How To Fix A Brother Printer That Won’t Turn On (2026)
If your Brother printer shows no lights, no display and no response when you press the power button, the problem is usually the power connection rather than the printer itself.
It is common, and in many cases the printer is simply asleep or reacting to a power surge.
The steps below start with the quickest checks and take about 15 minutes, plus a 10-minute wait.
Quick answer: what to try first
| What you see | Likely cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| Blank screen but the printer wakes when you print | Sleep mode | Send a print job or touch the panel |
| Totally dead after a storm or power surge | Internal safety mechanism tripped | Unplug for 10 minutes, then power on |
| Dead on a power strip or battery backup | Faulty strip or backup | Plug directly into the wall |
| Dead on a known-good outlet | Bad power cable | Try a different cable |
| Still dead after all of this | Hardware fault | Contact Brother support |
Is the Brother printer just in sleep mode?
Sleep mode is a power-saving state, and Brother’s guide says the machine acts as though it is turned off while in it.
Brother says the printer wakes when it receives a print job or a fax.
Before you troubleshoot anything else, send a test print from your computer and see whether the printer wakes up.
Change how long it waits before sleeping
You can set how long the printer sits idle before it sleeps, but the menu depends on your model.
| Model family | Menu path | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| DCP-L2512D, DCP-L2537DW, DCP-L2532DW, DCP-L2552DN, MFC-L2712DN, MFC-L2712DW | Menu > General Setup > Ecology > Sleep Time | Up to 50 minutes |
| MFC-L2732DW, MFC-L2750DW, MFC-L2752DW | Settings > All Settings > General Setup > Ecology > Sleep Time | Up to 50 minutes |
| DCP-T830DW and other listed DCP-T models | Menu > General Setup > Ecology > Sleep Time | 1 to 60 minutes, factory default 1 minute |
Other models may use different menus, so check your model’s online user’s guide at support.brother.com.
Did Auto Power Off switch the printer off?
Some Brother models switch themselves off after sitting in sleep for a set time, which can look like a dead printer.
Brother’s guides say that to print after the machine has powered off, you press the power button on the control panel and then send the print job.
| Model family | Auto Power Off path | Choices |
|---|---|---|
| HL-L2405W, HL-L2420DW, HL-L2460DW, HL-L2460DWXL, HL-L2865DW | General Setup > Ecology > Auto Power Off | 1, 2, 4 or 8 hours |
| DCP-J572DW, MFC-J491DW, MFC-J497DW | Settings > General Setup > Auto Power Off | Off, 1, 2, 4 or 8 hours |
| DCP-J772DW, DCP-J774DW, MFC-J890DW, MFC-J895DW | Settings > All Settings > General Setup > Auto Power Off | Off, 1, 2, 4 or 8 hours |
Brother says the printer does not power itself off while it is connected to a network on the models covered by those guides, so a printer that went dark on a network is more likely in sleep mode.
Check the power cord and wall outlet
A loose cord or a dead outlet is the simplest cause, so rule it out first.
- Push the power cord firmly into the printer and the wall.
- Unplug the printer and plug a lamp or phone charger into the same outlet.
- If that device does not work, move the printer to an outlet you know works.
- Check for a wall switch that controls the outlet.
Remove the surge protector or battery backup
Brother’s guidance for these models says to disconnect any backup battery or surge suppressor to see whether it is the cause.
Plug the power cord straight into a wall outlet.
Unplug the printer for 10 minutes
Brother says lightning or a power surge can trigger the machine’s internal safety mechanisms, and the printer then refuses to power on.
- Unplug the power cord from the printer or the wall.
- Wait a full ten minutes.
- Plug the cord back in.
- Press the power button.
If it still does not start, Brother adds that you can press and hold the power button to turn the machine off before trying a different outlet.
Try a different power cable
If the printer is dead on a working outlet with nothing else attached, Brother’s next step is a different power cable.
The cord is a separate part, and a frayed or damaged one can fail while the printer is fine.
Use the exact cable type listed for your model, and do not use a damaged cord.
Which models do these official steps cover?
| Brother series | Models on the official page |
|---|---|
| HL-L3200 and HL-L8200 series | HL-L3215CW, HL-L3220CW, HL-L3220CWE, HL-L3240CDW, HL-L8230CDW, HL-L8240CDW |
| HL-L2400 series | HL-L2400D, HL-L2405W, HL-L2420DW, HL-L2460DW, HL-L2460DWXL, HL-L2865DW |
| HL-EX series | HL-EX415DW |
Brother publishes the same “will not turn on” entry across these laser models, and ink models may differ.
When to contact Brother support
If the printer is still dead after the steps above, the power supply or main board has probably failed.
Brother’s support page is the place to find service options for your model.
Have the model number and purchase date ready, and ask about warranty coverage and repair cost before you agree to service.
For an older printer, compare the repair cost with the price of a new one.
Related printer guides
- How to fix a Brother printer that won’t print
- No printers found on iPhone: 10 fixes
- How to print with only color ink when black ink is empty
Official sources: Brother “machine will not turn on” entry (HL-L2460DW guide) and Brother support.
Restore power method worked on Brother DCP-9020CDW! Thanks
Thank you, really saved my bacon today! Method 1 Worked on a MFC-L2700DW printer after it was left off for 5 weeks and wouldn’t turn on.
These steps worked on my model 5620 printer. Thank you.
Thank you so much, your advice saved the day!
Thanks! This “restore power” method worked! I had tried everything suggested at the brother website, and was about to give up. I’m very glad I found this website.