Introduction
The Surface Pro 11, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, is a versatile and portable device that runs Windows 11 Home (24H2). Users often require printing documents and may want to connect their Surface Pro 11 to a Brother MFC-J4620DW printer. However, the printer manufacturer does not provide ARM-compatible drivers for this model, causing printing issues. In this article, we will discuss the problem and potential solutions.
Understanding the Issue
The Brother MFC-J4620DW is a multifunction printer designed to work with various operating systems, including Windows. However, the drivers provided by Brother are not compatible with ARM-based processors like those found in the Surface Pro 11. This means that users cannot directly install and use the printer with their Surface Pro 11.
Workarounds for Printing with Brother MFC-J4620DW and Surface Pro 11
Option 1: Use a Windows PC as a Print Server
One solution is to connect the Surface Pro 11 to a Windows PC with a compatible Brother printer installed. The Windows PC acts as a print server, allowing the Surface Pro 11 to print through it. To do this, follow these steps:
- Connect the Brother MFC-J4620DW printer to the Windows PC using a USB cable.
- Install the Brother printer drivers on the Windows PC.
- Share the printer on the Windows PC by going to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Right-click on the Brother printer > Properties > Sharing tab > Check the "Share this printer" box.
- On the Surface Pro 11, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer or scanner > The Surface Pro 11 will detect the shared printer on the Windows PC and install it.
Option 2: Use a Cloud Printing Service
Another solution is to use a cloud printing service like Google Cloud Print or Microsoft Print to PDF. These services allow you to send print jobs from your Surface Pro 11 to a compatible printer over the internet. To use Google Cloud Print, follow these steps:
- Install Google Chrome on your Surface Pro 11 and sign in with your Google account.
- Go to the Google Cloud Print website and sign in with your Google account.
- Add your Brother MFC-J4620DW printer to Google Cloud Print by following the instructions provided on the website.
- Print from your Surface Pro 11 by going to File > Print > Select Google Cloud Print as the printer.
Option 3: Use a Wired Connection
A third solution is to connect the Surface Pro 11 directly to the Brother MFC-J4620DW printer using a USB cable. While this method may not provide the same functionality as using the printer drivers, it can be used for simple printing tasks. To do this, follow these steps:
- Connect the Brother MFC-J4620DW printer to the Surface Pro 11 using a USB cable.
- Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Add a printer or scanner > The Surface Pro 11 will detect the printer and install it as a USB printer.
In conclusion, users of the Surface Pro 11 with Snapdragon processors and the Brother MFC-J4620DW printer face challenges due to the lack of ARM-compatible drivers. However, there are workarounds, such as using a Windows PC as a print server, a cloud printing service, or a wired connection. These methods can help users print documents and other content from their Surface Pro 11 to the Brother MFC-J4620DW printer.