Modern offices and home workspaces have long since ceased to depend on wires, and printers Brother Wireless devices are no exception. The ability to print documents and photos directly from a laptop, smartphone, or tablet without a physical cable connection significantly improves the ease of use. However, initial setup of a wireless connection often presents difficulties for users accustomed to simpler analog methods.
Integrating a device into a local network requires a basic understanding of Wi-Fi and careful password entry. Even a single character error in the security key can result in printer won't be able to obtain an IP address from the router. In this article, we'll cover all current connection methods in detail, from automatic to manual, and also examine common problems encountered by owners of this brand's equipment.
Before you begin setup, make sure your router is turned on and has a stable internet connection. It's also crucial to know your wireless network password, as you'll need it during the configuration process. If you plan to use WPS, check if there is a corresponding button on the router body.
Preparatory stage and compatibility check
The first step should always be to check the technical capability of the device to work wirelessly. Not all models Brother are equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi module, even if they look modern on the outside. This marking is usually present on the box or in the model name. Wi-Fi or Wireless, which confirms the availability of the necessary equipment.
It's also important to ensure that the printer and the computer or mobile device from which you'll be printing are within a strong signal range. Walls, metal structures, and operating microwave ovens can significantly weaken the signal, leading to connection interruptions when printing large documents.
⚠️ Attention: Printers Brother Only support the 2.4 GHz band. If your router broadcasts both the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands under the same name, conflicts may occur. We recommend temporarily separating the networks or ensuring that the device is connecting to the 2.4 GHz band.
To ensure successful installation of drivers and software, it is recommended to temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall software on your computer. Sometimes, the operating system's security mechanisms Windows or macOS block the search for network devices, considering them suspicious.
Connection method via WPS button
The fastest and easiest way to set up a connection is to use technology WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). This method allows you to transfer network settings from your router to your printer without having to manually enter a complex password. Most modern routers and printers Brother support this function.
To begin, press the WPS button on your wireless router. It's usually located on the back panel and may be labeled with the appropriate abbreviation or have an icon with two arrows. After pressing it, you have about two minutes to activate search mode on the printer itself.
On the printer control panel, locate the button labeled Wi-Fi or go to the settings menu. Select the item WPS and confirm the action. The wireless indicator will begin blinking, indicating that it's searching for a network. Once a connection is established, the indicator will turn solid.
- 🔘 Find the physical WPS button on your router and press it.
- 🖨️ On the printer panel Brother Press the Wi-Fi button or select WPS from the menu.
- 🔗 Wait until the indicator stops flashing and lights up continuously.
- 💻 Check if the new device appears in the list of printers on your computer.
If automatic connection does not occur the first time, try repeating the procedure, making sure no more than 120 seconds have passed between pressing the buttons on the router and the printer. On some models MFP You must first select the "Wireless Network" connection type in the main menu.
Manual setup via the Installation Wizard
If WPS is unavailable or doesn't work, you'll need to use the manual setup method. This is a more reliable method that allows you to precisely specify the networks the printer should connect to. To do this, you'll need the installation disc included in the box or downloaded from the official website. Brother driver.
Run the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions. When prompted for your connection type, select "Wireless Network." Next, you'll be prompted to select a setup method. We recommend selecting "Yes, I want to set up a wireless network now" or something similar.
The scanning program will search for available networks. Select your network from the list and enter the password. If your network isn't listed, make sure the printer is close enough to the router and SSID broadcasting is disabled.
⚠️ Attention: When entering your password manually, pay close attention to the case of the letters. The system treats the characters "A" and "a" as different characters, and an error will prevent you from logging into the network.
Once the settings have been successfully transferred, the printer will attempt to connect to the access point. The installation wizard will display the connection status. If successful, you can complete the driver installation, and the device will appear in the system as ready for use.
☑️ Check before manual configuration
Using the Brother iPrint&Scan app
For users of mobile devices and tablets, the company Brother developed a special application Brother iPrint&ScanIt allows you to not only print documents and photos, but also perform initial Wi-Fi connection setup directly from your smartphone.
Download the app from App Store or Google PlayLaunch it and follow the on-screen instructions. The app will ask you to select your printer model and connection method. You can transfer Wi-Fi settings from your phone to the printer, which is especially convenient if you don't have a computer with a disc drive nearby.
This method also allows you to scan documents directly to your phone's memory and send them via email or cloud storage. The app's functionality is regularly updated, adding new capabilities for working with images and PDFs.
| Parameter | Description | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS | Compatible OS |
| Function | Print, scan, setup | Wi-Fi availability |
| Complexity | Low (automatic) | Installed application |
| Speed | High | Stable signal |
It's important to note that for the initial setup via the app, your phone and printer must be in close proximity. Once configured, printing is possible from anywhere within your wireless network coverage.
Setting up a static IP address
For stable operation in a corporate network or when using the printer by multiple users, it is recommended to assign the device static IP addressBy default, the router assigns dynamic addresses, which may change after a reboot, resulting in loss of connection with computers assigned the old address.
To perform this operation, first find out the current IP address of the printer by printing a network configuration report (usually through the menu Report -> Network Config). Then enter this address into the address bar of your computer's browser to access the device's web interface.
http://192.168.1.50In the web interface, go to the section Network -> Protocol -> TCP/IPHere you need to change the method for obtaining the address from Auto (DHCP) on Static (Static). Enter an IP address that is outside the range of addresses assigned by the router's DHCP server, but within the same subnet.
How to find out the router's DHCP range?
Go to your router settings (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and find the LAN or DHCP Server section. The range will be listed, for example, from 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.199. The printer's static address should be outside this range, for example, 192.168.1.50.
Don't forget to enter the DNS server addresses so that the printer can work correctly with network functions that require internet access. After saving the settings, the printer will reboot with the new permanent address.
Troubleshooting connection issues
Even if you follow the instructions carefully, technical difficulties may arise. One common issue is that the printer sees the network but won't connect. This is often due to the encryption type. Make sure your router is set to the standard WPA2-PSK (AES), as older encryption methods may not be supported by newer models, and newer ones (WPA3) may not be compatible with older printers.
Another common situation is the router or printer's sleep mode. If the device hasn't been used for a long time, it may have gone into deep sleep and lost its network settings. Try resetting the printer's network settings through the menu. Network -> Reset Network and configure it again.
- 📶 Check the signal strength where the printer is installed.
- 🔒 Make sure that MAC address filtering is not enabled on your router.
- 🔄 Restart your router and printer at the same time.
- 💻 Temporarily disable the VPN on your computer while installing drivers.
If the Wi-Fi indicator flashes at a certain frequency, it may indicate a specific error. Decoding the flashing codes for your model Brother You can find this information in the user manual. Often, double blinking indicates an authentication error, i.e., an incorrect password.
Why doesn't the computer see the printer after setting up Wi-Fi?
Most often, the computer and printer are on different subnets, or one of them is connected to the router's guest network. Make sure both devices are connected to the router's primary SSID. Also, check if Windows Firewall is blocking network device discovery.
Is it possible to connect a Brother printer to a hidden network?
Yes, this is possible, but only through manual configuration via the printer menu or the driver installer on your PC. Automatic methods, such as WPS or app search, do not detect hidden networks (Hidden SSIDs).
What should I do if my printer loses connection after being idle?
This may be related to the energy saving settings of your router or the printer itself. Try disabling the "Deep Sleep" feature in the printer settings via the web interface. It's also worth assigning an IP address to the printer in the router's DHCP settings.