The basic steps to connect your Brother printer

Most Brother printers connect to WiFi through a menu on the printer's screen or control panel. You'll need your WiFi network name and password, and the process usually takes five to ten minutes. The exact steps depend on your printer model, but the general path is the same: access the network settings on the printer, select your WiFi network, enter your password, and confirm the connection.

Before you start, make sure your printer is plugged in and turned on, and that you have your WiFi password written down or available. If you don't know your WiFi password, you can find it in your router's settings or contact your internet provider.

Key Takeaways

  • Most Brother printers have a menu button or touchscreen where you can find network settings — look for "Network", "WiFi", or a wireless icon.
  • You'll select your WiFi network name from a list and type in your password exactly as it appears, including capital letters and numbers.
  • After the printer connects, it will show a confirmation message or a WiFi icon on the screen — this usually takes 30 seconds to two minutes.
  • If the printer doesn't connect, restart both the printer and your router, then try again with the password entered slowly and carefully.
  • Some Brother models have a WPS button on the router that lets you connect without typing a password — check your printer's manual to see if yours supports this.

Finding the network settings menu on your printer

Look for a button labeled "Menu", "Settings", or a home icon on your printer's control panel or touchscreen. Press it and scroll through the options until you see "Network", "WiFi", "Wireless", or a symbol that looks like radio waves or a WiFi icon. The exact wording varies by model — some older Brother printers use "Network Setup" while newer ones say "WiFi Setup".

If your printer has a small LCD screen instead of a touchscreen, use the arrow buttons to navigate and the OK button to select. If you're not sure which button does what, check the quick-start guide that came with your printer or search for your specific model number on Brother's website.

Selecting your WiFi network and entering the password

Once you're in the network menu, the printer will scan for available WiFi networks and show you a list. Find your network name (also called the SSID) in the list and select it. The printer will then prompt you to enter your WiFi password.

Type the password exactly as it is — WiFi passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters and lowercase letters are different. If your password is "MyPassword123", typing "mypassword123" will not work. Take your time and double-check each character before confirming. If you make a mistake, the printer will usually let you go back and try again.

What to do if the printer shows a connection error

If the printer displays an error message or fails to connect, the most common cause is an incorrect password. Go back to the password screen and re-enter it slowly, paying close attention to capital letters, numbers, and special characters like hyphens or underscores.

If you're still stuck, restart both the printer and your WiFi router. Turn off the printer completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. At the same time, unplug your router for 30 seconds and plug it back in. Once both devices have restarted, try connecting again. If the printer still won't connect after two or three attempts, your router may be too far away — try moving the printer closer to the router temporarily to test the connection.

Using WPS to connect without typing a password

Some Brother printers and routers support WPS (WiFi Protected Setup), which lets you connect by pressing a button instead of typing a password. Check your printer's manual or the Brother support page for your model to see if it has a WPS button.

If your printer supports WPS, look for a WPS button on your router — it's usually on the back or side and may be labeled "WPS" or have a WiFi symbol. Press the WPS button on your router first, then press the WPS button on your printer within two minutes. The devices will connect automatically without needing a password. This method is faster and eliminates the risk of typing the password wrong, but it only works if both your printer and router have WPS.

Confirming the connection and printing a test page

Once the printer connects, it will display a confirmation message on the screen, usually showing your network name and a WiFi icon. Some printers print a network configuration page automatically — this page shows your printer's IP address and connection status. If yours doesn't, you can print one manually by going back to the network settings menu and selecting "Print Network Configuration" or similar.

After confirming the connection, try printing a test page from your computer or phone to make sure everything is working. Open any document, select your Brother printer from the print dialog, and send the job. If the page prints, your printer is successfully connected to WiFi and ready to use.

Troubleshooting if your computer can't find the printer

Even if the printer shows it's connected to WiFi, your computer might not see it right away. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners and click "Add a printer or scanner". On Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and click the plus button. Both systems will search for available printers on your network.

If your computer still doesn't find the printer, make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network — some routers have separate networks for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and older Brother printers only work on 2.4 GHz. Restart your computer and try the search again. If you continue to have trouble, you can also install the latest printer drivers from Brother's website, which sometimes helps the computer recognize the printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect my Brother printer to WiFi if I don't know my password?

You'll need your WiFi password to complete the connection. If you've forgotten it, log into your router's settings page (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a web browser) using your router's admin password, or contact your internet provider. Some routers also have a WPS button that lets you connect without typing the password.

Why does my printer keep disconnecting from WiFi?

Printers often disconnect if they're too far from the router or if the WiFi signal is weak. Try moving the printer closer to the router or removing obstacles between them. If the problem continues, restart both the printer and router, and check that your router's firmware is up to date. Some older Brother printers also have trouble with newer WiFi standards — contact Brother support if the issue persists.

Do I need to use a USB cable after connecting to WiFi?

No. Once your printer is connected to WiFi, you can print from any device on the same network without a USB cable. The cable is only needed if you want to connect the printer directly to a single computer, which is slower and less convenient than WiFi.

What if my Brother printer doesn't have a touchscreen?

Older Brother printers with small LCD screens use arrow buttons and an OK button to navigate menus instead. Press the Menu button, use the arrows to find "Network" or "WiFi Setup", and press OK to select. The process is the same — you'll still see a list of networks and be prompted to enter your password using the arrow buttons and number keys.

Can I connect my Brother printer to a guest WiFi network?

Yes, most Brother printers can connect to guest networks the same way they connect to your main network. Select the guest network name from the list and enter its password. Keep in mind that guest networks sometimes have restrictions that prevent printing, so if it doesn't work, try connecting to your main network instead.