Connect Brother Printer to WiFi: 3 Easy Steps

Wireless printers are making printers with ethernet and USB cables go extinct. Does anyone even use an ethernet cable for their printer anymore? But connecting your printer to WiFi isn’t always a straightforward process.

In this article, you’ll learn the three easy steps to connect Brother printer to WiFi. And we’ll also answer some of the most common questions and problems about WiFi connectivity for wireless printing.

Thanks to Brother printers, you can connect via WiFi in no time! 

Step 1: Before You Connect Brother Printer to WiFi

First things first, locate your WiFi router/modem.

On the side of your WiFi access point, there should be a label displaying the network name (SSID) and network key (password).

If the label isn’t on the side of the router, it is likely to be at the bottom of the device. 

1. Record the network name (SSID).
2. Write down the encryption key (password).

Once you have both, continue to step 2. 

Step 2: Connect to the Wireless Network (2 Options)

Now that you know your network settings and have the key to connect, step 2 is to set up your machine.

Depending on which Brother printer model you have, the process of setting up your machine should follow a similar step-by-step procedure. 

To set up your Brother machine on a wireless network, follow options 1 or 2:

Option 1: Printer Without Touchscreen Function

1. Unbox your printer and plug the machine into a power source. 
2. Power on the machine by pressing the power indicator one time. 
3. Once the machine is on, click the menu button. 
4. Using the up and down arrows, navigate to the sub-menu of network settings and press OK.
5. Press down to find the WLAN selection and press OK.
6. Press the up or down button to select the Set-up Wizard option.
7. After activating the Set-up Wizard, you will need to click Yes when it asks to Enable WLAN.
8. Your printer will search for available networks and display them for you to select. Using the arrow keys (if there are multiple networks), locate the network you wrote down earlier and select it. 
9. If required, plug in the password for your network.
10. Your Brother printer should display a message to tell you that it has connected successfully. 

Option 2: Touchscreen Printer With a WiFi Button

1. Power on your machine after connecting it to power.
2. On the touchscreen display, press the WiFi icon.
3. Select Set-up Wizard.
4. Click Enable WLAN.
5. Select your network from the list. 
6. Enter the wireless network key (password).
7. The printer will display a successful connection message. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide – two methods.

Step 3: Download & Install Brother Machine’s Software

Once your Brother printer has fully established its connection to WiFi, it will need one final step before printing can begin. 

All printers require up-to-date software and drivers. A printer’s software and driver will allow the computer and machine to communicate effectively, allowing a print job to be accepted and readable. 

To download the correct driver for your Brother printer, navigate to the driver downloads section: 

1. Click the support tab at the top of the website.
2. Under the drop-down menu, click Software & Driver Downloads. 
3. Enter your printer’s model number in the search bar.
4. Download the recommended software and driver for your printer model by following the instructions carefully. 

Keep Learning: Guide to Wireless Printing.

6 Common Brother Printer Problems / FAQ

You might encounter some problems preventing your printer from receiving a print job. Below, are common problems Brother users experience:

Below are some of the most common questions that customers ask.

1. Can I connect my Brother printer to multiple networks?

Yes, you can connect your Brother printer to any WiFi network that you wish. To connect to a new network, you will need to follow the steps above for each new connection. 

2. Wireless set-up is requesting a WPS pin to complete the initial set-up

This happens when WiFi Direct is enabled on your Brother printer. You can only connect via WiFi Direct using an ethernet cable. To fix the problem, reset the network settings to factory default and connect using the Set-up Wizard.

3. How do I check my printer’s wireless status?

You can check your printer’s wireless status by printing the WLAN report. Under your printer’s settings or menu, find and select print reports. From there you need to select the WLAN report. The printer will ask you if you would like to print in black and white or in color. Choose your print option and read click OK to print. 

4. I can’t print on a wireless network

Sometimes a printer will not print when on a wireless network because there are underlying errors that need to be accessed first.

First, access all errors and then try printing again. If still not working, reset your network settings to factory default and it should work. 

5. My mobile device won’t connect to the printer

Make sure your mobile device is connected to the printer’s WiFi using wireless or WiFi direct.

Connect to Brother printer via your mobile device’s WiFi menu once you know the network username and passcode. Download the Brother iPrint & Scan for your Android or IOS phone and you will be able to print. 

6. What If You Don’t Have a CD Drive for Drivers?

7. Nothing Works – Help!

If you just can’t get it to do anything, here are two things to try.

• First, is your printer asleep? Here’s how to wake up your Brother printer.
• Here’s what to do if your Brother printer won’t connect to WiFi.
• If nothing else works, consider doing a factory reset on your Brother printer.

Here’s how to connect your printer to WiFi.

Summary

You now know how to connect Brother printer to WiFi. Using the three simple steps listed above, you will be able to connect any Brother printer to a wireless connection. 

Whether you are connecting to an old printer or a new printer, the process is easy and only takes a few minutes. For more FAQs and troubleshooting, head over to Brother’s support page to find a solution to your problem.