# Brother Printer Won’t Scan: Easy Ways to Get Your Scanner Working Again


A **Brother printer won't scan [phone]**, copying, and scanning smoothly, but sometimes the scanning feature suddenly stops working. You click the scan button, yet nothing happens. In some cases, the computer cannot detect the scanner, while other times the scanner works but refuses to save files. This problem is common on both Windows and Mac devices and usually happens because of software glitches, network interruptions, or incorrect settings.

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The good news is that you do not always need technical support to solve the issue. Most Brother scanner problems can be fixed in a few simple steps.

Why Your Brother Printer Is Not Scanning

Scanning problems can appear for different reasons. Some issues are small, while others require deeper troubleshooting.

Weak or Lost Connection

If the printer loses connection with the computer or WiFi network, scanning stops immediately. Wireless scanners especially depend on a stable network.

Scanner Driver Problems

The scanner driver acts like a translator between the computer and printer. If the driver becomes outdated or damaged, scanning commands fail.

Incorrect Scan Settings

Sometimes the wrong scanner is selected on the computer. Your system may try to use another scanner or virtual device instead of the Brother printer.

Security Software Blocking the Scanner

Firewalls and antivirus programs occasionally block scanner communication because they treat the connection as suspicious activity.

Printer Firmware Issues

Older firmware may create compatibility problems with updated operating systems.

Busy Print Queue

A frozen print or scan job can prevent new tasks from starting.

Start With a Simple Restart

Before trying advanced fixes, restart everything:

Turn off the Brother printer.
Shut down the computer.
Restart the WiFi router if you use wireless scanning.
Wait one minute and power everything back on.

This refreshes the network connection and clears temporary glitches that may block the scanner.

Check the Scanner Connection
For USB Users

If you use a USB cable:

Disconnect the cable.
Reconnect it firmly.
Try another USB port.
Avoid using damaged or very long cables.

A loose cable is one of the most common causes of scanner failure.

For Wireless Users

If your Brother printer connects through WiFi:

Make sure the printer and computer use the same network.
Check the WiFi signal strength on the printer display.
Move the printer closer to the router if needed.

Wireless scanning becomes unstable when the signal is weak.

Make Sure the Scanner Is Detected

Your computer must recognize the scanner before scanning can work.

On Windows
Open Control Panel.
Click Devices and Printers.
Check if the Brother scanner appears in the device list.
On Mac
Open System Settings.
Go to Printers & Scanners.
Confirm the Brother device is available.

If the scanner does not appear, reinstalling the driver may help.

Update the Brother Scanner Driver

Old drivers often create communication errors after system updates.

Visit the official Brother Support Website and download the latest scanner driver for your printer model.

After Downloading:
Remove the old driver.
Restart the computer.
Install the updated driver.
Reconnect the printer.

Updated drivers improve compatibility and fix bugs that stop scanning.

Use Brother iPrint&Scan

Brother iPrint&Scan is a helpful application that allows scanning directly from your computer or mobile device.

Features include:

Wireless document scanning
PDF saving
Image scanning
Mobile scanning support

If normal scanning methods fail, this app can often restore scanning functionality.

Check Windows Scanner Services

Windows uses background services to manage scanners. If these services stop, scanning may fail completely.

Restart Windows Image Acquisition Service
Press Windows + R.
Type services.msc.
Find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
Right-click and select Restart.

This service controls communication between Windows and scanning devices.

Disable Firewall Temporarily

Sometimes antivirus software blocks the scanner connection.

Temporarily disable:

Windows Firewall
Antivirus protection
Third-party security software

After disabling, test the scanner again. If scanning works, add the Brother printer to the software’s allowed devices list.

Clear Old Scan Jobs

A stuck scan task may block new documents.

To clear scan jobs:
Open the scanner software.
Cancel all pending tasks.
Restart the printer and computer.

This refreshes the scanning system.

Check Printer Firmware Updates

Firmware updates improve performance and fix software bugs.

You can download firmware tools from the official Brother Official Website.

Updating firmware may solve:

Network scanning failures
Slow scanning
Scanner detection errors
Wireless communication problems
Test the Scanner Properly

Place a document on the scanner glass and try scanning using:

Windows Scan
Brother iPrint&Scan
Built-in Mac scanning tools

If scanning works from one app but not another, the issue is likely software-related rather than hardware-related.

When to Reset the Brother Printer

If nothing works, resetting the printer may help.

Basic Reset Steps
Turn off the printer.
Disconnect the power cable.
Wait 60 seconds.
Reconnect and restart the printer.

Some models also allow factory reset options through the settings menu.

Tips to Avoid Future Scanning Problems

To keep your Brother scanner working smoothly:

Keep drivers updated regularly.
Use a stable WiFi network.
Restart the printer occasionally.
Avoid installing too many printer utilities.
Keep the scanner glass clean.
Update your computer operating system carefully.

Regular maintenance helps prevent unexpected scanner failures.

Conclusion

A **Brother printer won't scan [phone]** can interrupt work and create frustration, especially when important documents are involved. In most cases, the problem comes from connection issues, outdated drivers, blocked services, or incorrect settings. By checking the connection, updating drivers, restarting services, and using the proper scanning software, you can usually solve the problem quickly. Keeping the printer updated and connected to a reliable network will also help ensure smooth scanning performance in the future.