Printing from your phone to a Brother printer via Wi-Fi: Complete instructions from setup to troubleshooting

Print documents directly from your phone to your printer Brother Using Wi-Fi saves time and eliminates the need to transfer files to a computer. However, many users encounter difficulties: the printer can't find the network, the phone can't detect the device, or printing stops mid-sentence. In this article, we'll cover every step—from preparing the equipment to troubleshooting common errors.

Feature of printers Brother (series DCP, MFC, HL-L etc.) is to support several wireless printing protocols: AirPrint (for iPhone), Google Cloud Print (obsolete, but still used) Brother iPrint&Scan And Mopria (for Android). The method you choose depends on your phone and printer model. We'll cover universal methods that work on most devices, as well as nuances for specific scenarios.

Important: If your printer Brother released before 2018, some features (eg Wi-Fi Direct) may be missing. In this case, you'll need to connect via a router or a USB cable with an OTG adapter.

1. Preparing your Brother printer for wireless printing

Before setting up your phone, make sure the printer is properly connected to your Wi-Fi network. Most models Brother (For example, MFC-L2710DW or DCP-T520W) support two connection options:

  • 📶 Via a router — the printer and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • 🔗 Wi-Fi Direct — direct connection between phone and printer (without router).

First, check the current connection status of the printer:

  1. Click the button Menu (or Settings) on the printer panel.
  2. Go to the section Network → WLAN → WLAN Enable.
  3. Make sure the parameter WLAN included (On).

To connect to a router:

  1. In the printer menu, select Setup Wizard (or WLAN Setup).
  2. Select your Wi-Fi network from the list.
  3. Enter the password using the buttons on the printer panel (or via the screen if the model has a touch screen).
  4. Wait for the message Connected or Ready.
⚠️ Attention: Printers Brother do not support 5 GHz networks in mode 802.11acIf your router only works in this range, switch it to 2.4 GHz or set up mixed mode (b/g/n).

2. Setting up your phone for printing

The connection method depends on the phone's operating system. Let's look at both options.

For Android

Modern smartphones on Android 8.0+ support printing via a standard module Mopria Print Service or a branded application Brother iPrint&ScanThe first option is universal, the second offers advanced features (scanning, print quality settings).

Install the required software:

After installation:

  1. Open a document (PDF, photo, web page) and click Print in the menu.
  2. Select your model from the list of printers. Brother.
  3. Adjust the settings (number of copies, orientation, color) and click Print.

For iPhone (iOS)

Devices Apple use technology AirPrint, which is supported by most printers Brother (starting with 2012 models). Check your model's compatibility at official website.

Instructions for iPhone:

  1. Connect your phone and printer to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Open the document in an application (for example, Files, Photo or Safari).
  3. Click the Share button (📤) and select Print.
  4. Your model will appear in the list of printers. Brother - select it.
  5. Set the settings and click "Print" in the upper right corner.
📊 What type of documents do you most often print from your phone?
Documents (PDF, Word)
Photos
Web pages
Tickets/receipts
Other

3. Connecting via Wi-Fi Direct (without a router)

If you don't have access to your router or your printer won't connect to the network, use Wi-Fi DirectThis mode creates a direct access point between your phone and the printer. Please note: while printing, your phone will not have internet access.

Connection algorithm:

  1. On the printer, press Menu → Network → Wi-Fi Direct → On.
  2. Write down the network name (SSID) and password that appears on the printer screen (e.g. DIRECT-BRWXXXXXX).
  3. On your phone, open Wi-Fi settings and connect to the printer's network.
  4. Start printing via the app Brother iPrint&Scan or system menu.
⚠️ Attention: Some printer models (eg. Brother HL-L2350DW) automatically disable Wi-Fi Direct after 5 minutes of inactivity. If the connection is lost, try reconnecting.

The printer is turned on and in Wi-Fi Direct mode|

The phone is connected to the printer's network (not to your home Wi-Fi)|

Battery Saver mode is disabled on your phone (may block background printing)|

The document is open in a supported app (such as Google Docs or Gallery)

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4. Solving typical problems

If your printer won't print from your phone, check the following:

Problem Possible cause Solution
The printer was not found in the device list. The phone and printer are on different networks Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network or use Wi-Fi Direct
Error: "Failed to connect" Incompatible security protocol (WEP instead of WPA2) Change your router settings to WPA2-PSK (AES)
Printing stops in the middle Weak Wi-Fi signal or low phone battery Move the printer closer to the router or connect your phone to a charger.
Application Brother iPrint&Scan doesn't see the printer Outdated software version Update your printer app and firmware via Menu → Firmware Update

If the printer is connected to the network, but printing does not start:

  • 🔄 Restart the printer (turn it off for 30 seconds and then turn it on again).
  • 📱 Restart the printing app on your phone.
  • 🛠️ Check the print queue on your printer: click Menu → Print Reports → Job Status.
What to do if the printer prints blank sheets?

