How to Download Brother Scanner Software to a Computer

On this page (10 sections)

1. How do you find the right Brother scanner download?
2. What's inside the Brother software package?
3. How do you install the software on Windows?
4. How do you install it on a Mac?
5. How do you set it up on Linux?
6. How do you test the scanner after installing?
7. Why won't the computer detect the scanner?
8. How do you keep the scanner working after setup?
9. Which scanner suits the download you just installed?
10. What's the short version of downloading Brother scanner software?

Getting the right Brother scanner software is the whole job. Go to Brother's support downloads page, enter your model, and download the full driver and software package for your operating system.

Install it, connect the scanner, and scan a test page. If the scan works, the download is done.

The steps below cover finding the file, installing it on Windows, Mac and Linux, testing the scanner, and fixing the usual detection problems. They work for compact models like the DS-640 and DS-740D as well as desktop Brother scanners.

How do you find the right Brother scanner download?

Start at Brother's own support site, not a third-party driver site. Brother publishes the driver and the iPrint&Scan app in one package for each model and operating system.

That package is the safest file to install.

Open the support downloads page and type your model number into the search field. Pick your exact model from the results, because a DS-640 download won't install the DS-740D driver.

Then choose your operating system and its version from the dropdown.

You'll usually see two or more files. Choose the full driver and software package if you want Brother's scan app and its scan-to destinations.

Choose the driver-only file if you plan to scan from another program. Save the file somewhere you can find it, such as your Downloads folder.

If your scanner's box includes a disk, you can skip it. The download is typically newer and works on computers without a disc drive.

What's inside the Brother software package?

The full package includes the scanner driver, the iPrint&Scan app, and usually OCR and document management tools. The driver is the part that lets your computer talk to the scanner.

The rest is what you actually use day to day.

The driver comes in more than one flavor. On Windows it installs as a TWAIN driver and a WIA driver.

On Mac it's the ICA driver. On Linux the scanner works through SANE.

Those are the interfaces that programs like Photoshop or a PDF tool use to pull a scan.

Brother iPrint&Scan is the free desktop app for scanning to destinations such as your PC, a network folder, email, cloud services and OCR. It also holds the one-touch buttons and image settings, including automatic color detection and text enhancement.

For a closer look at how those features behave on a compact scanner, our Brother DS-640 review covers them in detail.

Skip the app if you only need the driver. Installing just the driver is fine when your everyday program already has a scan command.

How do you install the software on Windows?

Run the downloaded file as an administrator and follow the on-screen steps, connecting the scanner only when the installer asks. Installing the software before plugging in the scanner gives Windows a clean handshake with the driver.

1. Close any open scan or photo programs.
2. Right-click the downloaded file and choose Run as administrator.
3. Accept the license and choose a full or custom install.
4. Connect the scanner's USB cable when the installer prompts you.
5. Wait for the setup to confirm the scanner was found, then finish.

If the installer offers a "Custom" install, you can leave out extras you won't use. A full install is the simpler choice when you aren't sure which components you need.

After it finishes, restart the computer if setup asks you to.

One caution: if Windows installed its own driver the moment you plugged the scanner in, remove that copy before running Brother's installer. Two drivers for one scanner is a common cause of a scan failing.

How do you install it on a Mac?

Download the macOS package for your model and macOS version, open it, and run the installer. The Mac package includes the ICA driver that lets Preview and Image Capture find the scanner.

Allow the installer and any Brother helper app in System Settings when macOS asks. Newer macOS versions block software from unidentified developers by default, so the permission step matters.

If the scanner doesn't appear in Image Capture afterward, open Brother iPrint&Scan and check that it lists the device.

Mac users who scan often should install iPrint&Scan even if they mostly use Preview. The app holds the scan-to-cloud and OCR destinations that the basic system dialog doesn't offer.

It's also where you'll find the scanner's maintenance and cleaning options.

Keep the download file until you've scanned a page successfully. If the first install misbehaves, a second run from the same file is quicker than searching for it again.

How do you set it up on Linux?

Brother's Linux driver packages, plus SANE, handle most Brother scanners. Download the driver packages for your model from the support page and install them in the order the page gives, usually the scanner driver first and any network or utility package after.

Many Linux distributions already include SANE, the standard scanning layer. If a scan program doesn't see the scanner, check that SANE and a front end like Simple Scan or XSane are installed.

Then run the scanner detection step in your distribution's settings.

Some compact Brother models connect only by USB, so keep the cable plugged in during setup. Linux support varies more than Windows or Mac support, so read the model's install notes before you begin.

When the driver works, scanning from a simple program is usually all you need.

How do you test the scanner after installing?

Scan one page from Brother iPrint&Scan or your system's scan tool and open the file. A successful scan confirms both the driver and the USB connection.

If the preview appears and the file saves, setup is finished.

In iPrint&Scan, choose your scanner, set the scan type and resolution, and scan to a file or image destination. Start with a plain black-and-white page to keep the test simple.

Then scan a color page and check that the colors look right.

What should you check on the first scan?

