How to Uninstall a Brother HL-2270DW Printer

To uninstall a Brother HL-2270DW on Windows 11, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the HL-2270DW, and click Remove. That takes the printer off your list. To also remove the Brother software and drivers, open Brother Utilities, choose Tools, and click Uninstall.

Those are two different jobs, and which one you need depends on why you are uninstalling. This guide covers both, with separate steps for Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7, and Mac.

Remove the Printer or Uninstall Everything?

Brother describes three ways to uninstall on Windows. Pick the one that matches your goal.

Method	What it does	Use it when
Remove from the printer list	Deletes the HL-2270DW entry from Windows. Other Brother software stays installed.	You replaced the printer, or you have a duplicate or old entry.
Brother Utilities > Tools > Uninstall	Removes the Brother software and drivers. Brother marks this as the recommended method.	You installed from the Brother CD or the Full Driver & Software Package and want a clean reinstall.
Brother Uninstall Tool	A separate download that removes drivers, including ones that failed to install.	Brother Utilities is missing or does not work.

Before You Start

• Sign in as an administrator. Brother says administrator rights are required to uninstall its software and drivers.
• Close your other apps. Brother strongly recommends this before you begin.
• Know what you lose. After you uninstall, this computer cannot print to the HL-2270DW until you install it again. The printer itself keeps its settings, and other computers are not affected.
• USB users, read this first. For the Brother Utilities method, Brother says to keep the printer powered on and connected to the computer so the drivers are removed too. Disconnect the cable only when the uninstall is done.

Brother’s supported operating system list for the HL-2270DW includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7, plus macOS up to version 10.15 for Brother’s own Mac software.

How to Remove the HL-2270DW in Windows 11

This is the shortest route. It matches the steps in Microsoft’s guide to adding or removing a printer in Windows.

1. Click Start, then click Settings.
2. Click Bluetooth & devices in the left column.
3. Click Printers & scanners. You see a list of every installed printer.
4. Click the Brother HL-2270DW entry to open its page.
5. Click Remove, and confirm if Windows asks.

The printer disappears from the list. If you see more than one HL-2270DW entry, such as a copy, repeat the steps for each one you do not want. Our guide on how to remove a printer from Windows 11 has more detail on that screen.

How to Remove the HL-2270DW in Windows 10

Brother’s Windows 10 instructions use the Control Panel.

1. Click Start, open Windows System in the app list, and click Control Panel.
2. Under Hardware and Sound, click View devices and printers.
3. Right-click the Brother HL-2270DW icon and click See what’s printing. If documents are waiting, click Printer > Cancel All Documents, then click Yes. Close the queue window.
4. Right-click the printer icon again and click Remove device.
5. Click Yes to confirm.

Brother notes that clearing the queue can take more than one try. Its page on deleting a printer driver in Windows lists the same steps for each Windows version.

How to Remove the HL-2270DW in Windows 7

Windows 7 uses the Devices and Printers window. Microsoft no longer supports Windows 7, and Brother no longer updates its software for it, but the removal steps still apply.

Step 1: Click the Start button at the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Step 2: Click Devices and Printers in the column at the right side of the menu.

Step 3: Find the HL-2270DW icon in the Printers and Faxes section. If print jobs are stuck, right-click the icon, click See what’s printing, and cancel them first.

Step 4: Right-click the printer icon, then click Remove device.

Step 5: Click Yes to confirm that you want to remove the device.

The icon is removed from the Devices and Printers window when Windows finishes.

How to Uninstall the Brother Software and Drivers

Removing the printer from the list leaves the Brother software on the computer. For a complete uninstall, Brother recommends Brother Utilities, a small launcher app that is installed along with the Brother CD or the Full Driver & Software Package.

Warning: this removes the Brother software and drivers, and Brother says you must restart the computer afterward. Save your work in other apps first.

1. Open Brother Utilities. In Windows 11 and Windows 10, click Start, open the app list, and click Brother > Brother Utilities. In Windows 7, click Start > All Programs > Brother > Brother Utilities.
2. Select HL-2270DW from the model drop-down list if it is not already selected.
3. Click Tools in the left navigation bar.
4. Click Uninstall.
5. If a User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes or Allow.
6. Follow the instructions in the dialog box. Click OK if you are asked to confirm.
7. If you use a USB cable, disconnect it from the printer when the uninstall is complete.
8. Restart the computer. If the uninstaller offers Yes, I want to restart my computer now, select it and click Finish.

Brother’s full instructions are on its HL-2270DW page for uninstalling the Brother software and drivers in Windows. Brother notes that the screens can differ by operating system and model.

If Brother Utilities Is Not Installed

On some older installations there is no Brother Utilities app. Brother’s instructions for Windows 7 and Windows Vista say to click Start > All Programs > Brother, open the folder named for your model, and choose Uninstall. Then restart the computer.

