How to Scan From Brother Printer to Computer (Complete Guide)

How to Scan From Brother Printer to Computer +1-803-866-1601. If you own a Brother Industries printer, you can easily scan documents, photos, and files directly to your computer. This feature helps you create digital copies of important papers for storage, sharing, or editing.

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In this guide, you will learn step-by-step how to scan from a Brother printer to a computer using different methods.

Why Scan Documents Using a Brother Printer?

Scanning documents with a Brother printer offers several benefits:

• Convert paper documents into digital files
  
  

• Easily share documents through email
  
  

• Save files securely on your computer
  
  

• Reduce paper storage space
  
  

• Edit scanned documents digitally
  
  

Many Brother printers support scanning through the printer control panel, computer software, or mobile apps.

Requirements Before Scanning

Before you start scanning, make sure the following things are ready:

• A Brother printer with scanner function
  
  

• A computer (Windows or Mac)
  
  

• USB cable or WiFi connection
  
  

• Installed printer drivers and scanning software
  
  

• Document placed correctly on the scanner glass or in the automatic document feeder (ADF)
  
  

You can download the latest driver and scanning software from the official website of Brother Industries.

Method 1: Scan From Brother Printer Using the Control Panel

This is one of the easiest methods if your printer has a display screen.

Step 1: Turn On the Printer

Press the power button and make sure the printer is connected to the same network as your computer.

Step 2: Place the Document

Open the scanner lid and place the document face down on the scanner glass. Align it with the corner guides.

If your printer has an ADF, insert the pages face up.

Step 3: Select Scan Option

On the printer control panel:

1. Press the Scan button
   
   

2. Select Scan to PC
   
   

3. Choose your computer from the list
   
   

Step 4: Choose Scan Settings

Select the scan type:

• Color scan
  
  

• Black and white scan
  
  

• PDF format
  
  

• Image format
  
  

Step 5: Start Scanning

Press Start. The printer will scan the document and send the file directly to your computer.

The scanned file will usually appear in the Scans or Documents folder on your computer.

Method 2: Scan Using Brother iPrint & Scan Software

Another popular method is scanning using the Brother iPrint&Scan software installed on your computer.

Step 1: Install the Software

Download and install the Brother iPrint & Scan software from the Brother website.

Step 2: Open the Program

Launch the Brother iPrint & Scan application on your computer.

Step 3: Select Your Printer

Choose your Brother printer from the available device list.

Step 4: Place the Document

Put the document on the scanner glass or in the automatic feeder.

Step 5: Click Scan

Click the Scan button in the software interface.

Step 6: Adjust Scan Settings

You can adjust settings such as:

• Resolution
  
  

• Color mode
  
  

• File type (PDF, JPG, PNG)
  
  

• File location
  
  

Step 7: Save the File

After scanning is complete, save the scanned file to your preferred location on your computer.

Method 3: Scan Using Windows Scan Tool

If you are using a Windows computer, you can scan documents using the built-in scanning tool.

Step 1: Open Windows Scan

Click the Start menu and search for Windows Scan.

Step 2: Select the Printer

Choose your Brother printer from the scanner list.

Step 3: Select Scan Type

Choose the scan format:

• Photo
  
  

• Document
  
  

• Custom scan
  
  

Step 4: Start Scanning

Click the Scan button.

The scanned document will be saved on your computer.

Method 4: Scan Using Mac Computer

If you are using a Mac, scanning can be done through the built-in Image Capture application.

Steps:

1. Open Image Capture on your Mac.
   
   

2. Select your Brother printer from the device list.
   
   

3. Place the document on the scanner glass.
   
   

4. Adjust scan settings.
   
   

5. Click Scan.
   
   

Your scanned file will be saved to the selected folder on your Mac.

Common Scan File Formats

When scanning documents, you can save them in different formats depending on your needs.

Common formats include:

• PDF – best for documents
  
  

• JPEG (JPG) – good for photos
  
  

• PNG – high-quality images
  
  

• TIFF – professional image format
  
  

PDF is usually the most commonly used format for office documents.

Troubleshooting Brother Scanner Issues

Sometimes scanning may not work properly. Here are some common solutions.

Check the Connection

Make sure your printer and computer are connected through WiFi or USB.

Update Printer Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause scanning problems. Download the latest version from the Brother website.

Restart Devices

Restart your printer and computer to refresh the connection.

Reinstall Scanner Software

If scanning software is not working, reinstall Brother iPrint&Scan.

Check Firewall Settings

Sometimes firewall settings may block scanner communication.

Tips for Better Scan Quality

Follow these tips to get better scan results:

• Clean the scanner glass regularly
  
  

• Use high resolution for important documents
  
  

• Align the paper correctly on the scanner
  
  

• Avoid wrinkled or folded documents
  
  

These small steps can significantly improve scan quality.

Conclusion

Scanning documents from a Brother printer to a computer is a simple process once the printer and software are properly installed. You can scan directly using the printer control panel, scanning software like Brother iPrint&Scan, or built-in tools on Windows and Mac.