Look at the edges of the page, not just the middle. A page that comes through with skewed text or a cropped margin usually needs a different feed setting or a flatter sheet.

For photo scans, check that the colors and detail hold up at the resolution you chose. If you plan to digitize a box of prints, our guide to how to scan old photos to a computer covers resolution and file format choices.

If the test scan saves cleanly, you're done with the download and install. Save the installer file in case you move to a new computer later.

Why won't the computer detect the scanner?

Check the cable and port first, then confirm the driver installed. Most detection problems are physical or driver-related, not software bugs.

Work through them in this order.

1. Unplug and replug the USB cable at both ends.
2. Try a different USB port, ideally a direct port on the computer rather than a hub.
3. Open Device Manager on Windows or System Information on a Mac and look for the scanner.
4. Reinstall the full driver package if the scanner is missing or shows a warning.
5. Restart the computer and try the scan again.

On Windows, a scanner listed under "Other devices" with a warning mark usually means the driver didn't finish installing. On a Mac, a scanner that never appears in Image Capture often needs the iPrint&Scan app opened once to wake the connection.

A powered USB hub can also cause dropouts with bus-powered compact scanners, so test without one.

If nothing works, uninstall the Brother software, unplug the scanner, reboot, and reinstall from the saved file. A clean install fixes most stubborn cases.

How do you keep the scanner working after setup?

Keep the driver current and clean the feed path now and then. Software updates from Brother fix compatibility issues with new operating system versions.

A clean scanner also avoids streaks and feed jams that look like software faults.

Update the driver when you upgrade your computer's operating system. A driver that worked before a major update can stop responding afterward.

The support page lists the current version for each model, so a quick check takes a minute.

Dust on the glass and rollers is the usual cause of lines in a scan. Wipe the glass with a soft cloth and follow the model's cleaning steps for the rollers.

A pack of scanner wipes makes the job easy.

For compact mobile scanners like the DS-640 and DS-740D, the feed path is short and easy to reach. Clean it before a long scanning session rather than after a smudged batch.

If your scans are of old prints, read how to clean old photos before scanning so the originals don't add dust to the scanner.

When the scans are done, a folder plan saves time later. Our guide to how to organize scanned photos covers naming and grouping files so you can find them again.

Which scanner suits the download you just installed?

The software setup is the same for the compact Brother scanners, so the choice comes down to how you scan. Both models use Brother's driver and iPrint&Scan downloads.

Pick by whether you need double-sided scanning.

The Brother DS-640 scans one side at a time. It's under a foot long, weighs about 1.5 lbs, and powers from the included micro USB 3.0 cable, so it works from a laptop without an outlet.

It handles documents up to 72 inches long plus business cards and plastic ID cards. That makes it a good fit for occasional pages, receipts and cards.

The Brother DS-740D adds duplex scanning. It scans single and double-sided pages in one pass at up to 16ppm and uses a desk-saving design that frees up desk space.

It's the better choice when contracts, forms or two-sided notes are routine. Both models use the same software, so neither download is harder than the other.

For most people setting up a Brother scanner at home, the DS-640 is the simpler pick unless double-sided pages are common. Then the DS-740D's single-pass duplex saves a step on every batch.

What's the short version of downloading Brother scanner software?

Find your model on Brother's support page, download the full driver and software package for your operating system, install it, and scan a test page. That sequence covers how to download Brother scanner software to a computer without detours.

The driver does the connection work, and iPrint&Scan gives you the scan destinations.

Choose the driver-only file if you scan from another program. Choose the full package if you want Brother's app and its scan-to features.

Test one page before you file the installer away.

If your scans will be photos rather than documents, match the scanner to the job before you start. A compact mobile model like the DS-640 suits pages and cards, while a flatbed is the usual pick for prints.

The download steps stay the same either way.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the disk that came with the scanner?

No. The software in the box is often older than what Brother posts online.

Downloading the current full driver and software package for your model and operating system gives you the latest version, and it's the safer choice if your computer has no optical drive.

What's the difference between the full software package and a driver-only download?

The full package includes the driver plus Brother iPrint&Scan and usually OCR and document management tools. The driver-only file installs just the TWAIN, WIA, ICA or SANE driver, which is what you want if you scan from another program.

Why won't my computer detect the scanner after installing the software?

Check the USB cable first and try another port, ideally a direct port on the computer rather than a hub. Then open Device Manager or the Mac system report and look for the scanner, and reinstall the full package if it's missing or marked with a warning.

Can I scan without installing Brother's software?

Yes, on most systems. Windows apps can use the TWAIN or WIA driver, Mac apps can use the ICA driver, and Linux tools use SANE, all of which the driver-only download provides.

Brother iPrint&Scan is only needed for its scan-to destinations and one-touch shortcuts.

Does the Brother DS-640 need separate software for duplex scanning?

No. The DS-640 scans one side at a time, while the DS-740D has duplex scanning built in and handles double-sided pages in a single pass.

Both use the same iPrint&Scan app and driver downloads, so the setup steps are the same.