How to connect the Brother HL-L2340DWR printer to Wi-Fi: full instructions with photos

Laser printer Brother HL-L2340DWR — a popular model for home and small offices, combining compact size, high print speed (up to 32 ppm), and duplex printing support. The device's main advantage is its built-in module. Wi-Fi, which allows you to print wirelessly from a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. However, many users encounter difficulties when first connecting: the printer doesn't find the network, constantly drops the connection, or requires incomprehensible router settings.

In this article we will look at all connection methods Brother HL-L2340DWR to Wi-Fi — from standard settings via the control panel to manual entry of network parameters. We will separately focus on typical errors (for example, code Unable to Connect or flashing indicator Wi-Fi) and explain how to fix them. If you've never set up network printers before, don't worry: the instructions are tailored for beginners, with step-by-step photos and video links.

Before you begin, make sure you have the following on hand: your Wi-Fi network password (not your printer PIN!) and access to your router to check DHCP settingsIf the printer is new, remove it from the box, plug it into a power outlet, and wait for the self-test to complete (the indicators will stop flashing).

📊 How do you plan to use the printer?
For printing documents only
Printing from a phone/tablet
Connecting to multiple devices
For an office with 3+ users

1. Prepare the printer and network before connecting

Before setting up Wi-Fi, make sure both the printer and router are ready to connect. Problems often arise due to trivial issues: disabled DHCP on the router, incompatible encryption standards, or a weak network signal.

Here A preparation checklist that will help you avoid 80% of common mistakes:

Make sure the router is turned on and distributing Wi-Fi (the network indicator is green/blue)

Check that the printer Brother HL-L2340DWR plugged into a power outlet and turned on (power button pressed)

Find your Wi-Fi password (on the router sticker or in your provider's personal account)

Disable VPN/proxy on the device from which you will configure the printer.

Make sure the distance between the printer and the router is no more than 5 meters (without obstacles)-->

Pay special attention router settings. Brother HL-L2340DWR supports only networks with security standards WPA2-PSK (AES) or WPA3-PSKIf your router is using an outdated one WEP or mixed mode WPA/WPA2, the printer won't connect. To check this:

  1. Open the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
  2. Go to the section Wi-Fi → Security Settings (the name may differ).
  3. Make sure it is selected WPA2-PSK or WPA3-PSK with encryption AES.

2. Method 1: Connecting via WPS (the fastest method)

If your router supports the technology WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), you can connect Brother HL-L2340DWR in seconds—without entering a password. This method only works if:

  • 🔹 There is a physical button on the router WPS (usually signed or marked with a 🔄 icon).
  • 🔹 The WPS function is enabled in the router settings (enabled by default for most providers).
  • 🔹 The printer is within range of the network (no further than 3-4 meters from the router).

Connection instructions:

  1. On the printer, press and hold the button Wi-Fi (📶) for 2-3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing quickly.
  2. For 2 minutes press the button WPS on the router (hold for 1-2 seconds).
  3. Wait for the indicator Wi-Fi the printer won't light up blue (or green - depending on the router model).

If the indicator continues to flash or remains orange, the connection is not established. Repeat the process or proceed to manual setup (Method 2).

What to do if WPS doesn't work?

If the WPS button on your router doesn't respond or your printer doesn't connect, check:

1. Is WPS disabled in the router settings? (sometimes providers block this function).

2. Does your router support WPS? (Older models or corporate devices may not have this feature.)

3. Has the timeout expired? (You only have 2 minutes to connect after pressing the button on the printer).

If nothing helps, use the manual method (see the next section).

3. Method 2: Manual Wi-Fi setup via the printer control panel

If WPS is unavailable or doesn't work, you'll have to enter the network settings manually. To do this, Brother HL-L2340DWR provided built-in web interface, but first you need to temporarily connect the printer to your computer via USB.

