SOLVED: Brother Printer USB Composite Device (Error Code 10)

Kevin ArrowsUpdated on July 19, 2025
Kevin is a certified Network Engineer

The Brother printer might suddenly stop working and appear as an unknown USB device in Device Manager. You may also see Error Code 10. This error means the computer can’t start the device, usually because of a problem with the driver or registry.

 

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The most common reason is a broken or wrong registry entry for the USB port. This can happen if you keep plugging and unplugging the printer or if the driver wasn’t installed correctly. Other possible reasons include old computer drivers, USB controllers that are causing conflicts, or power settings that are stopping the computer from finding the devic

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to update a Brother printer’s firmware when your computer sees it as a USB Composite Device instead of a printer:

  1. Connect your printer to a different computer—one that identifies it as a printer, not as a USB Composite Device. If possible, use a computer running Windows 7.
  2. Wait a few minutes for the computer to detect and install the printer properly.
  3. Click here to visit the Downloads section of the official Brother website.
  4. Either search for your Brother printer by entering its model number, or:
    – Choose your product category.
    – Select your product series on the next page.
    – Find and click your exact printer model on the page that appears.
  5. On your printer’s Downloads page, select your OS family (for example, Windows) and OS version (e.g., Windows 8.1 (32-bit)), then click Search.
  6. Under the Firmware section, find and click the Firmware Update Tool.
  7. When a new window appears, choose your preferred language.
  8. Click Agree to the EULA and Download. The Firmware Update Tool should begin downloading automatically.
  9. Once the Firmware Update Tool finishes downloading, launch it.
  10. The firmware update wizard will automatically detect your printer. Just follow the steps on screen until the process is complete.
  11. After updating the firmware, close the wizard, disconnect your printer, and reconnect it to the original computer that was previously recognizing it as a USB Composite Device. Your computer should now detect it as a printer, letting you use it as intended.

Note: If you don’t have access to another computer that recognizes your Brother printer correctly, some users have had luck fixing this by connecting their Brother printer to the same computer through the Network port (instead of USB) and then following the steps above.

Kevin ArrowsUpdated on July 19, 2025
Kevin is a certified Network Engineer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.

Comments

24
    OW
    Owen Sep 30, 2016

    After hours and hours of searching, you were the first to mention updating the Printer Firmware. My new Win 10 based PC would not print and after following your suggestion and hooking it up to an old laptop, I was able to update the Firmware. Once updated, The new PC immediately recognized it as a ‘Printer’ and not as ‘USB Composite Device’.
    Works fine!
    Kevin, thanks so much! Beers on me if ever in Honolulu!

    Reply
    WI
    Wings Oct 30, 2016

    Problem: New PC with OS windows 10 Home edition did not recognize the brother MFC-7360N printer. I put the original driver CD – not working because windows 10 is not compatible with that CD. Checked Brother site this model is compatible with Windows 10 and “Full Driver & Software Package” available for download. But when I got to the step to connect printer to USB port, it was stuck – forever. Then I notice Windows 10 put the printer I just plug in as “USB composite device”.

    I tried manually add printer and was able to see the brother printer icon, but print job disappear from print queue and not going to the printer.

    Your solution is very hard to find. I read many search results from google before I can see this.

    Your solution is right on. After I used a windows 7 machine to set up the brother printer again. I immediately unplug it and unplug it to the windows 10 desktop. No need to power off printer. It was immediately recognized as brother printer and the port is right *USB01″.

    By the way, the firmware update link on your article did not work for me, but I google my model number and keyword “firmware update” and got the correct link. I think brother website should have that info for windows 10 users.

    Spent 6 hours on this. Thank you for your solution. Save me $$$ to buy a new scanner/printer for windows 10.

    Reply
      KA
      K. Arrows Author Oct 30, 2016

      Thank you for letting us know.

      Reply
    JV
    JVD Sep 7, 2017

    THANK YOU. This looks as if it will solve my problem, as the description of your problem fits my situation perfectly. I already have spent hours trying to figure this out: More than the cost of a new printer! Thanks to ‘Wings” as well, for his/her advice as to the firmware update.

    Reply
    HU
    hugo Oct 3, 2017

    Thank you.

    Reply
    DM
    Dee Man Oct 28, 2017

    Upgrading the firmware to the Brother MFC-7360N did resolve the “USB composite device error” for Windows 10. The steps outlined by Kevin are exactly what you need to do. On a working PC/Notebook, update the Brother’s firmware. Once the firmware is up to date, reconnect it to the Windows 10 PC/Notebook and it should work perfectly.
    Thank you Kevin Arrows for your detailed instructions and suggestions.

    Reply
      KA
      K. Arrows Author Oct 29, 2017

      Welcome.