This problem is often caused by incorrect driver settings or low toner levels. Try the following:

1. In the print menu on your phone, select "Color Print" (even if the document is black and white) - this will reset the settings to default.

2. Run cartridge calibration: Menu → Ink/Toner → Calibration.

3. If you are using a compatible cartridge, replace it with a genuine one. Brother (non-original consumables may block printing).

5. Printing via cloud services

If direct printing via Wi-Fi fails, use cloud services: Google Cloud Print (until 2020), Brother Web Connect or Dropbox/Google DriveFor example, the application Brother iPrint&Scan Allows you to print documents from cloud storage.

Instructions for printing via Google Drive:

  1. Upload the document to Google Drive.
  2. Open the file and click "Open in..." → "Print".
  3. Select a printer Brother from the list.
  4. Adjust the settings and confirm printing.

For Brother Web Connect:

  1. Register your printer on the portal Brother Web Connect.
  2. Upload your document to the website and select a printer to print.
  3. Confirm the task - the printer will receive the file via the Internet.
⚠️ Attention: Cloud printing requires a stable internet connection on the printer. If the indicator Web If the indicator on the panel is flashing yellow, check your proxy or firewall settings on your router.

6. Optimizing print quality from your phone

Printing from a phone often results in quality loss—blurry photos, incorrect colors, or cropped edges. To avoid this:

  • 📸 For photos, select a resolution not lower than 300 dpi in the print settings.
  • 🖼️ Turn off the "Fit to page" option (Fit to Page), if original proportions are important.
  • 🎨 For color documents, use a profile sRGB (specified in the printer settings).
  • 📄 For text documents, select the Draft mode (Draft Mode) - this will speed up printing and save toner.

When printing PDF files from your phone, some printer models Brother automatically reduce the resolution to 150 dpi. To maintain quality, first convert the document to an image (for example, using an app) CamScanner) and print as a photo.

To fine-tune the settings:

  1. In the appendix Brother iPrint&Scan select "Advanced settings" (Advanced Settings).
  2. Please specify the paper type (Plain Paper, Photo Paper and others).
  3. Adjust brightness and contrast manually (sliders) Brightness And Contrast).

7. Wireless Printing Security

Wi-Fi printing is convenient, but it can be vulnerable to data interception. To protect your documents:

  • 🔒 Set up encryption on your router WPA3 (or WPA2-AES If WPA3 (not supported).
  • 🚫 Turn off the feature Guest Network on the router - guest networks often block communication between devices.
  • 🔑 Set a password for the printer control panel: Menu → Admin Password.
  • 📡 Update your printer firmware regularly via Menu → Firmware Update.

If the printer is used in an office, set up access control:

  1. In the printer's web interface (access by IP address), go to the section Security → User Authentication.
  2. Create employee accounts with printing time restrictions.
  3. Activate the print log (Print Log) to track activity.
⚠️ Attention: Printers Brother with support Wi-Fi Direct broadcast the network name (SSID) in plain text. To hide the printer from prying eyes, turn it off Wi-Fi Direct after use or rename the network in settings.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

My Brother printer doesn't support Wi-Fi. Can I print from my phone?

Yes, there are two options:

  1. Use USB-OTG adapter for direct connection of the printer to the phone (not available on all models).
  2. Connect the printer to your computer and set up sharing via Google Cloud Print (obsolete method) or Brother Web Connect.

For older models (eg. Brother HL-2130) may require the purchase of an external Wi-Fi adapter (For example, Brother NC-3100h).

How to find the IP address of a Brother printer for manual setup?

Click the button Menu on the printer, then go to Network → WLAN → IP AddressAn alternative method is to print a network report:

  1. Press and hold the button Go (or Secure Print) within 5 seconds.
  2. The printer will print a sheet with the IP address, network name, and other parameters.
Why is the document cut off at the edges when printing from iPhone?

This problem is related to the settings. AirPrint. From the iPhone print menu:

  1. Select Options (Options).
  2. Disable the "Scale to fit" option (Scale to Fit).
  3. Set the margins (Margins) on None or Narrow.

If the problem persists, try saving the document as PDF and printing it through the app. Brother iPrint&Scan.

Is it possible to print from a phone to a Brother printer via mobile internet (4G/5G)?

No, for direct Wi-Fi printing, your phone and printer must be on the same local network. However, there are workarounds:

  • Use VPN to connect to a home network (for example, via a router with support OpenVPN).
  • Send the document by email to the printer address (if the model supports it) Email Print).
  • Upload the file to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) and print through Brother Web Connect.
How do I reset network settings on a Brother printer?

If your printer won't connect to Wi-Fi, try resetting it:

  1. Click Menu → Network → WLAN → Reset Network.
  2. Confirm the reset (on some models you will need to enter a code) 7654321).
  3. After restarting the printer, set up the connection again.

To perform a full factory reset: Menu → Initial Setup → Reset All.

📖 Read also

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