- Brother Control Center 64 Bit
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- Brother Printer Driver Mac
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Brother Utilities Usages and Overall Facts about It
Brother devices can search for connected devices within the network. Not only that, the utility enables you to view each of the device’s status and also configure the (basic) network settings, like the IP address. The utility would be available for Windows (including XP, Vista, 2000, Server 2002/2008), Mac 10.3 OS X. When I start up my macbook I get this pop up about brother control centre, it never launches properly and slows down my machine to a crawl I have had a look online about how to remove it, but the program is no longer listed on my machine, and I have searched all files for the word 'brother' and there is nothing there.
You probably have heard about the so-called Brother utilities especially when you want to install and set up that particular brand of a printer. Brother is one of the most popular brands of electronic devices that are generally related to professional activities, such as printers or scanners. As one of the most leading names in the industry, it is only logical to expect the brand to deliver the best service.
The problem with having printer is mostly lying on the initial setup. You will have to deal with the driver and software before you can use it. It may not be a problem if you are a technical savvy, but if you are completely clueless about the whole thing, how to manage the setup and installation may be confusing and overwhelming. So, it doesn’t hurt to learn more about Brother utilities and how you can make use of it.
What is Brother Utilities?
Utilities refer to application or software that you can use to manage, configure, analyze, or optimize a system. So, Brother utility is the software used to manage and maintain your printer’s operation and activities. There are different utilities that you can use for your printer. Some utilities may be quite basic, while the others are the advanced versions. Some utilities are designed for connection setting or status update, while some are for printing activities. There are different utilities for different needs.
For instance, BRAdmin Light is the utility that you use during initial setup within Brother network. Brother devices can search for connected devices within the network. Not only that, the utility enables you to view each of the device’s status and also configure the (basic) network settings, like the IP address. The utility would be available for Windows (including XP, Vista, 2000, Server 2002/2008), Mac 10.3 OS X. If you are using Macintosh, the utility would be automatically installed.
If you are looking for an advanced version of Brother utilities, BRAdmin Professional 3 will be perfect for you. It is the advanced (management) software for Brother devices’ network connection. Not only you can view the printer’s status, you can also manage them easily. Each device’s status would change color for easier management. You will have no problems configuring the device and network settings while being able to update the firmware (from the computer within your LAN).
Brother Control Center 64 Bit
Want to know which utilities would work well for you? Well, it depends on your preference. There are certain utilities for printing. There are different utilities for management and viewing. There are utilities for internet connection or network setup. Since each user has different needs and requirements concerning their activities, then each of the users should find out which utility is suitable for them.
Benefits of Brother Utilities
Just like other software or programs, utilities are designed to make the operation easier. Yes, Brother devices may have their own functions. They can be used to print or scan, but with the utilities, the operation would be even easier, simpler, and faster. BRAdmin Professional 3, for instance, can help you manage your activities. You can view and manage your connections easily – and there are even extra features (such as color changes) to make the overall operation nice and easy.
Basically, the utilities are created to make your activities and operations easier – even fun! You can monitor your (printing) activities more easily and efficiently. You can manage whatever ways that feel convenient for you. Just like all tools that are created to be helpful and handy, so do all of the provided utilities for Brother devices.
How to Download Brother Utilities
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to download Brother utilities. Here are the steps:
- Access https://support.brother.com
- Choose Downloads
- In the field ‘Search by Model Name’, type in the model number (of your printer). Then press ‘Search’
- Browse to ‘Product Category’, then choose ‘Product Series’, and pick the option ‘Model Name’
- In Step 1: Select OS Family, make sure to choose the type of operating system
- In Step 2: Select OS Version, make sure to pick the specific operating system
- Press ‘Search’
- You will see lists of file names. Click the name that you want to download
- There would be instructions in the page. Make note of them all. The instructions are for using the file when you already download it. The information is generally available within a special section ‘Read before Downloading’
- Click ‘Agree to EULA’ and chose ‘Download’
- After you click ‘Download’, you may get extra information about the downloaded file.
