If brmfpmon.dll is missing, Windows is usually trying to start a Brother MFC printer component that was removed, damaged, quarantined, or installed incorrectly. The safest fix is to identify the Brother printer model, remove the existing Brother software, and install that model’s current Full Driver & Software Package.
Do not download this DLL from a random file site or copy it into System32, SysWOW64, or an application folder. The correct file belongs with the Brother package that installed it.
What this file actually does
brmfpmon.dll is identified as Brother PortMonitor for MFC. It is part of Brother MFC printer software and is associated with Brother Industries, Ltd.
A port monitor helps printer software communicate with a printer port and manage print jobs. It is not a general Windows runtime such as Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET. Windows does not normally provide it as a standalone system file.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors#1 Best Overall
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Several Brother models and software packages may use related components, so the filename alone does not identify the correct installer. Use the exact model number printed on the printer or shown in Windows.
The error may appear in forms such as:
- “The application has failed to start because brmfpmon.dll was not found.”
- “brmfpmon.dll is missing or corrupt.”
- “Failed to load brmfpmon.dll.”
- “Cannot find brmfpmon.dll.”
- “The module was not found.”
- “Cannot register brmfpmon.dll.”
The wording depends on the Brother program, printer configuration, and Windows version. A “module was not found” message can also mean that the DLL exists but one of its dependencies is missing.
brmfpmon.dll causes and symptoms
| What you notice | Most likely cause | Best first action |
|---|---|---|
| Error appears when printing | Damaged or incomplete Brother driver | Reinstall the exact Brother package |
| Error appears at every startup | Old Brother utility or printer reference | Remove unused Brother software and startup entries |
| Problem began after an update | Driver incompatibility or damaged installation | Reinstall the current model-specific package |
| File disappeared after antivirus activity | Quarantine or detection | Check Windows Security Protection history |
| Several Windows files are failing | Windows component corruption | Run DISM, then SFC |
| You removed the Brother printer recently | Orphaned Brother software | Uninstall Brother utilities and drivers |
| Error started after restoring an image | Incomplete software or driver state | Reinstall Brother software, then check drivers |
| A game or unrelated application names the file | Incorrect dependency or suspicious file reference | Investigate that application instead of installing a Brother DLL |
Public file records show conflicting historical architecture and size information for this filename. That means you should not choose a replacement based on a file listing, version number, size, or claimed architecture. The Brother installer must determine which build belongs on your system.
Fix 1: Reinstall the correct Brother package
This is the most likely solution and the one to try first.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →1. Identify the exact printer model
Look at the label on the front or top of the printer. The model may look similar to MFC-L3780CDW, but do not assume that a generic “MFC driver” is suitable.
You can also check Windows:
- Press Windows key + I.
- Select Bluetooth & devices in Windows 11, or Devices in Windows 10.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Select the Brother printer.
- Record the complete model name.
If more than one Brother printer is installed, record each model. Similar-looking models can require different packages.
2. Download the package from Brother
Open Brother’s official Support and Downloads site and search for the exact model. Select the installed Windows version and the correct system architecture when Brother asks for it.
Choose the Full Driver & Software Package where available. Avoid selecting a random individual DLL or a driver for a similar model.
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To check your Windows architecture:
- Press Windows key + I.
- Select System.
- Select About.
- Check System type.
Windows will indicate whether the system is 64-bit or 32-bit. Install the package intended for that system. Do not substitute a 32-bit DLL for a 64-bit component or the reverse.
Brother’s download choices are model-specific and can change as support information is updated. If your exact model is not listed for the current Windows release, use Brother’s documented compatible operating system option rather than downloading a file from another source.
3. Remove the existing Brother installation
Close printing programs, scanning programs, and any Brother utilities before uninstalling.
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First try Brother’s own removal utility:
- Open the Start menu.
- Search for Brother Utilities.
- Open it.
- Select your printer model.
- Choose Tools.
- Select the uninstall option, if available.
- Follow the prompts to remove the Brother software.
If Brother Utilities is not installed, use Windows:
Recommended Free Tools
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Select Installed apps in Windows 11, or Apps & features in Windows 10.
- Search for Brother.
- Uninstall the Brother printer software, utilities, and related packages.
- Restart Windows when prompted.
If the Brother package includes a separate Uninstall Tool, use that instead of deleting folders manually.
4. Remove the old printer entry if necessary
After restarting:
- Open Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Select the old Brother printer.
- Select Remove.
- Confirm the removal.
In Windows 10, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and choose Remove device.
If Windows says that the printer is in use, clear the print queue:
- Select the printer.
- Choose Open print queue.
- Cancel every pending job.
- Return to the printer page and remove the device.
5. Install the fresh package
Run the Brother installer you downloaded. Right-click it and select Run as administrator if the normal launch fails.
Follow the connection instructions carefully. If the printer is connected by USB, do not connect it until the installer requests it. For a network printer, confirm that the computer and printer are on the intended network.
Restart Windows after installation, even if the installer does not require it.
How to tell whether this worked
Test both the Brother software and printing:
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the Brother printer.
- Choose Print a test page, if available.
- Open Brother’s printer or scanner utility.