      Reply
        SO
        Sondra Sep 13, 2018

        It is crazy I talked to Brother tech support and they had me buy cables told me to call windows and the mother company this fixed it thanks for the help.

        Reply
    AN
    Anon Nov 9, 2017

    This works. Updated the firmware by connecting the printer to another PC with a different OS. Run the firmware update tool and original PC was able to see the brother printer again.

    Reply
    MS
    Michah Simmons Feb 21, 2018

    For anyone else in this dilemma, I did not have access to another computer at the time; my solution was to connect the printer via network, install the control center 4 suite, which allowed full use of the printer without any updated drivers.

    Reply
    SI
    siraj Jun 11, 2018

    yes after long research I just followed ur steps update firmware from windows 7laptop and then connect with windows 10 laptop.. its perfectly work.
    thank u so much

    Reply
    QL
    Q_Lestor Jun 22, 2018

    Unfortunately this only works when a firmware update is available for your particular printer model. There is no firmware update for the MFC-9700 listed on Brother’s site, and I confirmed this with Brother ‘support.’ When I connect the printer to my new laptop with windows 10 64-bit, it shows up as a ‘USB composite device’ and I cannot print. I gather this is a known problem with this printer, and I have yet to find a solution anywhere. Brother ‘support’ only suggestion was a new usb cable, which I tried to no avail.

    Reply
    KN
    Kashi Nguyen Oct 4, 2018

    Oh my goodness! You are a genius!! Thanks so much!! Exactly my issue which Brother could not provide help except the lady told me to go buy new cable after multiple attempts of installing new driver which did not solve this issue! You should be rewarded for this and Brother should personally thank you for this as you saved them so much time and money. I wish I would have seen your post much sooner but very glad to do now. You are AWESOME for figuring this out! Very much appreciated. Thanks again!!

    Reply
    TO
    TooSourFilms Apr 11, 2019

    Yes, in 2019 I’m still using this printer. It is a fantastic (cheap to run) printer. Just like Owen below, I used the steps that Kevin outlined here to fix the problem of Windows 10 not recognizing the printer after an update. The main idea is to connect the printer to an older computer not running Windows 10 (in my case my son’s old laptop). Then do the firmware update. That’s it, once the firmware is up to date, the Windows 10 OS will recognize it. Thanks Kevin, more virtual beers.

    Reply
    HT
    Hieu Ho Trung Jun 26, 2019

    Hello Mr. Kevin Arrows,You have the best solution.
    You do with the wonderful job.
    You saved my life.
    Wish You and Yours all the best,

    Reply
    DM
    Dale Marcum Jul 4, 2019

    Just a note to those who are newbies….”Firmware” is built into the PRINTER that allows it to “see” your computer. Your computer then connects to that printer through the newly installed and updated firmware …..when you download and install the Brother Printer software on another computer (that’s not running Windows 10) you must then download and run the firmware update using that computer……this is an awesome solution by the way

    Reply
      SW
      Shane Warren Author Jul 11, 2019

      Thank u for sharing your insight.

      Reply
    FP
    Fausto P Jul 14, 2019

    Many thanks now work fine I was thinking to buy a new one

    Reply
    WM
    William Munn Aug 26, 2019

    Thank you very much for posting this. I was going nuts because it worked on one windows 10 computer but not another. Not sure why that is, but I know after the firmware update, it works fine again. I never would have found it the way they were hiding it.

    Reply
    SW
    Shane Warren Author Sep 28, 2019

    Try this method:
    “Your solution is right on. After I used a windows 7 machine to set up the brother printer again. I immediately unplug it and unplug it to the windows 10 desktop. No need to power off printer. It was immediately recognized as brother printer and the port is right *USB01″.”

    Reply
    MD
    Moshe Distelfeld Jan 28, 2020

    the firmware
    update worked well thank you

    Reply
    AR
    Arthur Feb 21, 2020

    Thanks for the solution. I’ve spent almost two hours trying to figure it out and the, finally found this site explaining that i had to update de firmware. Did it over the network cause I didn’t had another PC around. Worked Perfectly. Thank you very much.

    Reply
    PK
    Peter K Mar 17, 2021

    Thanks for tip on upgrading the firmware. Excellent work. I was trying to add my DCP-135C to windows10 PC, there was on extra step as windows still does not automatically install the drivers. I had to go to Windows update and look in the ‘view optional updates’ section and there was the driver. Install the driver. Delete the “USB composite device” and re-attach the printer. Now the PC can print and scan..

    Reply
    AM
    Amal Jul 14, 2021

    1. First Install printer in a win 7 PC.
    2.Download Brother firmware update tool from brother official site and update the firmware.
    3. Then connect printer to win 10 PC and install brother software from official site.Sure it will works.
    Thanks

    Reply