Brother Printer Not Scanning to PC – How to Fix It

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If your Brother printer is not scanning to PC, the problem may be due to driver issues, network configuration problems, firewall restrictions, or incorrect scan settings. This guide outlines effective steps to identify and fix the issue.

Confirm the Connection Between Printer and PC

For USB Connection
  1. Ensure the USB cable is properly connected to both printer and PC.
  2. Try a different USB port or replace the cable if needed.

For Network or Wireless Connection
  1. Make sure both the printer and PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Print a Network Configuration Report from the printer to verify its IP address.

Restart Printer and Computer
  1. Power off the printer and PC.
  2. Unplug the printer for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and power it on.
  3. Restart the PC and try scanning again.

Set the Destination PC in the Printer
  1. On the printer panel, select Scan > to PC.
  2. If multiple PCs are listed, make sure the correct one is selected.
  3. If your PC is not listed, it may not be properly detected or configured.

Install or Reinstall Brother Scanner Drivers
  1. Visit the Brother Support Website.
  2. Download the Full Driver & Software Package for your model.
  3. Uninstall the existing software from your PC.
  4. Reinstall the full package and restart your system.

Use Brother iPrint&Scan Software
  1. Install Brother iPrint&Scan from Brother’s website or Microsoft Store.
  2. Open the software and select your printer model.
  3. Try scanning from within the application.

Check Windows Services and Firewall

Enable Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Locate Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
  3. Right-click > Start (or Restart) if it’s not running.
  4. Set the startup type to Automatic.

Allow Brother Software Through Firewall
  1. Go to Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app.
  2. Make sure Brother ControlCenter or iPrint&Scan is allowed through the firewall.

Set the Scanner as Default
  1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  2. Right-click your Brother device and click Set as default scanner.

Run Scanner Troubleshooter (Windows)
  1. Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
  2. Select your Brother printer > Manage > Run the troubleshooter.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to resolve detected issues.

Check Scan to PC Settings (ControlCenter4 or Brother Utilities)
  1. Open Brother Utilities from your desktop.
  2. Select your model and go to Scan > ControlCenter4.
  3. Under Device Settings, check and configure the Scan to PC profile.

Assign a Static IP Address (For Network Setup)
  1. On the printer’s control panel, go to Network > TCP/IP settings.
  2. Manually assign a static IP address.
  3. On your PC, open iPrint&Scan or ControlCenter, and manually add the device using the static IP.

If the printer still won’t scan to PC, check for third-party antivirus conflicts or contact Brother Support for further troubleshooting.

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