- Confirm that it starts without the
brmfpmon.dllmessage.
If the error is gone, the old installation was probably incomplete or corrupted. If it remains, continue with the quarantine and driver checks below rather than downloading a replacement DLL.
Outbyte Driver Updater can scan for outdated drivers when manually hunting through model pages and guessing which of several printer components is stale becomes repetitive. Its free scan shows what it finds, while the repair or driver installation is performed by the full version; reinstalling the exact Brother package remains the definitive fix for this Brother-specific file.
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Fix 2: Check whether antivirus quarantined the file
Security software can quarantine a file after a detection or false positive. Do not immediately restore brmfpmon.dll just because a Brother program reports it missing.
Check Windows Security
- Open the Start menu.
- Type Windows Security.
- Open it.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Review recent detections involving Brother software or
brmfpmon.dll.
If the file was detected:
- Note the detection name and the original file location.
- Check whether the file came from a genuine Brother installer.
- Update Windows Security.
- Run a full scan.
- Reinstall the Brother package from Brother instead of restoring an isolated DLL whenever possible.
Microsoft warns that restoring a detected file can allow a genuine threat to run. Restore it only when you have verified its origin and are confident the detection is incorrect.
If the file was quarantined from an old or unknown location, leave it quarantined and reinstall Brother software from its official support page. Do not add a broad exclusion for a Windows folder or restore an unverified file.
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Fix 3: Remove an orphaned Brother startup reference
If you no longer own the Brother printer and the error appears every time Windows starts, the problem may be an obsolete Brother utility or port-monitor reference.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFirst remove the Brother software normally:
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Search for Brother.
- Uninstall Brother utilities and printer software you no longer need.
- Restart Windows.
Then inspect startup applications:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Select Startup apps.
- Look for an identifiable Brother entry.
- Select it.
- Choose Disable.
Disabling a startup entry prevents it from launching, but it does not remove the underlying software. Use Installed apps or Brother’s uninstall utility for removal.
If the error continues, open Task Scheduler from the Start menu and look for clearly named Brother tasks. Do not delete an entry merely because its name is unfamiliar. Remove only a task that you can positively identify as belonging to the unused Brother installation.
Do not edit the registry to remove random references unless you have a verified backup and know exactly which Brother entry is obsolete. A stale startup item can be removed safely, but deleting unrelated registry data can create a larger problem.
Fix 4: Reinstall or repair the printer through Device Manager
Device Manager can help when Windows has retained a damaged printer driver, but it does not replace Brother’s full software package.
- Right-click the Start button.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand Printers, Print queues, and, if present, Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Locate the Brother printer or Brother-related device.
- Right-click it and select Uninstall device.
- If Windows displays Attempt to remove the driver for this device, select it only when you are removing the obsolete Brother driver.
- Select Uninstall.
- Restart Windows.
- Install the correct Brother package again.
If Device Manager shows a yellow warning icon, open the device’s Properties and read the Device status message. A code can indicate a driver or device problem, but the solution is still usually the correct Brother package rather than a standalone DLL.
You can also check for driver updates:
- Right-click the Brother device.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
Windows may report that the best driver is already installed even when the Brother software package is incomplete. Treat this check as a diagnostic step, not as a substitute for the manufacturer’s installer.
Fix 5: Install pending Windows updates
Windows updates can repair operating-system components and improve compatibility with printer drivers. They may not supply brmfpmon.dll, because this is a Brother component rather than a standard protected Windows runtime.
Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Install available updates.
- Restart if requested.
- Check again until Windows reports that it is up to date.
Windows 10
- Open Settings.
- Select Update & Security.
- Select Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Install available updates.
- Restart Windows.
After updating, reinstall the Brother package if the error remains. Do not expect Windows Update alone to restore a third-party Brother port-monitor file.
Fix 6: Repair damaged Windows components with DISM and SFC
Use these commands when Windows itself appears damaged, especially if other protected system files are also failing. They are not a guaranteed repair for a missing Brother DLL.
Microsoft recommends running DISM before System File Checker.
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Run DISM
- Open the Start menu.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
- Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Press Enter.
- Wait for the operation to finish.
Do not close the window while DISM is working. When it reports that the restore operation completed successfully, continue with SFC.
Run System File Checker
In the same elevated Command Prompt, enter:
sfc /scannow
Press Enter and wait for verification to reach 100 percent.
Possible results include:
- Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations: protected Windows files appear intact.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them: restart and test the Brother software.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them: restart, run DISM again if needed, and review the CBS log or continue with Brother reinstallation.
- The scan cannot run: confirm that Command Prompt was opened as administrator and restart Windows.
Restart after the commands complete, then test printing. If brmfpmon.dll is still missing, reinstall Brother software because SFC may not manage this third-party file.
When repeated manual scans and driver searches make it difficult to tell what changed, Outbyte PC Repair can show detected Windows problems in a free scan. Its repair is performed by the full version, and it is optional; for this Brother-specific DLL, reinstalling the correct Brother package remains the primary repair.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix 7: Use System Restore after a recent change
System Restore is useful when the error began immediately after a driver installation, software change, Windows update, or system-image operation and a suitable restore point exists.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter:
rstrui.exe
- Press Enter.
