👉 For Install: Click Here
Brother printers require the correct driver to communicate properly with a Windows PC or Mac. A printer driver allows the computer to recognize the Brother printer and send printing instructions to it. If the driver is missing, outdated, corrupted, or incompatible with the operating system, the printer may not print, may appear offline, or may not be detected correctly.
Installing a Brother Printer Driver is generally straightforward when you use the driver designed for your exact printer model and operating system. Brother provides a Full Driver & Software Package for many supported printers, along with separate printer and scanner drivers for some models.
Prepare Your Brother Printer Before Installation
Before installing the driver, turn on the Brother printer and make sure there are no error messages on its display. If the printer shows a paper jam, empty cartridge, cover-open message, or another hardware error, resolve that issue first.
Also make sure your computer is connected to the internet if you are downloading the driver from Brother's website. For a wireless installation, connect the printer to the same wireless network that you intend to use with the computer.
If you are installing through USB, keep a suitable USB printer cable available. Brother's installation instructions for supported models may ask you to connect the USB cable at a particular point during installation rather than immediately.
Find the Correct Brother Printer Model
The first important step is identifying the exact Brother printer model. Look at the front or top of the printer, the product label, or the information shown on the printer's display.
The model name is important because Brother provides different drivers for different printer families. Installing a driver intended for another model can prevent the printer from working correctly.
After identifying the model, select the appropriate operating system and download the driver package designed for that system.
Download the Brother Printer Driver
Open Brother's official support and Downloads section and search for your printer model. Look for the latest compatible driver or Full Driver & Software Package.
For Windows computers, Brother recommends the Full Driver & Software Package for supported models because it provides the necessary printer software and drivers in one installation package.
Save the downloaded installer to an easy-to-find location such as your Downloads folder. Do not install a driver from an unknown website simply because it appears in a search result. Using the correct manufacturer-provided package helps reduce compatibility and security problems.
How to Install Brother Printer Driver on Windows
After downloading the Brother driver package, open the downloaded installation file. If the package is compressed, extract it first and then open the extracted installation folder.
Locate the setup or installation program and open it. The Brother installation wizard will guide you through the required steps.
Read the license information and accept the terms when required. Continue through the installation screens until you reach the connection method selection.
Brother's official Windows installation guidance recommends making sure the printer is powered on, the computer is ready, and any existing interface cable is disconnected when the installer specifically requires this. Follow the connection instructions shown by the installation program for your model.
Choose the Printer Connection Method
During installation, you may be asked how the Brother printer will connect to your computer.
For a USB connection, choose the USB or Local Connection option when it is presented. Connect the printer to the computer according to the installer instructions.
For a wireless printer, select the wireless or network connection option. The installer may search for available Brother printers on your network. Make sure the printer is connected to the correct wireless network.
For a wired network printer, select the network connection option and follow the instructions provided by the Brother installer.
The available options can differ according to the printer model, so use the connection choices shown for your particular device.
Connect the Brother Printer Through USB
If you want to use a USB connection, follow the installation program carefully regarding when to connect the cable.
Some Brother installation procedures instruct users to connect the USB cable only after the installer reaches the appropriate connection screen. Brother also recommends connecting the printer directly to the computer rather than through a USB hub when installing supported models.
After connecting the cable, Windows should detect the printer and allow the Brother installer to continue.
If Windows does not recognize the printer, check the USB cable, try another USB port, restart the printer, and run the installation again.
Install Brother Printer Driver Over Wi-Fi
Wireless installation is useful when you do not want to keep the printer physically connected to your computer.
Before starting, make sure the Brother printer has already been connected to your wireless network. Your computer should also be connected to the same network.
Start the Brother installation program and select the wireless or network connection method. The installer should search for compatible Brother printers on the network.
Select your printer when it appears and continue through the installation screens.
If the printer cannot be found, check the Wi-Fi connection, restart the printer and router, and verify that the computer is connected to the intended network.