Follow the step-by-step instructions:

  1. Connect the printer to your PC/laptop via USB cable (included). Turn on the printer.
  2. Install the drivers:
    • Download software from Brother's official website (select model HL-L2340DWR).
    • Run the setup file and follow the instructions (select "Typical installation").
  3. Run the setup utility:
    • Open Start → Brother → HL-L2340DWR → Wireless Setup Helper.
    • Select Setting up a wireless network manually.
  • Enter network parameters:
    • Please enter the network name (SSID) and password.
    • Select the security type (WPA2-PSK or WPA3-PSK).
    • Click Next and wait for the settings to be applied.
    • Disconnect the USB cable and restart the printer.

    After successful setup the indicator Wi-Fi the printer will light up blueIf not, check that the password you entered is correct or reboot the router.

    4. Method 3: Setting up via the printer's web interface

    An alternative method is to connect to the printer directly through its internal network and configure Wi-Fi through a browser. This is useful if you don't have a USB cable or the drivers won't install.

    Step-by-step instructions:

    1. Activate access point mode on the printer:
      • Press and hold the button Wi-Fi (📶) for 5-7 seconds until the indicator starts flashing orange.
      • On your device (laptop/smartphone), find the network with the name DIRECT-xx-Brother_HL-L2340DWR (Where xx — the last characters of the printer's MAC address).
      • Connect to this network. Default password: 12345678 (if it doesn’t fit, look at the sticker on the printer).
    2. Open the printer's web interface:
      • Enter the address in your browser: http://192.168.1.1 (or http://printer.ip).
      • Log in (the default login and password are usually admin/access).
  • Set up Wi-Fi:
    • Go to the section Network → WLAN → Infrastructure.
    • Select your network from the list or enter SSID manually.
    • Please enter your password and security type (WPA2-PSK).
    • Save the settings and wait for the printer to reboot.

    Once the settings are applied, the printer will automatically connect to your network. If the web interface doesn't open, make sure you're connected to the correct network. DIRECT-xx-..., and not to another network.

    5. Checking the connection and troubleshooting

    To ensure that your printer is successfully connected to Wi-Fi, follow these steps:

    1. Check the indicator Wi-Fi:
      • 🔵 Blue/green — connection successful.
      • 🟠 Orange — connection error (check your password or router settings).
      • 🔴 Red - critical error (reset required).
    2. Print a network settings report:
      • On the printer, hold down the button Cancel (❌) within 5 seconds.
      • The printer will print out a sheet of information including IP address, MAC address and status Wi-Fi.
  • Ping the printer from your computer:
    • Open Command Prompt (Win + R → cmd).
    • Enter: 
      ping [printer IP address]
      (For example, ping 192.168.0.105).
    • If there is a response, the connection is working.

      • If your printer is not responding, check the following:

      Symptom Possible cause Solution
      Indicator Wi-Fi flashing orange Incorrect password or SSID Repeat the setup, make sure the input is correct
      The printer is not visible on the network DHCP is disabled on the router Enable DHCP or assign a static IP manually
      The connection is broken after a few minutes. Weak signal or interference Move the printer closer to the router or change the Wi-Fi channel
      Error Unable to Connect Incompatible safety standard Change your router settings to WPA2-PSK (AES)

      6. Setting up printing from a phone (Android/iOS)

      Once the printer is connected to Wi-Fi, you can print from your smartphone or tablet. To do this, you'll need to install the official app. Brother iPrint&Scan (available for Android And iOS).

      Instructions for Android:

      1. Download the app from Google Play.
      2. Open the app and tap Add a printer.
      3. Select Brother HL-L2340DWR from the list of found devices.
      4. To print the document, click File → Select Document → Print.

      Instructions for iPhone/iPad:

      1. Install Brother iPrint&Scan from App Store.
      2. Connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.
      3. In the application, select Printers → Add Printer.
      4. To print from other applications (eg. Photo or Files) use the function Share → Print.

    If the printer is not in the app, check:

    • 🔹 The phone and printer are connected to one Wi-Fi network.
    • 🔹 Client isolation is not enabled in the router settings (AP Isolation).
    • 🔹 The printer is not in sleep mode (press any button to wake it up).

      • 7. Additional settings: static IP and network access

      If you have a lot of devices on your network or a printer is often "lost", it makes sense to assign it static IP addressThis ensures that the printer address does not change after rebooting the router.

