How to Download & Install Your Brother Printer Driver
By Ryan Green · Updated July 2026 · Independent guide · PrinterCare USA LLC (not affiliated with any printer manufacturer)
Brother printers work well until they don't—and usually the culprit is driver software that's gone wrong. This guide walks you through exactly what to do, in order, so you can get printing again without guesswork.
We'll cover both Windows 11 and macOS because the process differs slightly, and we'll show you how to completely remove old driver files that sometimes hide and cause conflicts. Bring your printer model number handy—you'll need it to download the exact right driver.
How to fix it — step by step
- Find Your Printer Model Number. Locate the model number on a sticker attached to your Brother printer, usually on the back or bottom panel. It typically looks like 'HL-L8360CDW' or 'MFC-L9550CDWT'. Write it down or take a photo with your phone—you'll need this exact number to download the correct driver.
- Disconnect Printer from Computer and Power. Unplug the USB cable from your Brother printer and unplug the power cord. Wait 30 seconds, then power the printer back on without connecting it to the computer yet. This clears the printer's memory and prevents it from trying to use the old or corrupted driver during reinstallation.
- Windows 11: Uninstall via Settings. On Windows 11, click the Start button, type 'Apps and features', and open it. Search for 'Brother' in the list, click on the Brother printer driver entry, and select 'Uninstall'. Follow the prompts to remove it completely. Restart your computer when finished—this ensures all driver files are purged from your system.
- macOS: Remove Brother Driver and Printer Queue. On macOS, go to System Settings > General > Printers & Scanners, find your Brother printer, click it, and select 'Remove'. Then open Finder, go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal, and paste this command: 'sudo rm -rf /Library/Printers/Brother' (enter your password when prompted). This removes lingering driver files that cause conflicts.
- Download the Correct Driver from Brother. Visit the Brother official support website (brother.com/support), enter your exact printer model number in the search box, and download the driver for your operating system (Windows 11 or macOS). Always download from the official site—avoid third-party driver sites, which often bundle unwanted software or serve outdated versions.
- Install the Driver and Restart. Run the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen prompts. On Windows, choose 'Standard Installation' unless you have custom networking needs. On macOS, drag the driver to Applications if prompted, then complete the installation. Restart your computer after installation finishes—this activates the new driver properly.
- Reconnect Printer with USB Cable. Once your computer has restarted, plug the USB cable back into your Brother printer and the computer. Windows 11 or macOS should recognize the printer within 10-15 seconds. If the printer appears in your Printers & Scanners (macOS) or Devices and Printers (Windows 11) list, the driver installed correctly.
- Print a Test Page to Verify. Right-click the printer name in your computer's printer list and select 'Print test page' (Windows) or open any document and select your Brother printer from the Print dialog to send a test page (macOS). If the page prints clearly with no smudging or errors, your driver is working. If problems persist, contact Brother support—a remote technician can diagnose for $49.
Still stuck? A technician can fix it remotely today.
Independent remote support — you watch every step, and you pay the flat $49 only after your printer is working. $0 if we can't fix it.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the official Brother driver download page?
Go to brother.com, click 'Support' in the top menu, then search for your printer model number. Select your operating system (Windows 11 or macOS) from the dropdown, and you'll see a list of available drivers. Download the standard driver package—not the utilities or software bundles unless you specifically need them.
My printer is still not showing up after reinstalling the driver—what now?
Try unplugging the printer for 60 seconds, then plugging it back in. On Windows 11, open Device Manager, look for any unknown devices or error symbols under 'Other devices' or 'Universal Serial Bus controllers', and uninstall them. On macOS, restart your computer one more time after driver installation. If it still doesn't appear, the printer may have a hardware issue or bad USB port—contact Brother support for troubleshooting.
Can I use the same driver for multiple Brother printers?
No—always download the driver specific to your model number. Brother printer drivers are model-specific, and using the wrong one causes communication errors, missing features, and printing failures. If you have multiple Brother printers, you'll need to install each model's correct driver separately on the same computer.
Do I need to restart between uninstalling and reinstalling the driver?
Yes, restarting between uninstall and reinstall is critical on both Windows 11 and macOS. It ensures the old driver files are completely removed from your system memory and prevents file conflicts during the new installation. Skip this step and you risk the new driver not working properly.