You’ve done everything right. WiFi is working, the Brother printer is powered on, and your computer sees it. But for some reason, the darn thing still shows as “offline.”
Frustrating? Absolutely. Fixable? 100%.
This guide will walk you through every fix that actually works, with no fluff. Whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or just trying to get your printer to talk back—let’s get it sorted.
Why Does the Printer Say It’s Offline When It’s Clearly Connected?
Let’s be real for a second—this happens more than it should.
The most common cause? Your computer and your printer think they’re on the same page, but they’re not. Here’s what might be going on:
- Your computer is pinging the wrong IP address.
- The printer’s software is outdated or misconfigured.
- Windows/macOS marked it offline and left it that way.
- SNMP or port settings are messing things up.
- Network instability or DHCP reassigned a new IP silently.
And yeah, sometimes it’s just one bad setting hiding somewhere.
Start with the Basics—Restart Everything
I know, I know—turn it off and on again? But seriously, this solves more issues than you’d think.
Do this:
- Turn off the Brother printer.
- Restart your WiFi router.
- Restart your computer.
- Then power the printer back on last.
That way, all devices sync up freshly. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of “Who connected to what first.”
Double-Check WiFi Status on the Printer
Even if your printer says it’s connected, don’t trust it blindly.
Some Brother printers will remember a network, but if that network changed or reset (like after a power outage), the connection might be ghosted.
Use the Network Report feature on your printer to confirm:
- IP address
- Connection strength
- SSID
If something looks off—like an IP in the wrong range or no SSID at all—go back and reconnect from scratch.
Need help with setup? Here’s the main WiFi setup guide for Brother printers with step-by-step walkthroughs for all models.
Set the Printer as Default (Yes, This Matters)
It’s a small thing, but your computer might still be sending jobs to an old version of your Brother printer.
On Windows:
- Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
- Find your Brother printer. Right-click and choose “Set as default.”
- Also right-click > “See what’s printing,” and make sure “Use Printer Offline” is not checked.
On Mac:
- Head to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
- Select your Brother printer and click “Set as Default.”
- If it doesn’t show up or looks faded, delete and re-add it.
Reserve a Static IP for the Printer
This one’s a game-changer.
When your router assigns dynamic IPs, your printer might get shuffled to a different one after a reboot. Then the computer can’t find it.
To prevent this:
- Log in to your router settings.
- Find the printer under “Connected Devices.”
- Use its MAC address to reserve a static IP.
Once locked in, your printer stops vanishing.
If you’re curious about why this matters, here’s our deep dive on why Brother printer says offline even when connected. It’s worth checking.
Adjust Printer Port and Disable SNMP (Windows Users)
SNMP can be helpful… or it can wrongly report that your printer is offline when it’s actually not.
Here’s how to tweak this:
- Control Panel > Devices and Printers
- Right-click your Brother printer > Printer Properties
- Go to the Ports tab.
- Look for the one with “Standard TCP/IP Port” selected.
- Click Configure Port
- Uncheck SNMP Status Enabled
- Save changes and close.
You’d be surprised how often this one fix solves the “offline” mystery.
Update or Reinstall Drivers
Old drivers, half-installed drivers, or generic ones from Windows update can cause hiccups.
Do this:
- Visit support.brother.com
- Search your printer model.
- Download the full driver package for your OS.
- Uninstall the current printer from your device.
- Reinstall using the new driver.
This ensures your machine and printer are on the same page—literally.
Bonus: Clear Stuck Print Jobs
Sometimes, a single stalled job will hold up the queue and make your printer seem “offline.”
- On Windows: Devices and Printers > See what’s printing > Cancel all documents
- On Mac: System Settings > Printers & Scanners > Open Print Queue > Clear jobs
FAQs – Brother Printer Online but Shows Offline? Here’s What You Can Do
- Why does my Brother printer stay offline even after reconnecting to WiFi?
It could be using the wrong IP or port, or your OS is still referencing an old printer instance. Re-adding the printer with a correct static IP usually solves this. - How do I force my Brother printer back online on Windows or macOS?
On Windows, right-click the printer and uncheck “Use Printer Offline.” On Mac, try resetting the print system or re-adding the printer. - Is there a way to test printer status without printing a page?
Yes. On most Brother printers, go to Menu > Print Reports > Network Config to print a status page. Or log into your router and see if it lists the printer as connected. - Can outdated DNS settings make a Brother printer appear offline?
Absolutely. If your computer can’t resolve the printer’s name, it won’t connect. Try switching to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) for a quick fix. - Does enabling SNMP affect Brother printer online status?
It can. If SNMP is enabled but not properly supported or detected, Windows may wrongly mark the printer as offline. Disable SNMP in port settings to test. - What printer port settings should I check if my Brother device keeps going offline?
Make sure the port is set to Standard TCP/IP and points to your printer’s correct static IP. Avoid WSD ports—they’re flaky with some Brother models.
Final Thoughts
When your Brother printer insists it’s offline—despite being connected—it’s almost always a simple miscommunication between devices.
A restart, a static IP, a driver refresh, or a quick SNMP tweak often does the trick. Just don’t overthink it.
