Quick summary
- This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various ways to take your Brother printer off sleep mode, ensuring you’re back in action in no time.
- Sleep mode is a clever energy-saving feature designed to reduce power consumption when your Brother printer isn’t in active use.
- your printer might appear “off” while in sleep mode, but it’s actually in a low-power state, waiting for a signal to wake up.
Frustrated with your Brother printer stubbornly refusing to print? You’re not alone. Many users encounter the dreaded “sleep mode” issue, leaving their printer unresponsive and their documents unprinted. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various ways to take your Brother printer off sleep mode, ensuring you’re back in action in no time.
Understanding Sleep Mode: A Printer’s Power-Saving Feature
Sleep mode is a clever energy-saving feature designed to reduce power consumption when your Brother printer isn‘t in active use. While this is great for conserving energy, it can be a nuisance when you need to print urgently. Here’s the catch: your printer might appear “off” while in sleep mode, but it’s actually in a low-power state, waiting for a signal to wake up.
The Most Common Ways to Wake Up Your Brother Printer
1. The Simple Button Press:
- Press the “Power” Button: Locate the power button on your Brother printer. It’s usually a prominent button, often with a power symbol. Press it once to wake up the printer.
2. The Wireless Connection:
- Send a Print Job: If your printer is connected wirelessly, try sending a print job from your computer or mobile device. This action should trigger the printer to wake up and receive the print command.
3. The Power Cable Trick:
- Unplug and Replug: Sometimes, a simple power cycle can do the trick. Disconnect the power cable from the printer, wait for a few seconds, and then plug it back in. This can reset the printer and potentially bring it out of sleep mode.
Troubleshooting Tips:
- Check the Power Source: Make sure your printer is plugged into a working electrical outlet. A faulty outlet or a loose connection could prevent the printer from receiving power.
- Verify Network Connection: If your printer is connected wirelessly, ensure a stable network connection. A weak or intermittent signal might hinder the printer’s ability to wake up.
- Check the Printer’s Status: Look for any error messages or indicators on the printer’s display. These might provide clues about why the printer is stuck in sleep mode.
Advanced Solutions:
1. The Printer Control Panel:
- Access the Menu: If your Brother printer has a control panel, navigate through the menu options. Look for settings related to “sleep mode” or “power management.” You might be able to adjust the sleep timer or disable sleep mode entirely.
2. Using the Brother iPrint&Scan App:
- Download and Install: The Brother iPrint&Scan app is a handy tool for controlling your Brother printer from your smartphone or tablet. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Connect to Your Printer: Once installed, follow the app’s instructions to connect to your Brother printer.
- Wake Up Your Printer: Within the app, you should find an option to wake up your printer remotely.
Preventing Sleep Mode Mishaps:
- Disable Sleep Mode: If you frequently need to print and find sleep mode inconvenient, consider disabling it altogether. Consult your printer’s manual for instructions on how to adjust the sleep settings.
- Reduce the Sleep Timer: If you prefer to keep sleep mode enabled, try reducing the sleep timer. This will make the printer wake up faster when needed.
Time to Print!
By following these steps, you should be able to successfully wake up your Brother printer from sleep mode and get back to printing your documents. Remember to check your printer’s manual for specific instructions, as different models may have slightly different settings and features.
Information You Need to Know
Q: My Brother printer is still not responding after trying all these methods. What should I do?
A: If the printer remains unresponsive, it might have a more serious issue. Contact Brother support for assistance, or consider having the printer serviced by a qualified technician.
Q: Can I wake up my Brother printer remotely?
A: Yes, you can use the Brother iPrint&Scan app to wake up your printer remotely from your smartphone or tablet.
Q: Why does my printer go into sleep mode so quickly?
A: The sleep timer setting on your printer determines how long it will stay awake before entering sleep mode. You can adjust this setting in the printer’s menu or through the Brother iPrint&Scan app.
Q: Is it bad for my printer to be in sleep mode all the time?
A: No, sleep mode is a power-saving feature and doesn’t harm your printer. However, if you frequently need to print, disabling sleep mode or reducing the sleep timer might be more convenient.
Q: My Brother printer is in sleep mode but the power light is on. Why?
A: Even though the power light is on, the printer might still be in a low-power state. Try the methods described above to wake it up.