HL-5350DN

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

The printer status is Offline or Paused.

Follow the steps below to resolve this issue:

 

STEP A: Verify the Brother machine is powered on and there are no errors

  1. If your Brother machine's screen (hereinafter called LCD) is blank, the machine may not be powered on. Check the machine to see if it wakes from sleep mode.
    If it does not, then make sure it is plugged into a working socket and any power switches are turned ON.

    NOTE: If you are unable to power on the machine, this solution does not apply. Troubleshoot this hardware issue.
     
  2. Check the LCD for any error messages. An example would be "Paper Jam" or "Ink/Toner Empty". If the LCD shows an error, troubleshoot the error to clear the issue indicated.

 

STEP B: Make sure the printer is connected to the computer

  • If using a USB cable, make sure the cable is connected to both the printer and computer.
    Try connecting it directly to the computer and not via a hub.
  • If using an ethernet cable, make sure the cable is connected to both the printer and the hub/switch/router.
    Print the network configuration page to check the IP address.
  • If using a wireless connection, print the network configuration page to check the IP address.

If the issue continues, go to STEP C.

 

 

STEP C: Check the following points applicable for your operating system

STEP C (Windows): Make sure your Brother machine is set as the default printer

Open the printers folder and make sure there is a check mark on your Brother machine's icon:

 

(Windows 11 or later)

Make sure your Brother machine is selected to print in your application.

 

(Windows 8, Windows 10)

  1. Open the Control Panel. (Click here to see how to open the Control Panel.)
  2. Click Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.

    Devices and Printers

(Windows 7)

Click Start > Devices and Printers.

 

If the check mark is not on your Brother machine, right-click the icon for your Brother machine and select Set as default printer.

 

Set as default printer

 

STEP D (Windows): Delete all print jobs

(Windows 11 or later)

  1. Click Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
  2. Select your Brother machine, and then click Open print queue.
  3. Click menu > Cancel all.
    Click menu > Cancel all

 

(Windows 10 or earlier)

Right-click the icon for your Brother machine > See what's printing > Printer > Cancel All Documents.

 

Cancel All Documents

If Cancel All Documents is greyed out like below, click Open As Administrator. Enter the password for an administrator and click Yes.

Open As Administrator

 

STEP E (Windows): Check the printer status in the Devices and Printers window

This step is available until Windows 10.
If you use Windows 11 or later, go to STEP F.


If the printer status is Offline

Offline

 

(Windows 10 or earlier)

Right-click the icon for your Brother machine > See what's printing > Printer > Use Printer Offline (remove the checkmark).

If Use Printer Offline is greyed out, click Open As Administrator. Enter your administrator password, and then click Yes.

If the printer status is Paused

Paused

 

(Windows 10 or earlier)

Right-click the icon for your Brother machine > See what's printing > Printer > Pause Printing (remove the checkmark).

If Pause Printing is greyed out, click Open As Administrator. Enter the password for an administrator and click Yes.


STEP F (Windows): If a copy of your Brother machine's icon (For example: Brother [model name] (Copy 1)) is listed in the printer list

A copy of your printer with the same printer name may be created if you:

  • Connected the Brother machine to a different USB port on your computer.
  • Installed the same printer driver multiple times.

This may lead to some copies of your printer driver not working correctly. To print, select a printer driver that you know is working.

 

To check which printer driver is working, do the following:

(Windows 11)

Printer Copy

 

  1. Turn the Brother machine on. If any other machines are connected, only turn the Brother machine on that you want to use.
  2. Click Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
  3. Select your Brother machine.
  4. Check the Brother machine's status.
    If the status is Idle, it means the printer driver is working correctly. Select this printer driver when printing.
    Make sure the Brother machine status

    (Optional) To change the printer name, do the following:

    1. Click Printer properties.
    2. Change the printer name in the Printer Properties window, and click OK.

 

(Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10)

Driver Copy

 

  1. Turn the Brother machine on. If any other machines are connected, only turn the Brother machine on that you want to use.
  2. Open the printers folder:
    (Windows 8, Windows 10)
    Open the Control Panel. (Click here to see how to open the Control Panel.)
    Click Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.

    (Windows 7)
    Click Start > Devices and Printers.
  3. Hover the cursor over the printer icon until the printer status pop-up appears.

    Hover the cursor over the printer icon

    If the status is Offline, the printer driver is not working. Select a printer driver where the status is not Offline.

    (Optional) To change the printer name, do the following:

    (Windows 7 or later)

    1. Right-click the printer icon.
    2. Click Printer Properties.
    3. Change the printer name in the Printer Properties window, and click OK.
  4. If you always want to print using this printer, right-click the icon of the machine and select Set as default printer. The check mark will appear on the machine's icon and when you next print, this printer driver will be selected automatically.

    Defalt Printer

 

STEP G (Windows): If the issue still continues...

Check the solution applicable for your case:

 (For USB connection)
> Click here to see how to resolve the issue of being unable to print using my Brother machine on a USB connection.

 

(For network connection)
> Click here to see how to resolve the issue of being unable to print using my Brother machine on a network connection.

 

 

 

STEP C (macOS): Make sure you are using the correct Printer Driver for the Brother machine.

This step is available until macOS 10.15.
If you use macOS 11 or later, go to STEP D.

  1. Select Apple Menu > System Preferences > Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners.
  2. Select your Brother machine in the Printers section.
  3. Verify which printer driver is used. This can be found next to Kind.

    AirPrint

    If the AirPrint printer driver is selected, add the CUPS printer driver to your Mac as described below.

    If you find CUPS printer driver, the CUPS printer driver is installed correctly.

    1. Select Quit System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
    2. > Go to STEP D.
    1. Select Apple Menu > System Preferences > Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners.
    2. Click the + button.

      Plus
  4. Click the Default icon which is located at the top of the dialogue box.
  5. Select your machine from the Name list.
  6. Make sure that "[model name] + CUPS" is selected in the Use list.

    CUPS

    If you cannot find "[model name] + CUPS", the CUPS printer driver is not installed.
    Download the latest Full Software Package and install it. The installation instructions are available on the download page.
    > Click here to download the Full Software Package in the Downloads section.

     

    If the Full Software Package is not available for your model, select the CUPS Printer Driver or Printer Driver.

  7. Click Add.

    Add
     
  8. The printer is now available in the Printers section.
  9. Select Quit System Preferences from the Apple Menu.

 

STEP D (macOS): If the issue still continues...

Check the solution applicable for your case:

 (For USB connection)
> Click here to see how to resolve the issue of being unable to print using my Brother machine on a USB connection.

 

(For network connection)
> Click here to see how to resolve the issue of being unable to print using my Brother machine on a network connection.

If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

Have you checked the manuals?

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

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