You check your printer. It’s powered on. The WiFi light is solid. Your router is working. Yet your computer shows:
It makes no sense. If it’s connected, why does it say offline?
If you’re searching “Why is my Brother printer offline even though it’s connected?” you’re not alone. This is one of the most common printer problems we fix at Printer Offline Fix.
I’m Mark Thomson, a printer support specialist with over 10 years of experience resolving printer offline and connectivity issues. I’ve worked on hundreds of Brother printers that appeared connected but still showed offline in Windows or Mac. In most cases, the printer itself is fine. The issue is almost always a communication breakdown between your system and the device.
Let’s walk through exactly why this happens and how to fix it properly.
What Does “Brother Printer Offline” Really Mean?
When your system says your Brother printer is offline, it doesn’t necessarily mean the printer isn’t connected to WiFi. It simply means your computer cannot communicate with it at that moment.
That communication failure can happen due to:
- Driver corruption
- IP address changes
- Print Spooler service errors
- Firewall restrictions
- Default printer misconfiguration
- Windows updates resetting settings
Even if the printer shows “connected” on its display panel, your computer might still be looking for it at the wrong address.
Quick 5-Minute Fix Checklist
Before we dive into deeper troubleshooting, try this quick reset:
- Turn off your Brother printer
- Restart your router
- Restart your computer
- Turn the printer back on
- Try printing again
This simple refresh solves many temporary network glitches.
Step 1: Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode
This is surprisingly common.
Windows sometimes enables offline mode automatically.
To check:
- Press Windows + R
- Type control printers
- Select your Brother printer
- Click Printer from the top menu
- If “Use Printer Offline” is checked, uncheck it
Now try printing.
If your Brother printer is offline even though it’s connected, this is often the culprit.
Step 2: Restart the Print Spooler Service
The Print Spooler is what manages print jobs in Windows. If it crashes or stops, your printer appears offline.
Here’s how to restart it:
- Press Windows + R
- Type services.msc
- Find Print Spooler
- Right-click → Restart
Test your printer again.
In my experience, this fixes about 30% of “printer offline but connected” cases.
Step 3: Set Your Brother Printer as Default
Windows updates sometimes change default printer settings.
If your computer is sending print jobs to a different device, your Brother printer may appear offline.
To fix:
- Go to Settings
- Click Printers & Scanners
- Select your Brother printer
- Click Set as Default
Now print a test page.
Step 4: Check IP Address Changes
This is one of the most common technical causes.
Your router assigns IP addresses dynamically. If your Brother printer receives a new IP address, your computer may still try to connect to the old one.
That mismatch makes the printer show offline.
Fix:
- Print a network configuration page from your Brother printer
- Note the current IP address
- Remove the printer from your computer
- Re-add it using the updated IP address
For long-term stability, assign a static IP in your router settings.
Step 5: Reinstall Brother Printer Drivers
Driver corruption is extremely common, especially after Windows updates.
Sometimes Windows replaces the original Brother driver with a generic one.
That breaks communication.
Reinstall properly:
- Press Windows + X
- Open Device Manager
- Expand Printers
- Right-click your Brother printer
- Click Uninstall
- Restart your computer
- Download the latest driver from Brother Industries official website
- Install fresh
Never rely on Windows automatic drivers after major updates.
Brother Printer Offline Even Though Connected to WiFi
If your printer’s screen says connected but Windows shows offline:
- Ensure both devices are on the same network
- Avoid guest WiFi connections
- Disable VPN temporarily
- Restart router
Sometimes devices connect to different frequency bands (2.4GHz vs 5GHz), causing communication issues.
Firewall or Antivirus Blocking Printer
After updates, firewall rules may change.
Try temporarily:
- Disabling antivirus
- Turning off Windows Defender firewall
- Printing a test page
If it works, add your printer as an allowed device.
Security software often blocks printer ports without clear warnings.
Printer Works From Phone But Not Computer?
If your Brother printer prints from your smartphone but not from your PC:
- The printer hardware is fine
- The WiFi connection is fine
- The issue is on your computer
Focus on drivers, spooler service, and network configuration.
This is a key diagnostic clue.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 Specific Issues
After Windows 10 or 11 updates:
- Drivers may be replaced
- Network discovery may be disabled
- Default printers may change
- Security permissions may reset
If your Brother printer went offline right after an update, reinstalling the correct driver usually fixes it.
Advanced Full Reset Method
If nothing works:
- Remove printer from Windows
- Uninstall printer drivers completely
- Restart your computer
- Reset network settings on the printer
- Reconnect printer to WiFi
- Install the latest official driver manually
This clears hidden corruption from previous configurations.
When It’s Time to Get Professional Help
You may need expert assistance if:
- Printer keeps going offline daily
- Driver installation fails repeatedly
- Windows cannot detect printer at all
- You see error codes during installation
At Printer Offline Fix, we specialize in resolving exactly these types of connectivity issues.
With over a decade of hands-on troubleshooting, I can confidently say: most Brother printer offline problems are software-related and fixable.
Why Trust Printer Offline Fix?
At Printer Offline Fix, we:
- Diagnose Windows printer communication issues
- Repair driver conflicts
- Configure static IP addresses
- Optimize firewall settings
- Restore stable network connections
We don’t guess. We troubleshoot methodically.
As someone who has resolved thousands of printer connectivity problems, I know how frustrating this issue can be. But the solution is usually simpler than it seems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Brother printer offline even though it’s connected?
Your Brother printer may show offline even though it’s connected because your computer cannot communicate with it. This often happens due to driver corruption, IP address changes, Print Spooler errors, or firewall restrictions. Reinstalling drivers and restarting services typically resolves the issue.
How do I get my Brother printer back online?
Disable “Use Printer Offline” mode, restart your router and printer, restart the Print Spooler service, set the printer as default, and reinstall the latest Brother driver if necessary. Assigning a static IP address can prevent recurring offline issues.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been asking, “Why is my Brother printer offline even though it’s connected?”, now you understand the real cause.
It’s rarely a hardware failure.
It’s almost always a communication issue between your system and the printer.
Follow the steps above carefully. Most users restore printing within minutes.
If the problem persists or keeps returning, Printer Offline Fix is ready to help you get your Brother printer back online quickly and permanently.