      There are two ways to do this:

      Method 1: Through the router settings (recommended)

      1. Open the router's web interface (192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
      2. Find the section DHCP → Address Reservation (or Static Lease).
      3. Add a new rule by specifying MAC address printer (can be found on the printed report or sticker).
      4. Assign an IP address outside the DHCP range (e.g. 192.168.0.200).

      Method 2: Via the printer's web interface

      1. Connect to the printer via Wi-Fi (as in Method 3).
      2. Open Network → WLAN → TCP/IP.
      3. Select Manual and enter:
        • IP address: For example, 192.168.0.200
        • Subnet mask: usually 255.255.255.0
        • Gateway: IP of your router (for example, 192.168.0.1)
        • DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
    Why do you need a static IP?

    A static IP is useful if:

    - You use a printer in an office with 5+ devices.

    - Your router reboots frequently (the printer's IP will not "float").

    - You are setting up remote printing via the Internet (port 9100).

    - The printer is connected to a NAS or print server.

    Without a static IP, the printer may "disappear" from the list of devices after updating the router.

    8. Common mistakes and their solutions

    Even after proper setup, users still encounter problems. Here TOP 5 mistakes For Brother HL-L2340DWR and ways to fix them:

    1. Error: "Unable to Connect"
      • 🔹 Cause: Incorrect password, hidden network, or incompatible security standard.
      • 🔹 Solution:
        • Check your password (case sensitive!).
        • Temporarily disable hiding SSID in the router.
        • Change the security type to WPA2-PSK (AES).
    2. Error: Printer is connected but does not print.
      • 🔹 Cause: The printer is not installed as a network printer or is blocked by a firewall.
      • 🔹 Solution:
        • Add printer manually via Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Add a printer.
        • Disable Windows Firewall for 5 minutes for a test.
        • Check that the printer is not in sleep mode (press any button).
    3. Error: Wi-Fi indicator is blinking orange
      • 🔹 Cause: weak signal or IP address conflict.
      • 🔹 Solution:
        • Move the printer closer to the router.
        • Assign a static IP (see Section 7).
        • Restart your router and printer.

    • FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

    Can I connect the Brother HL-L2340DWR to Wi-Fi without a computer?

    Yes, this is possible in two ways:

    1. Through WPS (if the router supports this function).
    2. Through printer web interface (by connecting to his temporary network DIRECT-xx-...).

    A computer is only needed for manual setup via USB (if other methods do not work).

    The printer is connected to Wi-Fi, but it's not visible on the network. What should I do?

    The problem may be as follows:

    • 🔹 The printer and computer are connected different networks (for example, one to 2.4 GHz, the other to 5 GHz).
    • 🔹 The router has this function enabled AP Isolation (client isolation).
    • 🔹 A firewall or antivirus is blocking access.

    Solution:

    1. Check that all devices are on the same network.
    2. Turn it off AP Isolation in the router settings.
    3. Add the printer manually by IP address (see section 5).
    How do I reset Wi-Fi settings on my Brother HL-L2340DWR?

    To reset your printer's network settings:

    1. Turn off the printer.
    2. Press and hold the button Cancel (❌).
    3. Without releasing the button, turn on the printer.
    4. Hold Cancel another 10 seconds until all indicators light up.
    5. Release the button and the Wi-Fi settings will be reset.

    After resetting, the printer will return to the factory network settings.

    Can a printer be connected to multiple Wi-Fi networks?

    Brother HL-L2340DWR remembers only one Wi-Fi networkIf you need to switch between networks (for example, at home and in the office), you will have to reconfigure the printer each time.

    Alternative options:

    • 🔹 Use mobile hotspot on your smartphone (if the printer supports connection to the phone).
    • 🔹 Set up guest network on the router with the same parameters as the main one.
    How do I update my printer firmware to fix Wi-Fi issues?

    Updating the firmware may resolve connection issues. Here's how:

    1. Download the latest firmware from Brother website (select model HL-L2340DWR).
    2. Connect the printer to your computer via USB.
    3. Run the firmware file and follow the instructions.

    ⚠️ Attention: Do not turn off the printer during the update! This may cause damage.

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