- For Macintosh users, the notification says ‘The download will begin. Follow the noted earlier instructions for assistance for using the file’.
- For Windows users, the notification says ‘If prompted with security warning, click ‘Save’. You may click ‘Run’ instead
- When the download has completed, click the option ‘Close’ – when prompted.
How to Operate Brother Utilities
As it was mentioned before, you will get the instructions when you want to manage the download. Those stages shouldn’t be underestimated or ignored. Make sure that you have written them all so you can operate the utilities. Keep in mind that different utilities would lead to different operation and ways to manage everything.
Common Issues that Happen when Operating Brother Utilities
As it was mentioned before, not everyone is familiar with Brother utilities – the problems it cause and how to deal with them. When you incorporate the utilities in your printer, there may be several issues that may arise when using the printer. So, what are the common problems?
- Mobile Phone Printing
If you have wireless printers, you should be able to connect your printer to your mobile devices without using any cable or whatsoever. You use the wireless connection to connect them together. However, it is possible that you can’t print the files or documents from your mobile devices even when they are connected. If it happens, make sure that you have utilized the proper app. If you are using Android phone, check the proper app for that phone. If you are using an iPhone, you need to download an AirPrint which supports the program.
- WiFi Printing Takes Forever
When you use the wireless printing and you notice that it takes forever to print up files, it is probably because of the distance (between your WiFi router and your printer). The printer is probably too far from the router so the connection isn’t very smooth. You can use these two methods: Use USB cable instead or you can move those two devices closer. It should improve the connection.
- USB Cable Printing Takes Forever
What if you have switched to USB cable printing and it still takes too long? Well, that’s one of the most common issues with Brother utilities. If it happens, big chances that the issue lies in the settings. Check it. If your printer is set with high-quality printing quality, then you may want to change it to normal – or even low. But if the quality for the low is too lousy or bad, then you may want to use the normal setting instead.
- Prints Are (Too) Light
Most people may call the Brother support when it happens, but it isn’t necessary, really. If the printing result is too light (the ink isn’t bold or sharp), then it is possible that the printing head is dirty – or you haven’t cleaned it for a while. Simply run the utility app and have the print head cleaned. Don’t forget to check the setting too. Who knows? Maybe you (or someone else) have set it at the low setting.
- Unable to Fit Two Pages within a Sheet
Have you experienced this: Your printer somewhat always prints two sheets while it can actually print in one sheet? Not only it is weird, but it also wastes papers. No need to worry – fixing the issue can be done quite easily and fast. If you use a Windows system, pick ‘Print and Properties’ and switch the number (from 1 to 2) per sheet.
- Regular Jam
Because of the reputable name, most Brother printers are known for their reliability and good features. When it’s normal, you shouldn’t experience quite often paper jams. But when it happens, it’s likely that there is actually a paper being stuck within the printer (or in the middle of it). Try removing it with your hands. If it fails, use the vacuum cleaner. If the stuck is happening too deep, you will have to contact the Help Service and ask for their help.
- The Cartridges Empty Too Soon
What if you get a notification that your ink level is too low – and yet you know that it’s not true? Big chances that the ink (in the cartridge) is dry. The best thing that you can do is to check the cartridge. Take it out and then put it in warm water. This action will resolve the dry ink and make it liquid again. Make sure to properly dry it before you use it again.
- Printing Jobs Don’t Start Right away
Have you experienced this? You have started and managed the printing job. You have clicked the option ‘Ok’ or ‘Start’, but the printer doesn’t seem to start at all. The most possible reason is because your computer program is sending out instructions or orders to the wrong device. This is a pretty common problem if you have two printers. It is also common if you have installed another printer (in the past) before. You want to make sure that your Brother printer is the primary (and also the default) device for you. To do so, you can set it up by choosing ‘Devices and Printers’ and then go with ‘Printers and Faxes’. Then on the option Brother printer, right click on it. When you see the option ‘Set as Default Printer’, choose that. And you should be good to go!
