So, your Brother scanner isn’t working. You’ve tried everything — unplugging, smacking it gently (we’ve all done it), even talking to it nicely. Still nothing? Don’t worry. We’ve got your back. Let’s fix it together with a few simple steps that even your grandma could follow!
Why Your Brother Scanner Might Not Be Working
Before we jump into the fix-it factory, let’s explore a few reasons your scanner might be having a bad day:
- Windows doesn’t detect the scanner?
- Drivers are missing or outdated?
- Scanner services are turned off?
- Network connection issues?
- Just some classic software glitches?
No worries. We’ll squash each bug one at a time.
Step 1: Check That Your Scanner Is Turned On!
We know this sounds silly. But you’d be surprised!
- Make sure the scanner is plugged in.
- See if the power light is on.
- Check that there’s no scary error message on the scanner display.
If it’s already on and looks happy, let’s move on.
Step 2: Check the Physical and Network Connection
Whether USB or Wi-Fi, getting this bit right is crucial.
For USB Connection:
- Use a different USB port.
- Try a new cable if you have one lying around.
- Plug it directly into your PC — skip the USB hub.
For Wireless Connection:
- Make sure your scanner and PC are on the same network.
- Print a network configuration report from your scanner. It’ll show the IP address.
- Can you ping the scanner’s IP from your computer? If not, it’s a network issue.
Step 3: Restart Everything
Seriously, a reboot goes a long way.
- Turn off your scanner.
- Restart your computer.
- After it boots up, turn the scanner back on.
Test again. Sometimes Windows just needs a friendly nudge to remember your devices.
Step 4: Run the Built-In Windows Scanner Troubleshooter
Windows has a helpful little tool for this kind of drama.
- Click the Start menu and search for “Troubleshoot Settings”.
- Choose “Printer” or “Scanner” — it depends on your version.
- Run the troubleshooter and follow the steps.
If Windows finds something wrong, it may fix it for you automatically. (Thanks, Windows!)
Step 5: Update or Reinstall Brother Scanner Drivers
Outdated drivers are grumpy drivers.
- Go to Brother’s official support site.
- Search for your scanner model.
- Download the latest Windows driver.
- Install it. Restart your computer after.
Or you can do it Windows-style:
- Right-click on This PC or My Computer.
- Choose Manage > Device Manager.
- Locate your scanner, right-click, and choose Update Driver.
Step 6: Check That Scanner Services Are Running
Your scanner needs some services behind the scenes to stay happy. Let’s make sure they’re running.
- Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
- Look for a service called Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
- Double-click it and see if it’s running. If not, click Start.
- Set the Startup type to Automatic.
Repeat this for these services:
- Shell Hardware Detection
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
- DCE RPC Locator
If these are off, your scanner might as well be a toaster.
Step 7: Test Scanner in Windows Fax and Scan
This old but gold Windows tool sometimes works when others don’t.
- Open the Start menu and type Windows Fax and Scan.
- Click on “New Scan”.
- Select your Brother scanner and try a test scan.
If it works here, the scanner is basically fine. The problem may be with a specific app you were using.
Step 8: Try the Brother iPrint&Scan Software
If nothing else is working, Brother’s own app might save the day.
- Download iPrint&Scan from Brother’s support website.
- Install it and launch the program.
- It auto-detects your scanner and gives you a snazzy modern interface to play with.
It often bypasses annoying Windows problems and gets the job done.
Step 9: Firewall or Antivirus Blocking the Scan?
These digital bodyguards sometimes overreact.
- Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall (don’t forget to turn them back on!).
- Try scanning again.
- If it works, you’ll need to add an exception for your Brother scanner software.
This is especially common with network-connected scanners.
Bonus: Uninstall & Reinstall Everything (Last Resort)
If all else fails, it’s time for a fresh start.
- Unplug the scanner from your PC.
- Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Remove everything Brother-related.
- Restart your computer.
- Reinstall the driver and software from Brother’s website.
- Plug the scanner back in or connect to Wi-Fi again.
Celebrate: Scanner Is Back!
Did it work? We sure hope so. Fixing scanners can be a pain, but once it’s working again, it’s like finding socks fresh out of the dryer — that warm, fuzzy feeling!
Now you’re back to business… or back to scanning cat photos. We’re not here to judge.
Quick Recap:
- Power and connection check
- Restart devices
- Use the troubleshooter
- Update or reinstall drivers
- Check Windows services
- Try different scanning programs
- Watch out for firewalls
If your Brother scanner ever acts up again, just come back and run through this checklist. You’ve got scanner-fixing superpowers now!