How to Fix It Brother Printer Won’t Scan Issue

When your Brother printer won’t scan, it can interrupt important tasks and cause frustration. This issue can arise due to software glitches, incorrect settings, outdated drivers, or connectivity problems between your printer and computer. Fortunately, most of these problems are easy to fix with a few step-by-step checks.

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Common Reasons Why Brother Printer Won’t Scan

1. Connectivity Issues

   If your Brother printer is connected via Wi-Fi or USB and the connection is unstable or broken, scanning will fail. For wireless printers, a weak signal or disconnected network may be the cause.

2. Outdated or Missing Drivers

   Your computer needs the correct drivers to recognize the scanner. Without updated scanner drivers, the scan function won’t work properly.

3. Firewall or Antivirus Blocking Access

   Sometimes, security software may block the scanning function, especially over a network. Firewalls may restrict access between the computer and printer.

4. Incorrect Scanner Settings

   If the Brother printer is not set as the default scanner or the scanning software is misconfigured, the scan job will not proceed.

5. Printer Not in Ready State

   The printer must be in a ready state to initiate a scan. Errors such as paper jams or low ink alerts can sometimes prevent scanning even if unrelated.

6. Control Center Software Not Working

   Brother’s ControlCenter software helps manage scans. If this program crashes or isn't running, the scan command may fail.

How to Fix Brother Printer Not Scanning 1. Check Connections

• USB Connection: Ensure the cable is securely connected to both printer and computer. Try a different USB port.

• Wi-Fi Connection: Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Test the connection by printing a test page.

2. Restart Devices

Power cycle the printer, router (for wireless), and computer. This clears temporary glitches that might interrupt the scan function.

3. Reinstall or Update Drivers

• Visit the site.

• Enter your model number and download the latest Full Driver & Software Package.

• Install the driver and restart your computer.

Ensure you download both printer and scanner drivers if offered separately.

4. Use the Correct Scanning Software

Use Brother's ControlCenter4 (Windows) or iPrint&Scan (macOS and Windows). Make sure the software is:

• Installed correctly.

• Set to detect your Brother device.

Open the software and try initiating the scan from your computer instead of the printer panel.

5. Set Your Brother Printer as Default Scanner

On Windows:

• Go to Control Panel> Devices and Printers.

• Right-click your Brother device> Set as Default Scanner.

On macOS:

• Open System Preferences> Printers & Scanners.

• Select your Brother printer and ensure scanning is enabled.

6. Disable Firewall Temporarily

If the scan works after disabling the firewall or antivirus software, adjust the settings to allow scanning permanently. Make sure to turn the firewall back on after testing.

7. Try Scanning From Another App

On Windows, try using the Windows Fax and Scan tool:

• Go to Start> Search "Windows Fax and Scan."

• Open the app> Click "New Scan."

• Select your Brother printer and test.

On macOS, use Image Capture to perform the scan.

8. Reset Printer Network Settings (For Wi-Fi Printers)

If scanning over Wi-Fi still doesn’t work, reset the printer’s network settings and reconnect it to your network:

• Go to the Network Reset option on the printer’s panel.

• After reset, reconnect to Wi-Fi and retry scanning.

Conclusion

When your Brother printer won’t scan, begin by checking connections and ensuring drivers are up to date. Restart all devices, verify scanner settings, and try different scanning software. If the problem persists, reset the network or reinstall Brother utilities. With these steps, you can restore your scanning function and resume work efficiently.

The Brother printer offline +1-803-866-1601 issue is a common yet easily fixable problem. In most cases, it’s related to connection errors, outdated drivers, or printer settings.