A Brother printer going offline on an iMac can be frustrating, especially when you need to print important documents. This issue can occur due to connectivity problems, outdated drivers, or incorrect printer settings. Fortunately, there are several solutions to resolve this problem and get your Brother printer back online.
Understanding Why the Brother Printer is Offline on iMac
Before troubleshooting, it's essential to understand why your Brother printer appears offline on your iMac. Here are some common reasons:
Network Connectivity Issues: A weak or disconnected Wi-Fi signal can cause the printer to go offline.
Printer Not Set as Default: If your iMac is not configured to use the Brother printer as the default device, it may not recognize it properly.
Outdated or Corrupt Drivers: The printer drivers installed on your Mac may be outdated or corrupt, causing communication issues.
Printer in Sleep Mode: The printer might be in sleep mode or turned off.
Incorrect Printer Settings: Sometimes, the printer is set to offline mode in macOS settings.
How to Resolve the iMac Brother Printer Offline Issue
1. Check Printer and Connection Status
Ensure your Brother printer is powered on and not in sleep mode.
Restart both your printer and iMac to refresh connections.
Check if the printer display shows any error messages.
2. Verify Printer Connectivity
If using a USB connection, unplug and reconnect the cable securely.
For wireless connections, ensure that your printer and iMac are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Restart your Wi-Fi router to refresh the network.
Try printing a network configuration report from the printer’s control panel to verify the connection status.
3. Set Brother Printer as Default
Open System Preferences on your iMac.
Go to Printers & Scanners.
Select your Brother printer from the list.
Click Set as Default if it isn’t already.
4. Remove and Re-add the Printer
Open Printers & Scanners from System Preferences.
Select the Brother printer and click the minus (-) button to remove it.
Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax and choose your Brother printer from the available devices.
Click Add to reconfigure the printer.
5. Reset Printing System
Open Printers & Scanners from System Preferences.
Right-click in the printer list area and select Reset Printing System.
Verify the action and watch for the procedure to finish.
Re-add your Brother printer as mentioned above.
6. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
Visit the official Brother website and download the latest drivers for your printer model.
Open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and remove the existing printer.
Install the new driver and re-add the printer.
Restart your iMac and check if the issue is resolved.
7. Check Printer Status on iMac
Open Printers & Scanners.
Click Open Print Queue after selecting your Brother printer.
Make sure the printer is not configured to Use Printer Offline or Pause Printing.
If any documents are stuck in the print queue, clear them and try printing again.
8. Ensure macOS is Updated
Open System Preferences and go to Software Update.
Check for available macOS updates and install them.
Restart your iMac after updating and try reconnecting the printer.
9. Use the Brother iPrint&Scan Utility
From the Brother website, download and install Brother iPrint&Scan.
Open the application and follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and fix printer issues.
10. Restart Printer and iMac in Safe Mode
Restart your iMac in Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key while booting.
Remove and re-add the printer in Safe Mode.
Restart your iMac normally and check if the printer works correctly.
FAQs
Why does my Brother printer keep going offline on my iMac?
This can be due to network issues, outdated drivers, or incorrect printer settings. Restarting devices, updating software, and checking connections can help resolve the problem.
How do I reconnect my Brother printer to Wi-Fi?
Use the printer’s control panel to navigate to the network settings, select Wi-Fi Setup, and enter your network credentials.
What should I do if my Brother printer does not appear in the list of printers on my iMac?
Try removing and re-adding the printer, ensuring it's connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and updating printer drivers.
Can resetting the printing system fix the offline issue?
Yes, resetting the printing system removes all printers and settings, allowing you to start fresh and eliminate potential software conflicts.
Why is my Brother printer offline even though it is connected via USB?
Check if the USB cable is securely connected, try using a different port, and reinstall printer drivers to fix communication issues.
Conclusion
Fixing a Brother printer that appears offline on an iMac involves checking the printer's connection, updating drivers, and ensuring proper settings. You can properly troubleshoot and fix the problem by following the instructions in this article. Keeping your macOS and printer firmware updated can also prevent future connectivity problems. If the problem persists, contacting Brother support for further assistance may be necessary.
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