I have been using a Brother printer for the last 3 years, and the overall experience has been great. Besides, the most common error I have encountered so far is the offline issue. I can’t tell you how many hours I have wasted in order to fix this offline error. Since I was using my Brother printer with a Mac, I decided to replace it with my Windows computer. Still, the problem remained the same! Then, I decided to research how to change my Brother printer from offline to online for Mac.
Luckily, my long research was fruitful, and this way, I learned how to get Brother printer back online. Now, I am going to make it easy for you so that you can bring your Brother printer back online. In this blog, I have explained 3 troubleshooting methods for Mac users only. Make sure you perform each step correctly. Let’s start!
Troubleshoot 1: Verify the Connection Between Brother Printer and Mac
Whenever my Brother printer is offline, the first thing I confirm is whether my printer is connected to a Mac or not. If not, then it might be a reason for an offline error. Here, I have given the instructions to confirm the proper connection between your Brother printer and Mac:
- For a USB connection, ensure you have attached the cable to the printer and computer’s port.
- If you have connected the devices via an Ethernet cable, check the connection between your printer and router. Also, print out the network configuration page to check the IP address.
- In the case of a wireless network connection, you need to see the IP address using a network configuration page.
Troubleshoot 2: Ensure You Have Set the Brother Printer as Default
Not setting the Brother printer as the default on your Mac can potentially cause an offline issue. In simpler terms, your computer assigns the printing task to only those printers that you have set as default. Hence, it is essential if you want to know how to change my Brother printer from offline to online.
Here’s how you can set the Brother printer as default on a Mac computer:
- First of all, go to the Apple menu and choose System Preferences.
[Alt Text: Choose System Preferences on a Mac computer]
- Afterward, select the Printers & Scanners option.
[Alt Text: Click on the Printers & Scanners on a Mac computer.]
- Then, you need to click on the pop-up menu: Default Printer.
[Alt Text: Click on the Default Printer pop-up box.]
- Here, you have to select your Brother printer. Thus, your Mac will always use this selected default Brother printer to assign the print jobs.
Troubleshoot 3: Update the Brother Printer Driver
Another reason why is my Brother printer showing offline is an outdated or corrupted printer driver. Therefore, you need to use the latest printer driver. For this, you will have to update the driver on a regular basis whenever a new update is available. I have solved many printer-related issues by simply updating the printer driver. Now, I would recommend you do the same.
- First, you need to visit the Brother’s official website to download the driver.
- After that, find your Brother printer’s name and then select it when found.
- Once you have selected the model, you will be asked to select the Operating System for Mac, including the Version you are currently using.
- Afterward, you will get the full driver package.
- Then, download the driver by simply clicking on it and then go along with the on-screen instructions.
- After that, you have to install the driver on a Mac device.
- Now, restart the Mac and check whether the offline issue persists.
Final Thoughts
In short, the blog explores how to change my Brother printer from offline to online. The offline issue in printers is common these days, and it can occur to any device, including Windows and Mac. Whenever you encounter this offline error, the first thing you need to do is check your wired and wireless connections. If everything is ok, then try reinstalling or updating the printer driver. Also, you must update your Brother printer on a regular basis so that you can reduce the risk of getting such an error again.
FAQs
Question 1: How to change my Brother printer from offline to online?
Answer: There are different methods you can try to change the Brother printer from offline to online. However, I would suggest you try the methods provided below, as I have personally tried them all:
● Use the latest driver for your printer driver.
● Reset your Mac printing device.
● Use your Brother printer as default.
● Uninstall and reinstall the Brother printer driver.
● Delete all the print jobs on your Mac.
Question 2: Why is my Brother printer showing offline on MacBook Air?
Answer: Through my personal experience, I have observed outdated printer drivers and network issues are the main reasons for this offline issue. So when I see my Brother printer is offline, I first check the cables and then update the printer driver. In most cases, it resolves my problem. Otherwise, I check whether I have set my printer as default or not. Besides, I also prefer other methods, such as setting up the Mac printing device and deleting the print jobs.
Question 3: Why is my Brother printer offline when it is connected to Wi-Fi?
Answer: Your Brother printer might show an offline status even when it is connected to a Wi-Fi network due to several reasons. Below are the most common causes and steps to fix the issue:
● Network Issue: Verify if your Wi-Fi is working properly and also ensure that your printer is connected to the right network.
● Printer Connectivity: Check if your printer and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. You can establish the connection again by simply entering the Wi-Fi password on your printer’s control panel.
Read more: support brother printer
brother printer wireless setup
Source: How to Change My Brother Printer From Offline to Online
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