These are some of the common issues that are generally related to the Brother devices. It would be even better if you can check what kind of utilities work best for your needs. There are different utilities out there – browse around for your requirements and needs.
Those are some of the basic facts about the utilities for Brother devices. So, learn about these and browse around to collect as many information as possible about Brother utilities.
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Back in 2017, we reviewed the Brother ADS-1500W scanner(read our full review here). This has been our go-to scanner for several years and the standard bywhich we judged all other scanners.
One of the things we liked most about the ADS-1500W was theBrother ControlCenter 2 application that came with the scanner. While not the most attractive application weever used, it got the job done.
The ControlCenter 2 application supported duplex scanningin color and black & white, included OCR scanning, supported long-pagedocuments and, with the dedicated card slot on the ADS-1500W, scanned businesscards and credit cards.
The only problem with the Control Center 2 software wasthat it was a 32-bit application.
Starting with macOS Mojave, we would occasionally get thewarning notice that the application would not be compatible with futureversions of macOS.
Shortly before the public release of macOS Catalina, wereached out to Brother to inquire about their plans to update or replaceControlCenter 2 with a 64-bit application. The only response we got was that no information was currently availableand to check back on the Brother Support site in the future.
With the release of macOS 10.15 Catalina, we again checked with Brother only to find that they announced that the ControlCenter2 application was not supported and would not be updated.
Here is what is posted on the Brother web site.
“For macOS 10.15 Users:ControlCenter2 is not supported. You may use one of the following as an alternative scanning method:
– Scan using iPrint&Scan, if available. Click here for a list of models that are currently compatible with iPrint&Scan. Please check back for additional models as they are added.
Control Center Brother Mac
– Scan using Apple Image Capture.”
Unfortunately, the iPrint&Scan app suggested by Brotheris not currently compatible with the ADS-1500W so your only option is to use anative Mac application for your scanning.
Image Capture
Image Capture is included in macOS Catalina. You will find it in the Applications folderand the icon looks like this.
The Image Capture application gives you basic control ofthe scanning function and the application window looks like this.
You can set the scan type as Text, B&W or Color andadjust the resolution from 100 to 600 dpi. Other adjustments control scanning destination, page orientation, theability to name the document and if needed, apply manual image correction toadjust brightness, tint temperature and saturation.
Perhaps most important are two check boxes that support theduplex scanning feature of the ADS-1500W and the ability to combine multiple scannedpages into a single document.
In late September 2019, Brother released an updated ICA(Image Capture Application) driver for the ADS-1500W (Version 1.5.0) which youcan download here. We suggest you download and install thislatest version to ensure you get all of the functionality available.
Using Preview
In cases where you may want to mark the document after youscan it, we suggest you use the Preview application, also included in macOSwith this icon.
Preview incorporates the Image Capture scanning functioninto its functionality providing almost all the same document controls as youfind in the Image Capture app. What’s missing is the ability to name thedocument before you scan it. To scan a document in Preview, click on File onthe Menu bar and you will see an option for Import from Brother ADS-1500W.
Selecting that option opens a similar scanning window.
The Bottom Line
The Image Capture application is a workable alternative to the Control Center2application and will probably meet your needs so you can continue to use theBrother ADS-1500W scanner. That said,we’re disappointed that Brother would abandon its loyal users and not investthe time to continue support for what is otherwise, a great piece of hardware.
Perhaps if the ADS-1500W was a discontinued model we could understandBrother’s position but we are hard pressed to recommend the ADS-1500W scannerfor anyone looking to make a current purchase.
Do you own a Brother ADS-1500W scanner? What are your plans for continued use? Are you going to use Image Capture and Preview, or are you going totrade up to a different scanner with a supported scanning application? Why not join the conversation and leave acomment below?
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