If your MacBook Pro's Brother printer isn't working properly, you should first see if the proper printer drivers are installed. Drivers act as a communication channel between the printer and your Mac. If they are missing, corrupted, or outdated, printing issues are undoubtedly present.

1. Check Brother Printer Drivers Using System Settings

macOS makes it easy to view the installed printer drivers:

Step-by-Step:

1. Click the Apple Menu () in the top-left corner.

2. Select System Settings.

3. Scroll down and click Printers & Scanners.

4. Choose your Brother printer from the list.

5. Look under the printer name — you’ll see the Driver Type or “Kind” (e.g., AirPrint, Brother CUPS Driver).

6. Click Options & Supplies → General tab to view Driver Version.

2. Check Brother Drivers via System Information

You can also verify all installed drivers:

Steps:

1. Open Spotlight Search (Command + Space).

2. Type System Information and open it.

3. In the sidebar, scroll to Printers.

4. Select your Brother printer.

5. Check the Driver Version, PPD, and Status.

This helps troubleshoot deeper driver problems.

3. Check for Driver Updates on Brother’s Official Website

If your installed driver is outdated, download the latest version.

Steps:

1. Visit the setup.brother.com.

2. Enter your printer model (e.g., HL-L2350DW).

3. Choose the macOS version.

4. Download the latest Full Driver & Software Package.

5. Install it and restart your MacBook Pro.

4. Update Drivers Using macOS Software Update

Sometimes Apple provides updated drivers automatically.

Steps:

1. Go to System Settings → General → Software Update.

2. If a printer driver update is available, macOS will list it.

3. Click Update Now.

As someone who frequently assists consumers with printer troubleshooting, I've found that the majority of Brother printer issues on macOS are caused by out-of-date or AirPrint-only drivers.

Printing becomes quicker, more accurate, and compatible with all capabilities (such as duplex printing or custom paper sizes) when the proper Brother CUPS driver is installed. For many users, this straightforward check has saved many hours of frustration.

FAQs

1. How do I know if my Brother driver is AirPrint or CUPS?

In System Settings → Printers & Scanners, select your printer.
Under the name, you will see “AirPrint” or “Brother CUPS Driver”.

2. Do I need Brother drivers if AirPrint is working?

AirPrint works for basic printing.
But for advanced features (like scanning, ink levels, custom settings), CUPS drivers are recommended.

3. Where can I download official Brother drivers?

Only from the Brother Support website.
Avoid third-party download sites.

4. My Brother printer is not showing on Mac. What should I do?

Try:

• Restarting printer & Mac

• Reconnecting Wi-Fi

• Resetting printing system

• Reinstalling drivers

5. Can I reinstall drivers on macOS easily?

Yes. Delete the printer from Printers & Scanners, then reinstall using:

• Brother drivers
  or

• Add Printer → macOS auto-installs necessary drivers

Knowing where to look makes it simple to check the Brother printer drivers on a MacBook Pro. You can maintain error-free printer operation by confirming the type, version, and updates of your driver.