What to know
- This blog post will guide you through the steps on how to put a Brother printer icon on your desktop, ensuring you can access your printer with ease.
- If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can manually create a desktop shortcut for your Brother printer.
- Creating a Brother printer icon on your desktop is a simple yet effective way to streamline your printing workflow.
Printing documents and photos is a common task for many computer users. Having a printer icon conveniently placed on your desktop can make this process much smoother and faster. This blog post will guide you through the steps on how to put a Brother printer icon on your desktop, ensuring you can access your printer with ease.
Understanding the Benefits of a Desktop Icon
Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand why having a Brother printer icon on your desktop is beneficial:
- Quick Access: A desktop icon provides instant access to your printer, eliminating the need to search through menus or folders.
- Enhanced Convenience: With a single click, you can print documents, photos, or any other files directly from your desktop.
- Streamlined Workflow: A dedicated icon simplifies your printing workflow, saving you time and effort.
Method 1: Using the Brother Control Center
The Brother Control Center is a powerful software suite that comes bundled with most Brother printers. It offers various features, including printer management, troubleshooting, and the ability to create a desktop icon. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Brother Control Center: Locate the Brother Control Center icon on your desktop or within your Start menu.
2. Select “Printer Settings“: Navigate to the “Settings” or “Printer Settings” section within the Control Center.
3. Create Desktop Shortcut: Look for an option labeled “Create Desktop Shortcut” or “Add Icon to Desktop.” This option might be located under “General Settings” or “Advanced Settings.”
4. Confirm Creation: Click on the “Create” or “Add” button to confirm the creation of the desktop icon.
Method 2: Using Windows Settings
Windows offers a built-in feature to create desktop icons for various applications and devices, including printers. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open Windows Settings: Press the Windows key ++ I to open the Windows Settings app.
2. Navigate to “Devices”: Select “Devices” from the left-hand menu.
3. Choose “Printers & Scanners”: Click on “Printers & Scanners” to view your connected printers.
4. Select Your Brother Printer: Locate your Brother printer in the list and click on its name.
5. Create Shortcut: Look for an option labeled “Create Shortcut” or “Add Icon to Desktop.” This option might be located within the printer’s settings.
6. Confirm Creation: Click on the “Create” or “Add” button to confirm the creation of the desktop icon.
Method 3: Manually Creating a Desktop Shortcut
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can manually create a desktop shortcut for your Brother printer:
1. Locate the Printer Driver: Navigate to your “C:Program Files” folder and search for the Brother printer driver folder. The folder name might contain your printer model.
2. Find the Executable File: Inside the driver folder, search for an executable file (usually named “Brother.exe” or something similar).
3. Create a Shortcut: Right-click on the executable file and select “Create Shortcut.”
4. Move to Desktop: Drag the newly created shortcut to your desktop.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you encounter any issues while trying to create a desktop icon for your Brother printer, consider these troubleshooting tips:
- Check Printer Connection: Make sure your Brother printer is properly connected to your computer via USB or Wi-Fi.
- Driver Installation: Ensure that the latest printer drivers are installed on your computer. You can download the drivers from the Brother website.
- Restart Computer: Restarting your computer can sometimes resolve minor software glitches.
- Reinstall Printer: If all else fails, try uninstalling and reinstalling your Brother printer.
Customizing Your Icon
Once you have successfully created a desktop icon for your Brother printer, you can customize it to your liking. Here’s how:
1. Right-Click on the Icon: Right-click on the Brother printer icon on your desktop.
2. Select “Properties”: Choose “Properties” from the context menu.
3. Change Icon: Click on the “Change Icon” button to select a different icon from the available options.
4. Apply Changes: Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
Final Thoughts: Keeping Your Printing Experience Smooth
Creating a Brother printer icon on your desktop is a simple yet effective way to streamline your printing workflow. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can easily access your printer with a single click, making your printing experience more convenient and efficient. Remember to experiment with different customization options to personalize your desktop icon and make it visually appealing.
Popular Questions
Q: What if I don’t see the “Create Shortcut” option in Windows Settings?
A: The “Create Shortcut” option might not be available for all printers. If it’s missing, you can try manually creating a shortcut using the method mentioned in the “Manually Creating a Desktop Shortcut” section.
Q: Can I create a shortcut for multiple Brother printers?
A: Yes, you can create a separate shortcut for each Brother printer you have connected to your computer.
Q: What if I accidentally delete the printer icon from my desktop?
A: Don’t worry, you can simply follow the steps mentioned in this blog post to recreate the icon.
Q: How do I remove the Brother printer icon from my desktop?
A: To remove the icon, simply right-click on it and select “Delete.”
Q: Can I change the icon’s size and appearance?
A: Yes, you can adjust the icon’s size and appearance by right-clicking on it, selecting “Properties,” and then going to the “Shortcut” tab. Here you can change the icon’s size and choose different visual styles.