Level 1

12 points

Can't Access Brother Printer Scanner

Hello Apple Support Community,

I updated to Big Sur yesterday. I tried to open my scanner in System Preferences > Printers & Scanners but got this error message:

You do not have permission to open the application “Brother Scanner”.

Contact your computer or network administrator for assistance.

And also: Failed to open a connection to the device (-21345)

I also downloaded the Image Capture application as recommended on the Brother website but got the same error messages.

My iMac is a standalone machine not on a network.

I'm on an mid-2014 iMac and Brother MFC-J880DW. I've had this printer for a few years and didn't have any issues when I updated to High Sierra.

Any advice?

Thank you!

iMac 21.5″, macOS 11.5

Posted on Aug 4, 2021 2:37 PM

Top-ranking reply

pwillendrup

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Aug 8, 2021 2:54 AM

If you prefer to use the built-in drivers from macOS, then

Become root in the terminal using sudo
cd to /Library/Image\ Capture/Devices/
Change group on the Brother Scanner.app:

chgrp -R staff Brother\ Scanner.app

View in context

27 replies

Poromies

Level 1

15 points

Sep 5, 2021 8:20 AM in response to gustadora

I have an old Brother MFC-6490CW. It is still in perfect condition and until this OS-related failure to scan was working perfectly. It still prints normally and the "permission" problem is only when I try to scan.

I have installed iPrint&Scan and that still gives the same "permission" error message that I get with other scanning apps.

It looks like there is not a new driver available for this model.

If I try the suggested Terminal tweaks I get :

"The default interactive shell is now zsh. To update your account to use zsh, please run `chsh -s /bin/zsh`.

As a basic user I am not enthusiastic to start playing around with Terminal instructions that are meaningless to me.

Does this mean that my Brother printer that is physically in perfect condition is now rendered obsolete by OS updates? If I bought the current, 2021 version of my Brother printer would that work or would that still have this "permission" problem?

Aug 4, 2021 2:51 PM in response to gustadora

Go to Apple menu > App Store and install the Brother iPrint&Scan app and use it instead of Image Capture.

Aug 5, 2021 5:55 PM in response to gustadora

I am having the same problem with the latest Mac OS on a new MacBook Air from 2021 with my Brother printer/scanner. I would be curious to find out what they told you. Thank you!

gustadora Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 5, 2021 7:42 PM in response to Jason1975

I’m glad that worked! Happy printing and scanning!

Aug 10, 2021 10:50 AM in response to gustadora

Yes this solved the issue. Thank You! (Too much time spent finding this simple resolution!)

gustadora Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 10, 2021 2:22 PM in response to Choctawok

Excellent! Glad that worked for you!

Aug 25, 2021 2:19 AM in response to pwillendrup

BTW I can't remember of a logout or reboot was perhaps also part of my process here, could easily have been...

Aug 26, 2021 6:17 AM in response to markos193

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! That is definitely the easiest solution. Thank you for sharing that. I can now scan again as normal.

Scottw8

Level 1

8 points

Oct 6, 2021 9:58 PM in response to FoxFifth

I have the same problem but I'm on an MB Pro. That app is for phones & tablets?

Aug 26, 2021 10:15 PM in response to markos193

To deal with the scanner driver on an ongoing basis, follow the suggested instructions, then drag the desired driver app file into the dock (I put it right next to "Preview" which is what I usually use to initiate a scan). Then you just click on "Brother Scanner" (or whatever brand you've got) in the dock and then launch your scanning app (for me, Preview).

No need to remember any paths, etc.

Alternatively, you could create an alias to the scanner driver app, and put that alias in your Applications folder.

gustadora Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 5, 2021 7:02 PM in response to Jason1975

Hi Jason1975,

I didn’t have to contact Brother tech support after all. I just had to update the printer firmware first. The iPrint&Scan software worked after that.

Find your model here to find the links to the firmware and utilities:

https://support.brother.com/g/b/sp/oscontents.aspx?c=eu_ot&lang=en&ossid=3

Hope that helps!

wscott9

Level 1

4 points

Aug 27, 2021 12:47 PM in response to pwillendrup

Thank you for this! It took a few tries and recalling DOS and BASIC principles, but I got it within just a few minutes.

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Can't Access Brother Printer Scanner