Fix Brother Printer Error 08007007e on Windows

If you’re seeing error 08007007e on your Brother printer in Windows, it usually means the printer driver or the connection between the PC and the printer has become corrupted or is blocked. This guide walks you through the exact steps to clear the error and get printing again, starting with the most common fixes and moving to more advanced ones.

What You’ll Need

Your Brother printer turned on, with paper loaded and no paper jams
Access to a Windows PC with administrator privileges
The printer’s USB cable (if using a wired connection)
Your Wi-Fi network name and password (if using wireless)
Patience – some steps require waiting for Windows to finish tasks

Step-by-Step

Check the printer’s status. Look at the printer’s display. If it shows an error like “Paper Jam” or “Cover Open,” resolve that first. Turn the printer off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Wait for it to finish its startup cycle.
Restart your computer. Save your work and restart Windows. This clears temporary glitches in the print spooler and driver services.
Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Click your Brother printer, then select Run the troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen prompts. This tool can automatically detect and fix common driver or connection issues.
Reinstall the printer driver. This is the most effective fix for error 08007007e.
1. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Click your Brother printer and select Remove device. Confirm if prompted.
3. Open the Control Panel (search for it in the Start menu) and go to Devices and Printers.
4. Right-click any Brother printer icon and choose Delete.
5. Press Windows key + R, type printui.exe /s, and press Enter. Go to the Drivers tab, find any Brother driver, click it, and select Remove. Choose “Remove driver and driver package” if offered.
6. Restart your PC.
7. Download the latest full driver package from Brother’s official support website (search for your exact model). Do not use the Windows built-in driver.
8. Run the downloaded installer. Choose the connection type (USB or wireless) when asked. For wireless, have your Wi-Fi password ready.
Reset the print spooler. Sometimes the spooler service gets stuck.
1. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll to Print Spooler. Right-click it and choose Stop.
3. In File Explorer, go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete all files in that folder (if any).
4. Go back to services.msc, right-click Print Spooler, and choose Start.
Check the connection.
- USB: Unplug the cable from both ends, then plug it back in. Try a different USB port on your PC.
- Wireless: Print a network configuration page from the printer’s menu (often under Settings > Network > Print Settings). Check the IP address. Then on your PC, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, click your printer, and select Manage > Printer properties. Click the Ports tab and verify the port matches the printer’s IP (e.g., a “Standard TCP/IP Port” with that IP). If not, add a new port with the correct IP.
Update Windows. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any pending updates. Restart if needed.
Use Brother’s print repair tool. Brother provides a free tool called “Printer Repair Tool” (search on Brother’s site). Download and run it. It can fix communication errors and reinstall the driver automatically.

Common Mistakes

Not removing the driver completely. Merely deleting the printer icon from Settings doesn’t remove the underlying driver. You must use the printui.exe /s method to delete the driver package.
Using the wrong driver. Installing a driver for a different Brother model or a generic driver can cause this error. Always download the driver for your exact model number.
Ignoring the printer’s own error messages. If the printer shows a hardware error (like a jam), no software fix will help.
Skipping the restart. After uninstalling the driver, you must restart before installing the new one. Windows needs a clean slate.
Forgetting to check the port. Even with the right driver, if Windows is sending data to the wrong IP port, the printer won’t respond.

Tips

Use a static IP address for your printer on your router (DHCP reservation) to prevent the IP from changing and breaking the connection.
Keep the printer’s firmware updated. Check Brother’s support site for firmware updates for your model.
If using USB, try a different cable. Faulty cables are a common cause of intermittent errors.
Run the driver installer as administrator. Right-click the installer and select “Run as administrator” to avoid permission issues.
Disable antivirus temporarily during driver installation, as some security software can block the driver from installing correctly.

Troubleshooting

If the error persists after following all steps:

Try a different connection method. If you’re on wireless, connect via USB temporarily to see if the error goes away. This tells you whether it’s a network issue or a driver issue.
Check for IP conflicts. Ensure the printer’s IP is not the same as another device on your network. You can ping the printer’s IP from the command prompt (ping <printer IP>) – if you get a reply, the printer is reachable.
Use Brother’s iPrint&Scan app. Install this from the Microsoft Store. If it can find and print to the printer, the issue is with the Windows driver, not the printer itself.
Try a different Windows user account. Create a new local user account and try to install the printer there. If it works, your main account’s profile may be corrupted.
Check Windows firewall. Ensure that Brother’s software is allowed through the firewall. Go to Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app through the firewall and look for Brother entries.
If all else fails, use Brother’s full uninstall utility (available on their site) to completely remove all Brother software, then reinstall from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does error 08007007e mean?

It’s a communication error between Windows and the Brother printer, usually caused by a corrupted driver, an incorrect port setting, or a blocked connection.

Will this fix work for all Brother models?

Yes, the steps are generic and apply to most Brother laser and inkjet printers, including DCP, MFC, and HL series.

Do I need to be an administrator to fix this?

Yes, most steps (especially driver removal and installation) require administrator privileges.

Can I fix this without reinstalling the driver?

Sometimes. Running the Windows troubleshooter or resetting the spooler may work. But if the error persists, driver reinstallation is the most reliable fix.

Why does the error come back after a few days?

This often happens when the printer’s IP address changes (if using wireless) or when Windows updates overwrite the driver. Setting a static IP and disabling automatic driver updates for the printer can help.

Is this error related to a hardware fault?

Rarely. It’s almost always a software or connection issue. If the printer prints a test page from its own menu, the hardware is fine.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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