Encountering an error state with your brother printer in error state windows 11 can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to complete an important task. Fortunately, most issues can be resolved with a few troubleshooting steps. This guide will walk you through the process to get your Brother printer back up and running.

Step 1: Verify the Printer’s Physical Connections

Before addressing software-related issues, check the physical aspects of your Brother printer:

1. Check the Power Supply: Ensure the power cord is securely connected to both the printer and a working power outlet. Try a different outlet if needed.
2. USB or Network Cable: If you’re using a USB connection, confirm that the cable is securely plugged into both the printer and your computer. For a networked printer, ensure the Ethernet cable is connected or that the Wi-Fi signal is strong and stable.
3. Restart the Printer: Turn off your Brother printer, wait 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. A simple restart can often clear the error.

Step 2: Look for Specific Error Messages

Your Brother printer may display specific error codes or messages that can guide you in troubleshooting:

1. Check the Printer Display: Look for any error codes or messages on the printer’s screen. Note them down, as they can provide clues to the underlying issue.
2. Clear Any Paper Jams: If the printer indicates a paper jam, carefully remove any jammed paper from the tray or inside the printer. Follow the instructions in your printer's manual to avoid damaging the device.

Step 3: Use the Windows 11 Printer Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically identify and fix common printer issues:

1. Open Settings: Press Windows + I to open the Settings menu.
2. Navigate to Troubleshoot: Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Run the Printer Troubleshooter: Find the "Printer" option and click Run next to it. Follow the on-screen prompts to allow Windows to diagnose and resolve the issue.

Step 4: Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of printers being in an error state on Windows 11:

1. Open Device Manager: Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Find Your Printer: Expand the Printers or Print queues section, right-click your Brother printer, and choose Update driver.
3. Search Automatically for Drivers: Choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows find and install the latest driver. If no new driver is found, visit the to manually download the latest driver.
4. Reinstall the Driver: If updating doesn’t resolve the issue, right-click the printer in Device Manager and select Uninstall device. After uninstalling, restart your computer and reinstall the driver.

Step 5: Check Printer Status in Windows 11

Ensure that your Brother printer is set as the default printer and is not paused or offline:

1. Open Devices and Printers: Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
2. Verify Printer Status: Right-click on your Brother printer and ensure "Set as default printer" is checked. Make sure "Use Printer Offline" and "Pause Printing" are not selected.

Step 6: Clear the Print Queue

A stuck print job can often cause the printer to enter an error state:

1. Access the Print Queue: Right-click your Brother printer in the Devices and Printers window and select See what’s printing.
2. Cancel All Print Jobs: In the print queue window, click on Printer in the menu and select Cancel All Documents.
3. Restart the Print Spooler Service: Open the Services app by typing services.msc in the Windows search bar. Locate the Print Spooler service, right-click it, and choose Restart.

Step 7: Update Windows 11

Sometimes, a Windows update can resolve issues related to printers:

1. Open Windows Update: Go to Settings > Windows Update.
2. Check for Updates: Click Check for updates to ensure your system is up to date. Install any available updates and restart your computer.

Step 8: Contact Brother Support

If the error state persists after following these steps, it may be time to contact Brother’s support team:

1. Visit Brother’s Support Website: Go to the official and search for your printer model.
2. Reach Out for Assistance: Utilize the support options available, including live chat, email, or phone support.

Conclusion

Resolving a brother printer shows error state Mac can be a simple process if you follow these steps. Whether it's checking connections, updating drivers, or clearing the print queue, these methods should help get your printer back in working order.