Brother Printer Won't Scan? Update Guide 2026

Is your Brother printer won't scan issue preventing you from scanning important documents or photos? Brother multifunction printers are designed to handle printing, copying, and scanning efficiently. However, scanner problems may occur because of outdated drivers, incorrect scanner settings, network connectivity issues, or software errors.

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Whether your Brother printer is not scanning to computer on Windows 10, Windows 11, or Mac, this guide explains the common causes and provides 10 practical troubleshooting solutions.

Why Is My Brother Printer Not Scanning?

Several factors can prevent your Brother printer from scanning documents correctly.

Common causes include:

• Outdated or corrupted scanner drivers.

• Incorrect scanning software settings.

• USB or Wi-Fi connectivity problems.

• Scanner not detected by the computer.

• Firewall or security restrictions.

• Incorrect scan destination settings.

• Temporary printer software errors.

• Problems with Brother scanning applications.

10 Fixes for Brother Printer Won't Scan

1. Restart Your Brother Printer and Computer

Temporary software problems may interrupt scanner communication.

Turn off your Brother printer and restart your computer. Wait approximately 30 seconds before turning the printer back on.

Once both devices are ready, open your scanning application and try scanning a document.

2. Check the USB or Wi-Fi Connection

A disconnected USB cable or unstable wireless connection can prevent your Brother scanner from working.

For USB connections, check the cable and try another USB port.

For wireless connections, verify that the printer and computer can communicate over the same local network.

3. Update Brother Scanner Drivers

Outdated or incompatible scanner drivers may cause scanning failures.

Visit Brother's official support website and search for your printer model.

Download the recommended scanner driver or software package for your operating system.

Install the software and restart your computer if required.

4. Check Brother Scanning Software

Brother printers may use Brother iPrint&Scan or other compatible scanning applications.

Open the scanning software and verify that the correct Brother device is selected.

Check the scan settings, destination folder, and document format before starting a new scan.

5. Set the Correct Scanner Device

Your computer may attempt to scan using an incorrect or previously installed scanner.

Open your scanning application and review the available devices.

Select your Brother printer as the active scanner.

Try scanning a test document to confirm that the correct device is configured.

6. Restart Windows Image Acquisition Service

Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) helps compatible scanning applications communicate with scanners.

To check the service:

1. Press Windows + R.

2. Type services.msc.

3. Press Enter.

4. Locate Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).

5. Right-click and select Restart if available.

After restarting the service, test the scanner again.

7. Check Firewall and Security Settings

Firewall restrictions may interfere with network scanning.

Verify that your computer allows communication with trusted Brother scanning software.

Check whether a VPN or guest network is preventing local device communication.

Avoid permanently disabling your firewall.

8. Check Scan-to-PC Settings

If your Brother printer scans from the computer but not from its control panel, the scan destination may be incorrectly configured.

Open the Brother scanning software and review the Scan-to-PC settings.

Ensure that the correct computer and destination folder are selected.

9. Reinstall Brother Scanning Software

Corrupted scanning software may prevent the scanner from responding.

Remove the existing Brother scanning application and restart your computer.

Download the compatible software from Brother's official support website.

Complete the installation and test the scanner.

10. Check for Hardware Problems

If the scanner still does not work, inspect the scanner glass, automatic document feeder, and printer display.

Remove any paper obstructions and check for error messages.

If the device reports a hardware failure, consult Brother's official support resources or an authorized service center.

Brother Printer Won't Scan on Windows 11 or Mac

Windows 11: Open Settings, select Bluetooth & devices, and check whether your Brother multifunction printer is installed. Try scanning using Brother iPrint&Scan or a compatible Windows scanning application.

Mac: Open System Settings and select Printers & Scanners. Choose your Brother printer and check whether scanning is available. You can also try Image Capture or compatible Brother scanning software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Brother printer printing but not scanning?

Printing and scanning use different software components. Outdated scanner drivers, incorrect settings, or scanning application problems may prevent scanning even when printing works.

How do I fix Brother printer not scanning to computer?

Check the USB or Wi-Fi connection, update scanner drivers, select the correct device, and verify scanning software settings.

Why is my Brother scanner not detected?

Your scanner may not be detected because of network communication problems, missing drivers, firewall restrictions, or incorrect device settings.

Can I scan without Brother scanning software?

Some Brother printers support scanning through built-in Windows or macOS applications. Compatibility depends on your printer model and operating system.

Conclusion

If your Brother printer won't scan, begin by restarting your devices, checking the connection, updating scanner drivers, and verifying scanning software settings.

These 10 troubleshooting solutions can resolve many common Brother printer scanning problems on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Mac.

Need Additional Assistance?

If you’ve tried the troubleshooting steps above and still need help (Dial +1-803-866-1601 USA), our independent technical support team can assist with printer troubleshooting. We are not affiliated with or authorized by Brother or any other printer manufacturer.