Waking Up Your Mfc-J480dw Printer: Easy Troubleshooting Guide

how to wake my sleeping printer mfc-j480dw

If your Brother MFC-J480DW printer is in sleep mode and not responding to print commands, it may be in Deep Sleep mode. Deep Sleep mode is an energy-saving feature that automatically activates if the printer is in Sleep mode and does not receive any jobs for a certain length of time. This mode cannot be disabled, but there are several methods to wake your printer from its slumber.

How to wake my sleeping printer MFC-J480DW

Characteristics Values
Deep Sleep Mode Cannot be disabled; printer will enter this mode if it does not receive any jobs for a certain length of time
Sleep Mode Can be adjusted by pressing Menu and choosing General Setup => Ecology => Sleep Time
Sleep Time Setting Can be adjusted by pressing the START and OPTIONS keys simultaneously, then pressing the UP or DOWN ARROW key to choose Off
Waking from Sleep Mode Can be woken by receiving a print job or by pressing a control panel key
Wireless Printing May not be possible when the printer is in Deep Sleep Mode

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How to disable Deep Sleep mode

The Brother MFC-J480DW printer has a "Deep Sleep" mode to save energy. When the printer is in sleep mode and does not receive any jobs for a certain length of time, it will automatically enter Deep Sleep mode. The length of time varies based on your specific model and settings.

Deep Sleep mode cannot be disabled. However, you can adjust the Sleep Mode setting to a longer duration or even set it to "Off". Here's how to do it:

  • Press "Menu" and choose "General Setup".
  • Press the "Up" or "Down" arrow key to choose "Ecology".
  • Press "OK".
  • Press the "Up" or "Down" arrow key to choose "Sleep Time".
  • Press "OK".
  • Use the keys on the dial pad to enter the number of minutes the machine should be idle before it enters Sleep Mode. You can enter any number between 00 and 99.
  • Press the "START" and "OPTIONS" keys simultaneously. The LCD will display "Sleep Mode: On".
  • Press the "UP" or "DOWN" arrow key to choose "Off".
  • Press "OK".
  • Press "STOP/EXIT" to exit the menu.

By following these steps, you can effectively disable Sleep Mode and prevent your printer from entering Deep Sleep mode.

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Troubleshooting wireless printing issues

If you are experiencing issues with wireless printing on your Brother MFC-J480DW printer, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the problem.

Firstly, ensure that your printer is not in Deep Sleep mode. Deep Sleep mode is an energy-saving feature that prevents wireless devices from printing to the machine. To disable Deep Sleep mode, follow these steps:

  • Press "Settings" or "Menu" on your printer.
  • Use the Up or Down arrow key to select "General Setup" and press "OK".
  • Use the Up or Down arrow key to select "Sleep Mode" and press "OK".
  • Choose the amount of time you want your printer to be idle before entering Sleep Mode. To prevent Deep Sleep, select a longer duration such as 60 minutes.
  • Press "OK" and then "Stop/Exit" to save your changes.

If your printer is not in Deep Sleep mode or you are still experiencing wireless printing issues, try the following general troubleshooting steps:

  • Restart your devices: Power off your printer, router, and any connected devices. Restart your router first, followed by the printer and other devices.
  • Check Wi-Fi settings: Ensure your Wi-Fi is on the 2.4 GHz band and that your printer is within range of the router.
  • Re-enter Wi-Fi details: Double-check that the network name (SSID) and password are correct on your printer.
  • Update firmware: Make sure your printer and router firmware are up to date.
  • Reset network settings: Reset the printer's network settings and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
  • Check for error messages: Check the printer's display or LEDs for any error messages and clear them.
  • Install or reinstall software: Install or reinstall the MFL-Pro Suite using the "Full Driver and Software Package" from the Brother website or a compatible CD.
  • Test printing: Attempt to print a document or a test page. If it doesn't print, cancel the print job and uninstall and reinstall the Brother software.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve most wireless printing issues with your Brother MFC-J480DW printer.

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Adjusting Sleep Time settings

The Sleep Mode setting on your Brother MFC-J480DW printer can be adjusted to reduce power consumption. When the printer is in Sleep mode, it behaves as if it were turned off. You can wake the printer from Sleep mode by sending a print job or pressing a control panel key, which will bring it to Ready mode.

