How to Check Printer Drivers for Brother Printers?

The proper drivers must be installed on your computer for Brother printers to function properly. Inaccurate or out-of-date drivers may result in poor performance, connectivity problems, or printing errors. This blog will teach you how to check the Brother printer drivers on Mac and Windows, as well as some easy ways to keep them up to current.

How to Check Brother Printer Drivers on Windows

1. Check Through Device Manager

1. Press Windows + X

2. Select Device Manager

3. Scroll down and click Printers or Print queues

4. Right-click your Brother printer

5. Click Properties → Driver tab

6. Check the Driver Version and Driver Provider

2. Check Driver Details from Control Panel

1. Go to Control Panel

2. Click Devices and Printers

3. Right-click your Brother printer

4. Choose Printer Properties

5. Select the About/Driver tab

6. Review the installed driver information

3. Check Drivers Using Brother’s Official Tool

Brother provides a free tool called Brother Driver Deployment Wizard or SupportAssist (varies by model).
You can check your drivers by:

1. Downloading the tool from Brother support

2. Running a scan

3. Viewing installed and recommended drivers

How to Check Brother Printer Drivers on Mac

1. Through System Settings

1. Click the Apple Menu

2. Go to System Settings → Printers & Scanners

3. Select your Brother printer

4. Check the Driver Version under "Options & Supplies"

2. Check Through Print Queue

1. Open Printers & Scanners

2. Select your printer

3. Click Open Print Queue

4. Go to Printer Info

5. Review the driver type (AirPrint, CUPS, Brother original)

3. Using Brother’s Website

Mac users can verify drivers by visiting:

• Brother Support → Enter printer model → Drivers
  The website shows the latest version, which you can compare with the one installed on your Mac.

Common Signs Your Brother Driver Needs an Update

• Printer is offline even when connected

• Print queue is stuck

• Pages print blank or distorted

• Slow printing

• Error codes like “Driver Unavailable”

• Scanning not working on all-in-one models

I observed slow printing and sporadic offline issues when I initially began debugging my Brother printer. I discovered the installed driver was out of date after examining it in Device Manager. The lagging problems were instantly resolved by updating the driver from the official Brother website. The printer replied more quickly, and the print quality also increased.

It can save you time and avoid unforeseen printing issues, which is why it's crucial to check and update drivers regularly. 

FAQs

1. How do I find my Brother printer model?

Look at the front or top of the printer. The model number (e.g., HL-L2350DW, DCP-T720DW) is clearly printed.

2. What if my Brother printer driver shows “Unavailable”?

This usually means the driver is outdated or corrupted. Remove the printer, restart your system, and reinstall the latest driver from Brother’s website.

3. Do Brother printers work with AirPrint?

Yes, most modern Brother models support AirPrint for Mac and iPhone users, but checking the driver can confirm it.

Conclusion

To keep your equipment operating effectively, it's simple but crucial to check your Brother printer drivers. A simple driver check can help resolve issues, enhance performance, and guarantee compatibility with the most recent software updates, regardless of whether you're using Windows or Mac.