Windows 11 won’t connect to some printers through a USB cable

Microsoft’s printer issues didn’t end with the update to Windows 11.

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What you need to know

Windows 11and certain Brother printers don’t appear to get along right now. The printer maker confirmed that several models of its printers have issues with Microsoft’s new operating system. Specifically, some Brother printers won’t detect PCs when connected through a USB cable. Issues have also been spotted when trying to change a Brother printer’s settings from a Windows 11 PC.

Asupport pagefrom Brother states:

Aseparate pagefrom Brother lists applications and tools that may struggle to work with Windows 11 PCs through a USB cable:

That page also includes a list of all potentially affected models. Thebest inkjet printersand thebest laser printersare both affected by these issues.

Brother suggests that people affected by these issues use a different connection type, such as a wired or wireless connection.

Microsoft has had to deal with a long string ofprinter issueswith its Windows operating systems. It appears that those types of issues persist even with the rollout of Windows 11.

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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.