How to Fix Brother MFC-L5800DW Printer Offline Error? (Full Guide)

Is your Brother printer connected but still showing offline, or refusing to respond even when powered on? Don’t worry - I will guide you through the best fixes to bring it back online quickly.

This issue is quite common and can occur due to incorrect device settings, outdated or corrupt printer drivers, or wrong configurations.

The key to solving it is understanding the root cause and applying the right solutions. While this may feel confusing at first, I will make it simple by sharing the top fixes to help you get your Brother printer back online.

Solution 1: Restart Your Printer and Computer

Restarting your printer and computer often clears temporary glitches. Follow these steps to reset them properly.

Directly remove the power plug from the printer if it is on.
If you are using the Ethernet cable or USB cord, then remove them too.
Now, leave everything untouched for a few minutes. (In the meantime, restart your computer/laptop.)
After that, attach the printer’s plug back to its port and turn its power on.
Connect the printer to your computer and see if the offline problem is gone.

Solution 2: Delete All the Print Jobs

Sending too many print jobs to your printer at once can make the printer get stuck and lead to an offline issue. Delete the print jobs with the help of these steps to see if it fixes the issue.

From the Start menu or search section on your PC, access the Settings window.
Then, navigate to the follow-up pages: Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
On the open page, you need to right-click on your Brother MFC-L5800DW printer model and click on “See what's printing.”
On the open box, select the Printer tab and click on the Cancel All Documents option from the list.

Also, if you find the Cancel all documents option greyed out, then choose the "Open As Administrator” option to get administrator access to the page.

Type the administrator password and select Yes.
Now, repeat step 4 to check if the ‘Cancel All Documents’ option is working properly.

Solution 3: Check the Status of Your Brother Printer

You need to verify the printer status and see if it shows as ‘Idle’. Here are the steps to do that.

Make sure that your Brother Printer is turned on.
Then, click on the Start menu/icon and choose the Settings option.
Next, click on the Bluetooth & devices option on the open page and choose Printers & Scanners.
Choose your Brother Printer Model from the available devices.
See your printer status and check if it is showing idle.

If it shows ‘Idle,’ it usually indicates an issue with the printer driver.

Solution 4: Reconnect the Printer to Your Computer

To fix the offline issue, remove the printer from your computer and reinstall it by following these steps.

First, access the Printers and Scanners window on your desktop.
Then, click on your printer model and choose the Remove or similar option.
Now, exit the window. (If you wish, restart your computer.)
Go to the Printers and Scanners window once again.
Choose the “+Add a printer or scanner" option; it will initiate the search for available printers.
Next, click on your printer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the connection.

Also, if you are using your Brother printer on a Mac computer, then you can follow the methods below.

Solution 5: Install the Correct Driver (Mac Users)

If your printer is experiencing a driver issue, it may display an offline status. In this case, these are the steps you can follow on your Mac device.

From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
Then, click on the Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners option.
In the Printers box, click on your printer name and check its driver. You can see the driver next to the Kind section.

If you see the AirPrint option, then follow the steps below to add the CUPs driver.
Now, choose the “+” button on the printer's page.

At the top of the dialog box, click on the Default icon.
Go to the Name list and click on your printer’s name.
In the Use list, ensure that the Brother MFC-L5800DW CUPS is selected. (If you do not see the CUPS driver option for your printer, then it is not installed on your device. Go to the official website and install the full driver package.)

Once done, click on the Add button.

Once done, check if the printer appears in the list and confirm that the offline issue is resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

Why Is Brother Printer Showing Offline Even though it is on?

In some cases, your printer may still show as offline even after completing its setup. Below are several possible reasons for this problem.

Doing the incomplete configuration of the printer.
The printer is facing firmware or driver-related issues.
Your printer is not selected as the primary printing device on your computer.
The printer or your computer is facing a network connectivity issue.
There are some settings issues on your computer, or there are other reasons.

Question

How to Resolve Offline Issue in Brother Printer?

Here are some solutions to resolve your printer's offline error.

Check the wires, cables, routers, and printer to ensure everything is as required.
Ensure that the printer’s plug is connected to the socket properly and that there is enough power supply.
Make sure to keep your printer, computer, and router within the connection range.
Deselect the ‘Use Printer Offline” option for your printer.
Reconnect the printer to your computer, laptop, or mobile device.

Question

How to factory reset Brother MFC-L5800DW Printer?

If the printer is facing any issues, then a factory reset can help fix it. Below is the quick procedure to perform the factory reset on the printer.

First, ensure that the machine is on, and then choose the Menu or Settings option.
With the help of the arrow keys, select Initial Setup and then click OK.
From the options, tap on Reset and then choose the Factory Reset option.
On the confirmation prompt, tap on Yes to begin the reset.
After that, the printer factory reset process will be complete.
You can also restart the printer if you want.

Source: How to Fix Brother Printer Offline Error

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