The scanner on a Brother MFC-L5915DW has a flatbed glass and a seventy-sheet automatic feeder that scans both sides in one pass, and when scanning fails, produces streaks or will not reach the computer, the cause is usually dirt on the glass or strip, a feeder problem or the scan-to-computer settings. For streaks or lines on scans, clean the white bar under the document cover, the glass and, with the cover open, the thin glass strip at the left of the glass, which the feeder scans through; a mark on it makes a line down every page from the feeder.
The checks in more detail
Wipe with a soft lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water or glass cleaner and let it dry. Test with a copy from the glass and from the feeder to see which path is dirty. If scans do not reach the computer, the setup is the cause. Brother's scanning uses the driver and the Scan to PC settings: install Brother's full driver package, then in the control panel software, ControlCenter or Brother iPrint&Scan, check that the printer is registered by its IP address.
If the printer's address changed, scans fail with a message that the device is not connected, so update the address or reserve one in the router. Use the network scanner setup tool to re-register. A firewall or security software can block the scan ports, so allow Brother's software. On a Mac, use Image Capture or Brother's app and add the printer by address. For feeder faults, such as a jam or pages that skew, use clean, flat paper without staples or clips, fan the stack and set the guides lightly against it.
A worn roller, which Brother sells as a feeder roller kit, causes frequent misfeeds. Scan to email or to a network folder needs the server details set in the printer's web page, so check them. If the scan is blank, check that the document faces the correct way. For slow scanning, reduce the resolution or use a wired connection. Update the firmware. If the glass is clean, the software is registered and the feeder is in good order and scans still fail, contact Brother with the serial number.
Differential
Likely causes of “Brother MFC-L5915DW scanner is not found or scanning fails”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A dirty glass strip
What separates it A line down every feeder page
How to confirm Clean the strip and white bar
- 2
A changed printer address
What separates it Scan to PC says the device is not connected
How to confirm Re-register by the new address
- 3
Blocked scan ports
What separates it Scans fail on the network
How to confirm Allow Brother's software in the firewall
- 4
A worn feeder roller
What separates it Frequent misfeeds
How to confirm Replace the feeder roller kit
- 5
Wrong server details
What separates it Scan to email or folder fails
How to confirm Check them in the web page
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the glass or the feeder shows the fault
- The printer's IP address
- The scanning method
- Whether security software is active
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedClean the glass strip
ReversibleAnd white bar.
Test glass and feeder
ReversibleWith a copy.
Install Brother's full package
ReversibleAnd register the printer.
Allow the software in the firewall
ReversibleIf scans fail.
Check server details
ReversibleFor email and folders.
Replace the roller kit
ReversibleIf pages misfeed.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Glass strip
- The feeder scans through it.
- Registration
- Scans depend on the printer's address.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If scans fail with a clean glass and registered software, contact Brother with the serial number
- !Replace the feeder roller kit if misfeeds persist
- !Update the firmware
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is there a line on every scan?+
A mark on the feeder glass strip.
Why does scan to PC fail?+
The printer's address may have changed.
How many sheets does the feeder hold?+
Seventy.
Does it scan both sides?+
Yes, in one pass.