Can't Update Brother Printer's Firmware

HDL · Tuesday at 9:40 AM

My Brother printer has a Firmware update but I cannot update it. I called Brother and they said the error code I get indicates a Firewall is blocking that update. I turned off Defender's firewall and shutdown Malwarebytes and I still cannot get the update to go through. Brother told me to call MS but that seems to no longer be an option. Any idea how I can get the firmware installed?

neemobeer · Tuesday at 9:51 AM

Can you plug in via USB and do the update? That would completely eliminate a firewall as a roadblock.

Helmut · Tuesday at 10:37 AM

Are you saying you cannot download the Firmware Updating Tool ?

When you get that error what are you doing exactly, running the Update Tool or at what point exactly ?

HDL · Tuesday at 12:49 PM

neemobeer said:
Can you plug in via USB and do the update? That would completely eliminate a firewall as a roadblock.

I will try this. I have Eero mesh WiFi and spent 2 hours on the phone with no good results. I will try your suggestion as soon as I answer the other post.

HDL · Tuesday at 12:51 PM

Helmut said:
Are you saying you cannot download the Firmware Updating Tool ?

When you get that error what are you doing exactly, running the Update Tool or at what point exactly ?

I have the update tool and was trying to update the firmware. I hope using the USB stick works because neither Brother or Eero came up with a solution that works.

HDL · Tuesday at 12:53 PM

neemobeer said:
Can you plug in via USB and do the update? That would completely eliminate a firewall as a roadblock.

I tried the USB stick and it still did not work.

neemobeer · Tuesday at 1:58 PM

I meant use a USB cable to connect to the printer and update, you would need to check the printer menu to see if it supports from a storage device

HDL · Tuesday at 2:52 PM

neemobeer said:
I meant use a USB cable to connect to the printer and update, you would need to check the printer menu to see if it supports from a storage device

I tried that and didn't get it to add an USB port, so I stopped trying.

retiredat44 · Tuesday at 9:35 PM

I have a Brother

MFC9130CW Laser Printer, best printer and copier ever , been wonderful! I use their software and have it on my network at home. I do the updates through the brother software. it connects through my wifi.

https://www.brother-usa.com/products/mfc9130cw?irclickid=2EPyUIwKoxycTBIzdBV78Wj9UksVsowShWcRUw0&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=impact&utm_content=Brother Main Site&utm_campaign=Bing Rebates by Microsoft&productskuvalue=&irgwc=1&partner=Bing Rebates by Microsoft&mpid=2003851&group=#autoFullFmentPopupModel

Helmut · Wednesday at 6:47 AM

So the problem is when running the update tool. I very much doubt that it will work from a USB stick.

As it is an EXE with some sort of compression, you have to look for Apps that might block the use of that EXE.
That could be the settings of your Security applications, such as an Antivirus app or something similar.
From your system specs a possibility is Malwarebytes.

We still don't know exactly what your error message is or what is generating it, clues maybe there Microsoft ? Brother ? Malwarebytes ? etc.

HDL · Wednesday at 7:17 AM

Helmut said:
So the problem is when running the update tool. I very much doubt that it will work from a USB stick.

As it is an EXE with some sort of compression, you have to look for Apps that might block the use of that EXE.
That could be the settings of your Security applications, such as an Antivirus app or something similar.
From your system specs a possibility is Malwarebytes.

We still don't know exactly what your error message is or what is generating it, clues maybe there Microsoft ? Brother ? Malwarebytes ? etc.

If I am trying to run the update from my computer the error message is, "Failed To Load Files. (M06)." This Brother support tells me means that a firewall is blocking it. If I try to run it from the printer itself the error message is, to the best of my recollection, , "Lost Internet Connection." Again, Brother support tells me that too is caused by a firewall. I turned of Defender's firewall both on Public and Private networks and quit Malwarebytes. Same error message. I was on the phone for 2 hours the first time with Eero who is my WiFi mesh provider to see if Eero had a firewall, it doesn't but they had me turn off Advanced security. That too did no good.

They sent me back to Brother who tried updating it using the printer's IP address. On the printout Brother had me do it gave the IP address and in parenthesis it had (via DHCP). In trying this it bombed again saying I was using a Proxy server. I called my ISP they said no I wasn't. Then I called Eero again, they said they do not use a Proxy server either.

In the first conversation with Eero they had me hook the printer directly to the Gateway Eero and use a computer that had WiFi connection to try to update. I got the same error message I first described above with the (M06) ending.

I called my computer builder and we got nowhere. In all I was on the phone for almost 6 hours and accomplished nothing. The printer works, so I gave up.

Helmut · Wednesday at 8:35 AM

The printer works which is the main thing.
You have done everything possible and unfortunately wasted your time.

The fault is probably with Brother, their update tool is no good.

