How to Reset a Brother Printer

1. Power cycle (fixes most stuck errors)

Turn the printer off using its power button, unplug it from the wall, and wait a full 60 seconds before plugging it back in — this lets internal components fully discharge and clears temporary error states a quick off-and-on doesn't. This resolves the majority of stuck errors and a printer that's simply stopped responding.

2. Network settings reset (fixes connection problems)

If the printer keeps dropping off Wi-Fi or can't find your network, the printer needs to forget its saved network entirely. On the control panel, go to Settings → All Settings → Network → Network Reset (menu wording varies by model). This clears only the network configuration, leaving other settings intact. Run the WLAN Setup Wizard again afterward to reconnect.

3. Full factory reset (wipes everything)

Use this only if you're preparing to sell, donate, or recycle the printer, or the device is behaving erratically in a way neither a power cycle nor a network reset resolves. Go to Settings → All Settings → Initial Setup → Reset → Factory Reset, and confirm when prompted. The printer erases all custom settings and saved networks, then restarts as if unboxed for the first time. You'll need to run through wireless setup again from scratch afterward.

Models without a screen

On simpler Brother models without a touch display, a factory reset is often done using a specific button-hold combination on power-up — commonly holding a combination involving the Go or Cancel button for several seconds while powering on. The exact combination varies by model, so check your printer's manual or Brother's official support site for your specific model number before attempting this.

Resetting via Brother Mobile Connect

The Brother Mobile Connect app provides network configuration access for many current models — open the app, select your printer, and check its settings for reset or reconfigure options. This can be more straightforward than the printer's own menu, particularly for isolating the network-only reset from a full factory reset.

What a reset won't fix

A reset clears software-level state — stuck queues, corrupted settings, forgotten networks — but won't fix a genuine hardware fault: a jammed roller, a failed print head, or a physically dirty cartridge sensor. If the same problem returns immediately after a reset and reconnection, the cause is almost always physical rather than a settings issue.