I’m having trouble installing Brother Printer Software on my computer. I downloaded the driver from the official site, but it won’t install properly. Does anyone know what might be causing this or how to fix it?
Ugh, printers. The eternal bane of modern tech. Okay, first, let’s cover the basics - because sometimes, it’s the dumb stuff. Did you download the right driver for your specific Brother printer model AND your computer’s operating system? Like, if you’re on Windows but accidentally snagged the Mac version, it’s gonna just laugh at you and fail silently. Also double-check if it’s 32-bit vs 64-bit OS, 'cause yes, outdated printers STILL care about that.
If that’s all good, maybe your antivirus or firewall is being a drama queen and blocking the installation. Try disabling them temporarily while you’re installing (don’t forget to turn them back on after, unless you wanna make friends with a virus).
Another possibility? Corrupted download. Because life’s like that. Delete the driver, redownload from the Brother site, and see if it plays nice this time. Better yet, download it as a direct installer instead of through some “driver assistant tool” nonsense, if that’s an option.
If it’s STILL not budging, test admin privileges. Right-click the setup file and hit ‘Run as Administrator.’ Sometimes, Windows gets all snobby about permissions.
Last hail Mary: check for pending updates on your computer. Printers and computers often fight like siblings, and maybe your OS version is just mean-girling your printer driver. Update your system, restart everything, and try again.
Or, you know, throw the printer out a window and send Brother a strongly worded letter. But let’s not go nuclear… yet.
Honestly, printers are the stuff of nightmares. Software issues? Even worse. I’ll throw some different ideas into the mix since @nachtschatten covered the basics (pretty solid advice, if we’re being fair):
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Compatibility Mode: Sometimes, your OS and the software get into a petty argument. Right-click the installer, go to Properties > Compatibility, and try running it in an earlier version mode (like Windows 8 or 7). It’s worth a shot.
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Extract the Drivers: Instead of running the installer directly, extract the files (use something like WinRAR or 7-Zip if it’s a zipped executable). Then, manually install the driver through Device Manager. Navigate to your printer, click Update Driver > ‘Browse my computer for drivers’ > point it to the extracted folder. Sometimes the setup wizard is the issue.
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Registry Cleanup: If you tried installing before and it flopped, leftover junk in the registry might be messing things up. Download a registry cleaner (not one of those shady ones from Google, but maybe CCleaner or something similar) and clear out leftovers. Restart, then try reinstalling.
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Printer Queue Purge: Go to Services (search it in the Start menu), find ‘Print Spooler,’ stop it, then delete files in
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Start the spooler again. This is especially relevant if you had a previous printer causing chaos. -
Safe Mode Installation: Boot your system in Safe Mode (literally just search “Safe Mode” in your search bar for the steps). Sometimes, third-party software clashing hides in the background. Install the driver while the computer is in Safe Mode.
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Check Dependencies: Does the setup file rely on any system components like .NET Framework, Visual C++ Redistributables, etc.? Make sure those are up to date too. Outdated dependency? No bueno.
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Wired Connection First: If you’re dealing with a wireless Brother printer, sometimes the initial setup needs a wired tether (USB). After it’s installed, THEN you can switch to wireless.
And not to spark debate, but I don’t fully buy the “disable antivirus” thing @nachtschatten mentioned. If your AV is that aggressive, maybe just add an exclusion for the setup file instead of leaving your system defenseless. Anyway, try some of these. Or don’t. Maybe printers are just sentient jerks.
Here’s a tactic I didn’t see the others cover, and it’s honestly a dark horse fix for stubborn software—Selective Startup in Windows. Sometimes background processes clash during installations, and this clears out the noise. Here’s what you can try:
- Hit
Win + R, typemsconfig, and smack Enter. - In the System Configuration window, go to the ‘General’ tab. Choose Selective Startup and uncheck “Load Startup Items.”
- Hop over to the ‘Services’ tab, click “Hide all Microsoft services” (so you don’t break your OS), and then disable the remaining services.
- Restart your PC. Now attempt to reinstall the Brother Printer Software in this clean environment.
After you’re done, go back to msconfig and reset it to normal startup.
Something else that could mess things up—background Windows processes for drivers. Make sure you’ve fully uninstalled any previous junk related to the printer by doing this:
- Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
- Delete your printer (if it’s listed).
- Open an elevated Command Prompt (
Win + X> Command Prompt (Admin)) and empty the driver cache by typingprintui /s /t2. - Remove any Brother Printer remnants under “Installed Printer Drivers”.
And about firewall-blockage like @nachtschatten mentioned? I’d say instead of completely disabling antivirus, just check activity logs to see if it’s flagged the Brother installer. Most AV software allows you to whitelist specific processes without throwing up security arms. Better safe than sorry, right?
Lastly, on the topic of wireless setup—which @viaggiatoresolare briefly touched on—I’d argue WiFi setups for Brother printers are too often finicky. I’ve found starting with a USB connection gives fewer hiccups. Once connected and verified, switch to WiFi through your printer menu/settings.
The truth is, Brother software isn’t as bad as some competitors (cough HP Smart cough), but it does have its quirks when system conflicts arise. On the upside, Brother drivers are straightforward when they download properly—particularly for Linux users (they make compatible drivers fairly accessible). The con? Not the speediest with updates for new OS releases, so if you’re an early adopter of OS changes, brace yourself for wonkiness.
Good luck. Worst case, maybe it’s time to go old-school with a typewriter. Okay, I’m kidding… sort of. Printing is a cursed field at heart.