Brother “Retry Updating by USB” Firmware Message
Brother uses this message when a firmware update was interrupted or did not complete and the machine needs the documented update-recovery path.
Error meaning
Firmware update was interrupted or did not complete.
This meaning is tied to the reviewed family/platform and subsystem below; do not reuse the number or wording by itself on a different printer family or protocol.
Applies to
Brother models explicitly listed for the interrupted-firmware-update message
- DCP-L2640DW
- DCP-L2647DW
- DCP-L5510DN
- HL-EX415DW
- HL-EX470W
- HL-L2405W
- HL-L2420DW
- HL-L2460DW(XL)
- HL-L2465DW
- HL-L2480DW
- HL-L2865DW
- HL-L3220CDW
- HL-L3280CDW
- HL-L3295CDW
- HL-L3300CDW
- HL-L5210DN
- HL-L5210DW(T)
- HL-L5215DW
- HL-L6210DW(T)
- HL-L6217DW
- HL-L6310DW
- HL-L6415DW(T)
- HL-L8245CDW
- HL-L8430CDW(T)
- HL-L8570CDW
- HL-L9410CDN
- HL-L9430CDN
- HL-L9470CDN
- MFC-EX575
- MFC-EX670W
- MFC-EX915DW
- MFC-J5010DW
- MFC-J5110DW
- MFC-J5115DW
- MFC-J6560DW
- MFC-J6960DW
- MFC-J6975DW
- MFC-L2760DW
- MFC-L2807DW
- MFC-L2820DW(XL)
- MFC-L2900DW(XL)
- MFC-L2980DW
- MFC-L3720CDW
- MFC-L3765CDW
- MFC-L3780CDW
- MFC-L5710DN
- MFC-L5710DW
- MFC-L5715DW
- MFC-L5717DW
- MFC-L5915DW
- MFC-L6810DW
- MFC-L6915DW
- MFC-L8395CDW
- MFC-L8730CDW
- MFC-L8930CDW
- MFC-L8970CDW
- MFC-L9610CDN
- MFC-L9630CDN
- MFC-L9670CDN
Common formatting
These are formatting/lookup aliases for this reviewed condition, not separate error pages.
- Retry Updating by USB / Retry by USB / Try updating by Firmware Update tool
- retry-updating-by-usb-retry-by-usb-try-updating-by-firmware-update-tool
What usually causes it
- Power, USB, network, or computer communication was interrupted while firmware was being written.
- The Firmware Update Tool stopped before the machine completed the update.
- The printer is in a recovery state and ordinary printing or restarting will not finish the interrupted firmware process.
What to try
Keep the exact recovery message in view
Do not treat this as a normal printer-offline problem. Brother's recovery instruction is tied to the interrupted firmware-update state.
Use Brother's documented USB or Firmware Update Tool recovery path
Connect the machine as Brother instructs for the applicable model and rerun the current official firmware updater rather than using third-party firmware files.
Keep power and the update connection stable
Do not unplug the printer or computer while firmware is being transferred. Avoid hubs or an unreliable connection if the Brother procedure calls for direct USB.
Wait for the machine to finish and restart normally
After the update completes, confirm the printer returns to its normal Ready state before testing the original print/scan task.
After each corrective action
Retry the same operation that produced Retry Updating by USB / Retry by USB / Try updating by Firmware Update tool. If it now works, stop there rather than changing unrelated printer, network, supply, or service settings.
If the code returns
If the same recovery message returns after the official updater reports success, record the exact model and updater result and use Brother support rather than repeatedly interrupting or forcing firmware writes.
When service may be needed
Firmware recovery should use Brother's official updater and model applicability. Do not flash unofficial firmware, open the controller, or interrupt power during an update; persistent recovery failure needs Brother support.
Continue with guided troubleshooting
If the printer still is not working after the reviewed checks, carry this verified error context into the guided troubleshooter.
Related information
Verified source
Official Brother FAQ explains interrupted firmware update and provides a Related Models applicability list.