The default setting for Sleep mode is 3 minutes, but you can customise the duration. To do this, press the "Settings" or "Menu" button, then use the arrow keys to navigate to "General Setup" and press "OK". From there, use the arrow keys to select "Sleep Mode" and press "OK" again. Finally, use the arrow keys to choose the desired duration, ranging from 1 minute to 60 minutes, and confirm your selection by pressing "OK" one last time.

In addition to the manual setting, there are two other options for adjusting the Sleep Time settings: Auto (Intelligent Sleep Mode) and Printer Default. The Auto setting automatically adjusts the timeout setting based on how frequently you use your printer. On the other hand, the Printer Default option resets the timeout setting to the specific time configured at the factory.

It's important to note that the MFC-J480DW printer may also enter Deep Sleep mode if it remains idle in Sleep mode for an extended period. Deep Sleep mode further reduces power consumption, and the printer will display 'Deep Sleep' on the LCD screen when in this state. Unfortunately, Deep Sleep mode cannot be disabled, and the printer will not respond to wireless print commands while in this mode.

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Updating machine firmware

Updating the firmware on your Brother MFC-J480DW printer is recommended to improve its functions. This process will delete some data from your machine, including secured print data, caller ID log, and outgoing messages, so it is important to read the installation notes on the download page before running the firmware update tool.

To update the firmware, your computer must have access to the internet, and you must have installed the Full Driver & Software Package. Ensure that the Brother machine is turned on and connected to your computer or network. USB users should use a USB cable that is directly connected to the machine and the computer. Wired network users should use a network cable connected to the machine and the router. Wireless network users should ensure their computer is connected to the same wireless network as the machine. You may need to temporarily disable any anti-virus or firewall software.

Next, download the Firmware Update Tool from the Brother website. Double-click the installer package icon FirmwareUpdateTool.pkg or BrMainXXXX.dmg and follow the on-screen instructions. If prompted, enter your password and click Install Software. Click FirmwareUpdater.jar, and if you receive a message about the Java SE Development Kit, visit http://www.java.com to download it. Select your language and click Continue. Choose how your machine is connected to the internet and click Continue.

The firmware update process may take up to 15 minutes. Do not restart or turn off your computer or machine during this time, as this may corrupt the machine's memory. Once the update is successfully completed, click Continue if you want to update another machine.

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Reinstalling the MFL-Pro Suite

If your Brother MFC-J480DW printer is not printing due to being in Deep Sleep mode, you can try reinstalling the MFL-Pro Suite. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Firstly, check if your machine is connected to your computer. If it is not, you can connect it via a USB or Parallel cable. If you are using a Windows operating system, you can uninstall the MFL-Pro Suite by following these steps:

  • Double-click the DelInf32 icon. If '.exe' appears at the end of the name, do not double-click.
  • Verify that your model appears in the box under "Please select the MODEL".
  • Select your connection type (USB or Parallel) under "Please select connection type".
  • Click OK and restart your computer.

Once the Brother drivers have been removed, you can begin the reinstallation process. If you are a Windows 95/98/2000 user, this procedure will delete both the USB and Parallel drivers, even if only one was selected.

To reinstall the MFL-Pro Suite:

  • Download the tool from the Brother website and save it on your PC.
  • Double-click the downloaded file (Dlinstrg.exe) and run the program.
  • Follow the instructions in the quick setup guide.
  • Install the MFL-Pro Suite using the "Full Driver and Software Package" from the Brother website or a compatible CD.
  • Once the installation is complete, attempt to print a document or a test page.
  • If the document or test page prints, your printer and driver are working correctly.

Note that Brother will not provide new software or updates for Windows OS versions that Microsoft no longer supports.

Frequently asked questions

Press the START and OPTIONS keys simultaneously. The LCD will read "Sleep Mode: On." Then, press the UP OR DOWN ARROW key to choose Off and press OK.

Press Menu and choose General Setup => Ecology => Sleep Time. Then, use the keys on the dial pad to enter the number of minutes the machine should be idle before entering Sleep Mode. You can enter any number between 00 and 99.

Deep Sleep mode is automatically activated if your printer is in Sleep mode and does not receive any jobs for a certain length of time. This length of time is based on your specific model and settings.

Try updating the firmware for your machine. If this doesn't work, uninstall the Brother software and reinstall the MFL-Pro Suite using the "Full Driver and Software Package".

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