Brother's wireless printing article lists ten checks that also cover any not-printing case. Has the machine been set up on the network and the correct software and drivers installed? Have you moved house, changed provider, replaced the router or changed its settings? If so, uninstall the Brother printer driver and set up the wifi connection again. Is the machine on, or asleep: press any button to wake it. Does its screen show an error such as Paper Jam or Ink/Toner Empty, since the machine may refuse to print until you clear it?
The checks in more detail
Is there an extra copy of the machine's icon in the printer list, such as Brother model (Copy 1), which can hold jobs? Are there leftover print jobs in the queue? Have you tried the connection repair tool? Have you checked that the router or access point works? Have you tried setting the machine up again? Are the firmware of both machine and router current? Work through them in order.
Print a test page from the machine's menu to prove the hardware. If the machine prints from the panel but not from the computer, reinstall the full driver and software package. Check the paper size, and that the correct machine is chosen in the application. On laser models a Replace Toner or drum message can block printing until it is cleared. Keep a routine: a test page from the machine's own menu first, then from the computer.
Whichever fails tells you where to look, and it stops you reinstalling drivers when the machine wants a toner or a paper. If a job leaves the computer but the machine stays idle, check the machine's display for a queued job or a message waiting for you to confirm paper size or type. If a single application will not print but others do, the fault is that application's printer setting; try printing a page from a plain text editor to prove the machine and driver are fine.
Differential
Likely causes of “Brother printers receives jobs but does not print”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An error on the machine
What separates it The display shows an error because something on the machine needs attention
How to confirm Clear the error first, by following the message on the display
- 2
A duplicate printer icon
What separates it Jobs go to the wrong copy because a duplicate printer icon exists
How to confirm Delete the duplicate printer icon, and use the correct one
- 3
A stale queue
What separates it Nothing prints because a stale queue is blocking the jobs
How to confirm Cancel all jobs on the computer, and then print again
- 4
A changed router
What separates it Printing stopped because the router was changed and the machine lost its connection
How to confirm Uninstall the driver and set up wifi again
- 5
Outdated firmware
What separates it The machine behaves oddly because the firmware is out of date
How to confirm Update the machine and the router, and try to print again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The type of connection that you use, USB, Ethernet or wifi
- Whether a test page prints from the panel
- What changed recently, such as a new router or an update
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the display
ReversibleCheck the display, and clear any errors before you try to print, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Print a test page
ReversiblePrint a test page from the panel, to check that the machine itself works, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Cancel queued jobs
ReversibleCancel queued jobs, and delete any duplicate printer icons on the computer, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Repeat wifi setup
ReversibleRepeat the wifi setup, if the router has changed, so the machine joins again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reinstall the driver
ReversibleReinstall the driver, using the full package from Brother's support site, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Update firmware
ReversibleUpdate the firmware on the machine and on the router, and then retest, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Brother
ReversibleContact Brother if the problem persists, and give them the model and the message, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Laser
- Toner and drum messages can stop printing on laser models until cleared.
- Inkjet
- Ink Empty messages stop printing on inkjet models.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models L8905CDW, L3295CDW, L2460DW, L2640DW, J1010DW, J4535DW, J5855DW, QL-820NWB label printer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the panel test page prints but the computer cannot, reinstall the full driver package
- !If a toner or drum message blocks printing, follow the consumable steps
- !If nothing prints and no error shows, contact Brother
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Ten checks for wireless printing.
Power, connection, Recover WLAN and Windows checks.
New toner, installation, drum and corona wire.
Resetting the drum counter.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I test the hardware?+
Print a test page from the machine's menu.
What is a Copy 1 icon?+
A duplicate printer entry that can hold jobs.
Should I clear the queue?+
Yes, clear the queue, since one stuck job blocks all of the others.
Do I need to set up wifi again after a new router?+
Yes, you must set up wifi again after a new router, since the machine needs the new details.
Can an error stop printing?+
Yes, an error can stop printing, so read the display first.
Can I use USB to test?+
Yes, you can use USB to test, since it takes the network out of the picture.
Does Sleep Mode matter?+
Press a button to wake it.
Should I reinstall the driver?+
If the panel prints but the computer does not.
Can I update the firmware from a phone?+
On network models, yes, you can use Brother iPrint&Scan to update the firmware.
What is Recover WLAN?+
It is a menu option that restarts the machine's wifi module, which can clear a stuck connection.
What does the blue Wi-Fi indicator mean?+
A blue Wi-Fi indicator means that the wireless connection is established.
How long does a Brother warranty last?+
The machine is covered for one year from the date of purchase, so keep your receipt.
How long do supplies carry a warranty?+
Supplies carry a warranty of ninety days or the rated life, whichever comes first.