HDL · Wednesday at 9:28 AM

Helmut said:
The printer works which is the main thing.
You have done everything possible and unfortunately wasted your time.

The fault is probably with Brother, their update tool is no good.

Exactly what I thought but of course, they'll never admit that.

spapakons · Wednesday at 9:52 AM

If you are using third-party (compatible) inks, then DON'T update the firmware. Many manufacturers issue firmware updates to identify and block non-genuine consumables. Users update their printers and then they accept only genuine (aka original) inks/toners which cost double than third-party (compatible).

gunrunnerjohn · Wednesday at 10:01 AM

It would be really useful to know the exact model of printer this is...

I have two Brother printers, one connected with WiFi, the other a wired Ethernet connection. The printers are the HL-3170CDW on a wireless connection and the MFC-L3780CDW with a wired connection. My Windows 10 & 11 both run Windows Defender and Malwarebytes with no exceptions, the Windows firewall has not been altered from the default settings. I have the somewhat aging Google WiFi MESH network in front of my Verizon FiOS router, so there is a double NAT layer to contend with as well.

With all that in the way, the Brother updates have never been a problem, I've had a few for the older HL-3170CDW and two updates for the MFC-L3780CDW since I got it. They were accomplished without a hitch.

That being the case, my guess unless you have a more restrictive environment, I'd say there's something amiss with either the printer or that specific update file.

HDL · Wednesday at 12:07 PM

spapakons said:
If you are using third-party (compatible) inks, then DON'T update the firmware. Many manufacturers issue firmware updates to identify and block non-genuine consumables. Users update their printers and then they accept only genuine (aka original) inks/toners which cost double than third-party (compatible).

I never use third party inks or toners. Even though the product's supplies are more expensive, I have never even considered anything else.

HDL · Wednesday at 12:13 PM

gunrunnerjohn said:
It would be really useful to know the exact model of printer this is...

I have two Brother printers, one connected with WiFi, the other a wired Ethernet connection. The printers are the HL-3170CDW on a wireless connection and the MFC-L3780CDW with a wired connection. My Windows 10 & 11 both run Windows Defender and Malwarebytes with no exceptions, the Windows firewall has not been altered from the default settings. I have the somewhat aging Google WiFi MESH network in front of my Verizon FiOS router, so there is a double NAT layer to contend with as well.

With all that in the way, the Brother updates have never been a problem, I've had a few for the older HL-3170CDW and two updates for the MFC-L3780CDW since I got it. They were accomplished without a hitch.

That being the case, my guess unless you have a more restrictive environment, I'd say there's something amiss with either the printer or that specific update file.

I have 3 Brother printers but the one in question here is the MFC-J5930DW which is an all in one ink jet printer. I have owned Brother printers for many, many years, and I too have never had a problem with updates before. I just gave Brother's support a less than favorable review when they asked me to rate my experience with them. I said they could contact me. So we will see if that happens.

spapakons · Wednesday at 1:02 PM

I understand you only use genuine supplies and you don't mind if a firmware update might make the printers reject non-genuine supplies. In that case I would run the firmware tool as Administrator (right-click, Run as Administrator) to make sure it has the required access rights. I would also temporarily disable the antivirus just in case it interferes with the update. Much safer it is to temporarily connect the printer to the computer directly with USB cable and update the firmware.

That said I would like to point out that non-genuine supplies don't damage the printer. This is a rumor deliberately spread by the manufacturers to prevent us using third-party supplies. Unless it is the cheapest possible, worst manufactured quality unknown brand, there is not such risk. However, unlike genuine supplies that are expected to deliver maximum quality prints, third-party supplies are not all the same. Once you test one and are not satisfied you go to the next brand. Of course professionals cannot experiment with the print quality, but us common users can.

PS: I don't know your region, but the USA link to the firmware is:

Firmware | Downloads | MFC-J5930DW | United States | Brother

support.brother.com

retiredat44 · Wednesday at 1:41 PM

HDL said:
I never use third party inks or toners. Even though the product's supplies are more expensive, I have never even considered anything else.

no issues with 3rd party inks here..

retiredat44 · Wednesday at 1:53 PM

maybe the file is corrupt, if you download a file, and unzip it, if the unzipper program is not correct (some 3rd party zip programs screw files up) then they will have issues. Make sure you are not have an issue with corrupted file after unzipping. try a different zip program. can happen with any file. could be the usb device. try a different one. I am not familiar with the HL-3170CDW.

Can't Update Brother Printer's Firmware

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MFC9130CW Laser Printer, best printer and copier ever , been wonderful! I use their software and have it on my network at home. I do the updates through the brother software. it connects through my wifi.​

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MFC9130CW Laser Printer, best printer and copier ever , been wonderful! I use their software and have it on my network at home. I do the updates through the brother software. it connects through my wifi.