- Select Next.
- Choose a restore point dated before the
brmfpmon.dllerror began. - Select Scan for affected programs.
- Review the programs and drivers that will be changed.
- Select Close, then Next.
- Confirm the restore point.
- Select Finish.
System Restore rolls back system files, settings, drivers, and installed programs. It normally does not remove personal documents, photos, or other personal files, but review the affected-program list before confirming.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →If there is no suitable restore point, return to the Brother reinstall procedure. System Restore is not a replacement for installing the correct model-specific driver.
Should you run regsvr32 brmfpmon.dll?
Usually, no.
regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that expose a registration entry point such as DllRegisterServer. It is not a universal DLL repair command, and there is no Brother instruction established here that tells users to register brmfpmon.dll.
Running:
regsvr32 brmfpmon.dll
may produce an error such as “The module was loaded but the entry point was not found.” That does not prove the file is corrupt. It may simply mean that this DLL is not designed for self-registration.
Do not copy the file into a system folder just to make regsvr32 find it. Reinstall the Brother package so its files, dependencies, services, and port configuration are restored together.
Do not install unrelated runtimes
Do not install Visual C++ Redistributables, DirectX, or .NET merely because the missing item ends in .dll. brmfpmon.dll is identified as a Brother MFC port-monitor component, not a Microsoft runtime.
Install or repair a Microsoft runtime only when the error names a separate runtime DLL or the Brother installer specifically requires it. Adding unrelated packages will not normally restore the Brother port monitor.
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- PRODUCTIVITY-FOCUSED FEATURES: Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing, 20-sheet single-sided Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)(3), 150-sheet paper tray(3). Print at fast speeds of up to 16 pages per minute (ppm) black/9 ppm color(4).
- MULTIPLE CONNECTION OPTIONS: Connect your way. Interface with your printer on your wireless network or via USB.
- THE BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP: Go mobile with the Brother Mobile Connect app(5) for easy onscreen menu navigation for printing, copying, scanning, and device management from your mobile device. Monitor ink usage to help ensure you don’t run out(6).
Windows Features are also unlikely to fix this error. You can open Settings > Optional features to manage Windows components, but enabling a random feature does not provide brmfpmon.dll.
Why random DLL downloads are unsafe
Downloading a replacement from an unverified DLL website can introduce several problems:
- The file may contain malware.
- The file may be modified or damaged.
- It may belong to a different Brother model or historical package.
- It may have the wrong 32-bit or 64-bit architecture.
- It may have incompatible dependencies.
- It may not match the rest of the installed Brother software.
- Copying it into a system folder can create new startup or security errors.
Use Brother’s official support and downloads pages for the exact printer model. Use Microsoft’s official pages for Windows repair commands, updates, security scans, and System Restore.
If the error still appears
Work through this final checklist:
- Confirm the exact Brother model number.
- Confirm whether you still use that printer.
- Check Installed apps for incomplete Brother software.
- Check Windows Security Protection history.
- Remove the old Brother package with Brother Utilities or its Uninstall Tool.
- Restart Windows.
- Install the model-specific Full Driver & Software Package.
- Confirm that the package matches Windows 10 or Windows 11 and the system architecture.
- Recreate the printer under Printers & scanners.
- Run DISM and SFC only if other Windows components also appear damaged.
- Use System Restore only when a recent change clearly caused the problem.
- Check whether the message names Brother software or an unrelated application.
If the error appears during printing, focus on the printer driver and port configuration. If it appears only at startup after the printer was removed, focus on uninstalling orphaned Brother software and disabling the obsolete startup entry.
FAQ
Is brmfpmon.dll a Windows file?
No. It is identified as Brother PortMonitor for MFC and belongs to Brother printer software. It is not normally installed as a standalone Windows component.
Which Brother printer installed it?
The filename does not reliably identify one model. Multiple historical Brother MFC packages may contain related components. Use the exact model number and install that model’s official package.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Can I download just brmfpmon.dll?
You should not. Downloading an isolated DLL can provide the wrong build, architecture, or dependencies and can expose the computer to malware. Reinstall the Brother package instead.
Should I copy it to System32 or SysWOW64?
No. Do not manually copy it into either folder or an arbitrary application directory. Let the Brother installer place and configure its files.
Will SFC restore brmfpmon.dll?
Not necessarily. SFC repairs protected Windows components. It may not restore a third-party Brother DLL removed during an uninstall or failed driver installation.
Do I need Visual C++ or .NET?
Usually not for this filename alone. Install a runtime only when a separate error or the Brother installer specifically identifies it as required.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhy does the error appear after removing my printer?
A Brother utility, startup item, or port-monitor reference may still be trying to load the old component. Uninstall the unused Brother software and disable the clearly identified obsolete startup entry.
Why does regsvr32 fail?
The DLL may not expose the registration entry point that regsvr32 requires. That command is not a general-purpose repair method for Brother port-monitor files.
What if the file exists but Windows still says it is missing?
“Module not found” can indicate a missing dependency rather than a missing brmfpmon.dll. Reinstall the complete Brother package instead of replacing individual files.
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