Brother printers are renowned for their reliability, but like any tech, they can encounter hiccups. One common issue faced by Windows 10 users is when their Brother printer goes offline unexpectedly. This article provides a comprehensive step-by-step guide to troubleshoot and resolve the "brother printer says offline windows 10" issue on your Windows 10 system.

Step 1: Verify Printer's Physical Connection

Ensure your Brother printer is properly connected to your computer. Check that the USB cable (if applicable) is securely plugged in, or if it's a wireless printer, that it's connected to the correct WiFi network.

Step 2: Power Cycle the Printer

Sometimes, a simple power cycle can work wonders. Turn off the Brother printer, unplug it from the power source, wait for about 30 seconds, and then plug it back in and power it on. This can help refresh the printer's connection.

Step 3: Check Printer Status

Open the "Devices and Printers" window on your Windows 10 system. Right-click on your Brother printer icon and select "See what's printing." Ensure there are no pending print jobs. If there are, cancel them to clear the print queue.

Step 4: Set the Printer Online

While in the "See what's printing" window, click on the "Printer" menu in the top-left corner. If "Use Printer Offline" is checked, uncheck it. This action should set your Brother printer back to online status.

Step 5: Restart Print Spooler Service

Press "Windows + R" to open the Run dialog, then type "services.msc" and press Enter. In the Services window, locate "Print Spooler," right-click on it, and select "Restart." This will restart the print spooler service, which can sometimes resolve offline printer issues.

Step 6: Update or Reinstall Drivers

Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause offline problems. Visit the official Brother website, locate the drivers for your printer model and Windows 10, and download the latest version. Install the drivers following the provided instructions. If the issue persists, consider uninstalling the drivers and reinstalling them.

Step 7: Check WiFi Connection (Wireless Printers)

If you're using a wireless Brother printer, ensure it's connected to the correct WiFi network. Use the printer's control panel to verify and update the WiFi settings if needed.

Step 8: Disable SNMP

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) can sometimes cause issues with printer communication. To disable it, open the "Devices and Printers" window, right-click on your Brother printer, select "Printer Properties," go to the "Ports" tab, find the port your printer is using, click "Configure Port," and uncheck the "SNMP Status Enabled" option.

Step 9: Windows Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has built-in troubleshooting tools. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Run the "Printer" troubleshooter to automatically diagnose and fix common printer-related issues.

Step 10: Contact Brother Support

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it's time to reach out to Brother's customer support. They can provide advanced troubleshooting tailored to your specific printer model and Windows 10 setup.

Conclusion:

Dealing with a brother printer wifi setup showing as offline on Windows 10 can be frustrating, but with this step-by-step guide, you have the tools to tackle the issue head-on. By systematically following these steps, you can troubleshoot the problem and restore your Brother printer to its online state, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted printing.