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Brother Printer Drivers

Download, Install & Update Guide

Quick Answer: Download Brother printer drivers from Brother's download center at [brother-usa.com/brother-support/driver-downloads](https://www.brother-usa.com/brother-support/driver-downloads). Search for your printer model, select your operating system, and download the "Full Driver & Software Package." Brother provides combined print and scan drivers in a single installer. On macOS, most Brother drivers install automatically through System Settings.

Applies to: Windows 10 · Windows 11 · macOS · Linux · Chromebook

Download time: under 5 minutes on a broadband connection

Skill level: Beginner

Cost: Free (all Brother drivers are free from Brother's official site)

Common searches this guide covers:

  • Brother printer driver download
  • Brother MFC driver
  • Brother HL driver
  • Brother DCP driver
  • Brother printer driver for Windows 11
  • Brother printer driver for Mac
  • Brother printer driver for Linux

Quick Checks

  • Find your exact model number — look on the front panel or the label inside the front cover (e.g., Brother HL-L2460DW, Brother MFC-L2820DW)
  • Always download from support.brother.com or brother-usa.com — third-party sites bundle unnecessary software
  • Brother provides Linux drivers for most models — this is unusual among printer manufacturers and makes Brother popular with Linux users
  • If your Brother printer stopped working after a Windows update, download the latest Full Driver & Software Package from Brother's site
  • Chromebooks work with Brother printers through Chrome OS built-in printing — no separate driver needed

Brother Printer Model Lines and Their Drivers

Brother uses a straightforward model naming system. The prefix tells you what type of printer it is.

Brother HL (Home Laser) are monochrome and color laser printers without scanning or copying. The HL-L2460DW, HL-L2400D, and HL-L3280CDW are current models. These use a simple print-only driver, making installation fast.

Brother MFC (Multi-Function Center) are all-in-one printers with print, scan, copy, and fax capabilities. The MFC-L2820DW, MFC-L8905CDW, MFC-L3780CDW, and MFC-J1360DW are popular choices. MFC drivers include the print driver, scan driver (TWAIN and WIA), PC-Fax driver, and ControlCenter utility.

Brother DCP (Digital Copier/Printer) are multifunction printers with print, scan, and copy — but no fax. The DCP-L2640DW and DCP-L2660DW are current models. DCP drivers include print and scan drivers without the fax component.

Brother INKvestment Tank models (like the MFC-J4335DW and MFC-J1205W) use high-capacity ink cartridges or refillable tanks for lower cost-per-page printing. They use the same MFC driver packages as standard inkjet models.

How to Download Brother Printer Drivers

Method 1: Brother Support Site (Recommended)

  1. Go to support.brother.com or brother-usa.com/brother-support/driver-downloads
  2. Type your printer model number in the search box (e.g., "MFC-L2820DW")
  3. Click your model from the results
  4. Select your operating system
  5. Download the "Full Driver & Software Package" — this is the recommended download that includes everything
  6. Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen prompts
  7. Select your connection type (USB, Wi-Fi, or wired network) when prompted

    8. The Full Driver & Software Package is typically 100–250 MB and includes the print driver, scanner driver, ControlCenter, PC-Fax (on MFC models), Status Monitor, and Brother Utilities.

    Method 2: Brother iPrint&Scan (Mobile Devices)

    Brother iPrint&Scan handles printing and scanning from smartphones and tablets:

    1. Download "Brother iPrint&Scan" from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
    2. Open the app and select your Brother printer from the network
    3. Print photos, documents, and web pages directly from your device

      4. For desktop printing, you still need the Full Driver & Software Package from Brother's support site.

      Method 3: Windows Update (Basic Driver)

      Windows includes basic Brother drivers for most models:

      1. Connect your Brother printer via USB or ensure it's on the same network
      2. Open Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners → Add a printer or scanner
      3. Windows detects the printer and installs a basic driver

        4. The Windows-supplied driver handles basic printing but does not include the scanner driver, ControlCenter, PC-Fax, or Status Monitor. For full functionality, use the Full Driver & Software Package.

