. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can diagnose the problem and bring your printer back online quickly. Whether it’s a network issue, outdated drivers, or incorrect settings, these troubleshooting methods should help you resolve the issue and resume your printing tasks without further delays. If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to reach out to Brother customer support for further assistance.