Complete the Windows Installation
Once the installer has detected the printer, continue through the remaining screens. Depending on your model, the installer may install additional Brother utilities and software.
Allow the installation to finish completely. If Windows displays a security prompt related to Brother software, carefully review the publisher information before allowing the installation.
Brother's official installation guidance states that if the installer asks you to restart during the process, you should generally continue the installation until it is finished and then restart the computer when the installation has completed.
Add the Brother Printer in Windows
After the driver installation finishes, open your computer's printer settings and check whether the Brother printer appears.
If it is listed, select it and make it the default printer if you want Windows to use it automatically for normal printing.
If the printer does not appear, restart both the computer and printer and check the connection again. For network installations, confirm that the printer and computer are communicating through the same network.
Windows may also have a built-in driver for certain Brother models. However, built-in drivers may provide only basic functionality, so the Brother-provided package can be preferable when you need the printer's full features.
How to Install Brother Printer Driver on Mac
Mac users should also download the driver or software package that matches the exact Brother printer model.
For supported Brother models, download the appropriate Mac driver or Full Software Package from Brother's Downloads section. Depending on the package, the downloaded file may be a DMG or PKG installer.
Open the downloaded installer and follow the instructions displayed on the screen. You may need to enter your Mac administrator credentials to authorize the software installation.
After the installation has finished, open System Settings and go to Printers & Scanners. Select the option to add a printer and choose your Brother printer.
For supported models, Brother provides model-specific instructions for selecting the appropriate driver during the printer-add process.
Check the Brother Printer After Installation
Once the driver has been installed, print a test document.
Check whether the printer produces the document correctly, whether the correct paper size is selected, and whether color printing works as expected if you have a color model.
If the printer includes scanning functionality, test scanning as well. A Full Driver & Software Package may provide additional functionality beyond basic printing, depending on your model.
Testing the printer immediately after installation makes it easier to determine whether the driver and connection were configured correctly.
What to Do If Brother Printer Driver Installation Fails
If the installation stops or produces an error, start by checking whether an older Brother driver or software package is already installed.
An incomplete previous installation can interfere with a new driver installation. Brother recommends uninstalling existing Brother Drivers and Software before installing the latest package when updating a driver.
After uninstalling the old software, restart the computer and download the appropriate current package again.
Also verify that you selected the correct printer model and operating system. A driver designed for another Brother model may not install correctly or may not provide the required functionality.
Check the USB Connection
If you are installing through USB and the printer is not detected, inspect the USB cable and connections.
Connect the printer directly to the computer instead of using a USB hub. Brother notes that USB hubs can sometimes cause recognition problems with built-in driver installations.
You can also disconnect and reconnect the cable, restart the printer, and try another available USB port.
Check the Wireless Connection
For wireless installation problems, verify that the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
Restarting the printer and router can resolve temporary network communication problems. Also make sure the computer is connected to the same network when the installer searches for the printer.
If the printer previously worked over Wi-Fi but disappeared after changing the router or network settings, you may need to configure the printer's wireless connection again before reinstalling the driver.
Keep the Brother Driver Updated
Installing the driver is not necessarily the final step. Brother regularly improves printer software and recommends keeping drivers and firmware up to date.
If you experience printing problems after an operating-system update or notice that certain printer features no longer work, check Brother's Downloads section for a newer compatible driver.
When updating, use the package intended for your exact printer model and operating system.
Final Thoughts
Installing a Brother Printer Driver allows your computer and printer to communicate correctly and gives you access to the printing features supported by your model. Start by identifying the exact Brother printer model and downloading the appropriate driver from Brother's official Downloads section.
Windows users can generally install the Full Driver & Software Package and then select USB, wireless, or network connectivity during the setup process. Mac users can download the compatible driver or software package and add the printer through Printers & Scanners after installation.
If the installation does not work, check the printer connection, remove conflicting older Brother software when appropriate, verify the selected model and operating system, and restart the printer and computer. Keeping the Brother driver updated can also help maintain compatibility and reliable printer performance.