        Method 4: macOS Automatic Installation

        macOS includes built-in Brother drivers:

        1. Connect the printer via USB or Wi-Fi
        2. Open System Settings → Printers & Scanners → click "+"
        3. Select your Brother printer from the list
        4. macOS downloads and installs the driver automatically

          5. For scanning on macOS, Brother provides a separate "Brother iPrint&Scan" app for Mac, available from Brother's support site or the Mac App Store.

          Method 5: Linux Driver Installation

          Brother is one of the few printer manufacturers that actively supports Linux. To install:

          1. Go to your printer's support page on support.brother.com
          2. Select Linux as the operating system
          3. Download the "Linux Printer Driver" and "Linux Scanner Driver" (if needed)
          4. Brother provides both .deb (Debian/Ubuntu) and .rpm (Red Hat/Fedora) packages
          5. Install using your package manager: sudo dpkg -i brother-printer-driver.deb or sudo rpm -i brother-printer-driver.rpm
          6. Brother also provides a Driver Install Tool that automates the process — download it from the same page

            7. Fix Brother Printer Driver Issues

            "Brother Printer Not Found" During Installation

            If the driver installer can't detect your Brother printer:

            1. For USB connections: try a different USB port, and make sure you're plugging in during the installation step that prompts for it — not before
            2. For Wi-Fi: verify the printer is connected to your network by printing a Network Configuration page (hold the WiFi button for 5 seconds, or navigate to Settings → Network → Print Config on models with a display)
            3. If the printer has a valid IP address but the installer still can't find it, enter the IP address manually when the installer prompts for the connection method

              4. ControlCenter Not Working

              ControlCenter is Brother's utility for one-touch scanning and printer management. If it's not functioning:

              1. Check that ControlCenter is installed — search for "Brother Utilities" in the Start menu → open it → click "ControlCenter"
              2. If ControlCenter is missing, download the Full Driver & Software Package again — the Print Only driver does not include it
              3. On Windows 11, ControlCenter4 may need to run as administrator — right-click → Run as administrator

                4. Brother Printer in Error State

                If Windows shows your Brother printer in an "Error" state:

                1. Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds, turn it back on
                2. Check for paper jams — open the front and rear covers and remove any stuck paper
                3. Check toner/ink levels — Brother printers enter an error state when toner is critically low
                4. If the error persists, remove the printer from Windows (Settings → Printers & scanners → Remove device), restart your computer, and reinstall the driver

                  5. Scanning Works but Printing Doesn't (or Vice Versa)

                  Brother uses separate drivers for printing and scanning. If one works but the other doesn't:

                  1. Open Brother Utilities and verify that both the print driver and scan driver are listed as installed
                  2. If the print driver is missing, re-run the Full Driver & Software Package installer
                  3. If scanning doesn't work, open ControlCenter4 and check that it's pointed to the correct printer — click Settings → Device Settings → refresh the device list

                    4. Brother Firmware Updates

                    Brother releases firmware updates to fix bugs and add features. Update firmware through:

                    1. Brother Utilities on your computer → select your printer → click "Check for Firmware Updates"
                    2. Printer's control panel (on models with a display): Settings → All Settings → Machine Info → Firmware Update
                    3. Brother support site: download firmware from your model's support page and run the update tool

                      4. Firmware updates require a USB or network connection between your computer and the printer. Do not turn off the printer during the update.

                      Frequently Asked Questions

                      Go to support.brother.com or brother-usa.com/brother-support/driver-downloads, search for your printer model, select your operating system, and download the Full Driver and Software Package.

                      Yes. Brother is one of the few printer manufacturers that provides Linux drivers for most models. They offer both .deb (Debian/Ubuntu) and .rpm (Red Hat/Fedora) packages, plus a Driver Install Tool that automates the process.

                      It includes the print driver, scanner driver, ControlCenter4, PC-Fax driver (on MFC models), Status Monitor, and Brother Utilities — everything you need in a single download.

                      Common causes include paper jams, critically low toner or ink, or a stale driver. Turn the printer off for 30 seconds, check for paper jams and toner levels, then restart. If the error persists, remove and reinstall the driver.

                      Yes. All Brother drivers are free from Brother's official website.

                      HL (Home Laser) models are print-only. MFC (Multi-Function Center) models include print, scan, copy, and fax. DCP (Digital Copier/Printer) models include print, scan, and copy without fax.

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