If neither option exists, use the Brother Uninstall Tool. Brother says the tool can remove a driver that was installed from the CD, from the Full Driver & Software Package, or through the Windows Add Printer wizard, and that it can also clear out a driver that failed to install.

1. Go to the Brother HL-2270DW Downloads page.
2. Select your operating system family and version, then click OK.
3. Look for the Uninstall Tool and follow the instructions on its download page.
4. If the HL-2270DW is not in the tool’s model list, Brother says to pick a similar model.

Brother warns that the Uninstall Tool may not be offered for every operating system. If you do not see it for your version of Windows, use the printer list method above instead.

How to Remove the HL-2270DW on a Mac

On a Mac you remove the printer from the Printers list. These are Apple’s steps for current versions of macOS.

1. Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
2. Click Printers & Scanners in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
3. Control-click the Brother HL-2270DW in the Printers list and choose Remove Printer.
4. Click Remove Printer again to confirm.

On macOS 12 or earlier, open System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, select the printer, and click the minus (–) button below the list. Apple covers the current steps in Add and manage printers on Mac.

How to Confirm the Printer Is Gone

• Open the printer list again (Printers & scanners or Devices and Printers). The HL-2270DW should not be listed.
• Open any app and choose File > Print. The HL-2270DW should be missing from the printer menu.
• After a Brother Utilities uninstall, check the Start menu. The Brother folder for the printer should be gone after the restart.

If the removed printer was your default, pick a new one. See how to set a default printer in Windows 11.

How to Reinstall the Printer Later

There is no undo button for an uninstall. To get the printer back, install it again.

Brother says to download the latest Full Driver & Software Package from the HL-2270DW Downloads page and follow the installation instructions shown there. For a Wi-Fi connection, our guide to setting up wireless printing with the Brother HL-2270DW walks through the process. For other ways to add it back, see how to add a printer in Windows 11 or 10.

Troubleshooting

The printer comes back after I remove it

Microsoft says a printer that is connected directly to a Windows device normally installs automatically. If the HL-2270DW is still plugged in by USB and turned on, Windows may add it again. Unplug the USB cable from the computer if you want it to stay removed.

Remove does nothing, or the printer will not delete

Stuck print jobs are a common cause. Open the queue with See what’s printing, click Printer > Cancel All Documents, and try again. Brother says this can take several attempts. Our guide on how to clear the printer queue in Windows 11 or 10 shows more ways to empty it. Restarting the computer and trying once more can also help.

I cannot find Brother Utilities

It is only present if you installed from the Brother CD or the Full Driver & Software Package. If Windows installed the printer on its own, there may be no Brother software to uninstall, and removing the printer from the list is all you need. Otherwise use the Uninstall Tool from Brother’s Downloads page.

Windows asks for an administrator password

Uninstalling Brother’s software requires administrator rights. On a work or school computer, ask the person who manages it. Do not try to get around the prompt.

The settings have different names on my computer

Menu names change between Windows versions. In Windows 11 the list is under Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. In Windows 10 and Windows 7 Brother points to Devices and Printers in the Control Panel. On a Mac, older versions say System Preferences instead of System Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does removing the HL-2270DW from Windows delete the driver?

Not necessarily. Removing the printer from Printers & scanners or Devices and Printers deletes that printer entry, and Brother states that it does not remove any other Brother software. For a complete removal, Brother recommends the Uninstall option in Brother Utilities, or its Uninstall Tool.

Should the printer be on or off when I uninstall it?

If the HL-2270DW is connected by USB and you are uninstalling through Brother Utilities, Brother says to keep it powered on and connected so the drivers are removed as well. Unplug the cable after the uninstall finishes. Brother does not list a power requirement for simply removing the printer from the Windows printer list.

Do I need to restart my computer after uninstalling?

Yes, after uninstalling the Brother software and drivers. Brother says you must restart the computer once the uninstall is complete. A restart is not listed as a requirement after only removing the printer from the list.

Will uninstalling reset the printer or its Wi-Fi settings?

No. Uninstalling changes only the computer you do it on. The printer keeps its own network settings, and any other computer that has the HL-2270DW installed can keep printing to it.

Can I uninstall the HL-2270DW and install it again to fix a problem?

Yes. Brother’s instructions cover exactly that: uninstall, restart, then download and install the latest Full Driver & Software Package. It is worth trying simpler fixes first. Our general guide to printer troubleshooting lists the usual checks, and if the printer only shows as offline, see how to get a printer online in Windows 11 or 10.

Next Steps

If you are replacing the HL-2270DW, add the new printer and set it as the default. If you are keeping it, restart the computer and reinstall it with Brother’s current software package.

Setting up a different Brother printer? Our guide to connecting the Brother MFC-J4510DW to a wireless network walks through the touchscreen Setup Wizard and WPS. If you own a larger Brother laser printer, see how to reset the drum counter on a Brother HL-5470DW after a drum replacement.