Modern technology eliminates cumbersome wires and cumbersome USB connections, giving you instant access to documents and photos directly from your smartphone. Wireless printing has become a standard of convenience, turning a regular office MFP into the central hub of a home network. The device Brother DCP-1623WR supports this functionality, but the initial setup may raise questions for users accustomed to classic methods.
The main difficulty often lies not in the printing process itself, but in properly pairing the device with the router and mobile device. You will need a stable Wi-Fi network and an understanding of the basic principles of IP addressing in a local environment. If the printer and phone are on the same subnet, data exchange occurs almost instantly, regardless of your smartphone's operating system.
In this guide, we'll walk you through every step of the connection process, from resetting network settings to installing specialized apps. You'll learn how to avoid common errors when your phone doesn't detect your device, and how to set it up. static IP address to avoid access issues in the future. Get ready to transform your DCP-1623WR into a powerful tool for working with mobile data.
Preparing the printer and checking network settings
Before starting the active setup phase, you need to make sure that the Brother printer Ready for wireless operation. Factory settings may be corrupted or contain data from a previous network, causing address conflicts. We recommend resetting the network settings to factory defaults to eliminate any software configuration errors.
To do this, press the "Menu" button on the MFP control panel, then go to the "Network" section. Using the navigation arrows, find "Network Reset" and confirm the action. After rebooting, the device will search for available access points. Make sure your router is within range. 2.4 GHz, as this model may not support modern 5 GHz standards without prior bridge configuration.
⚠️ Caution: If your router assigns networks with the same name (SSID) for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, the printer may attempt to connect to the wrong frequency. Temporarily separate the networks in your router settings or ensure that the 802.11 b/g/n standard is prioritized.
After the reset, it's important to check the current connection status. Print a network configuration report to see the assigned IP address. If you see a value starting with 169.254.x.x, this means the device hasn't received an address from the router and is in self-assignment mode. In this case, printing is impossible until the DHCP server issue is resolved.
Setting up a Wi-Fi connection via WPS and the device menu
There are two main ways to connect Brother DCP-1623WR to your home network: automatic via WPS and manual via the menu. The fastest method is using technology WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)If your router has a physical WPS button, press it, then on the printer's control panel, select "Menu" → "Network" → "WLAN" → "WPS." The device will automatically exchange encryption keys.
If the WPS button is missing or doesn't work, you'll have to enter the password manually. Select "Setup Wizard" in the printer menu. The device will begin searching for available networks. Find your router's name (SSID) in the list and press "OK." Next, use the arrow keys to enter the Wi-Fi password. This may take a while, as the interface isn't touch-sensitive.
A successful connection is confirmed by a flashing wireless indicator on the MFP body, which then lights up steadily. Now your printer on the network and is ready to accept tasks. However, for the phone to see it, you need to complete a few more steps to configure the mobile device itself.
☑️ Print Readiness Check
Printing from Android smartphones with Brother iPrint&Scan
For owners of devices based on Android the official app will become the main tool Brother iPrint&ScanIt's available on Google Play and provides the most stable experience with your scanner and printer. After installation, launch the app and grant the necessary permissions to access your local network and files.
In the app's main menu, click the "No Printer Selected" button (or similar) to search for the device. If the printer and phone are on the same network, Brother iPrint&Scan will automatically detect DCP-1623WR by its IP address. Select your device from the list. If the search returns no results, make sure "Guest Network" mode is not enabled on your phone or client isolation is not enabled in your router settings.
To print a document or photo, go to the appropriate section of the app, select the file, and click the print button. Here you can also adjust the settings, including paper size, orientation, number of copies, and print type (color or black and white). The app also lets you scan documents directly to your phone, saving them as PDF or JPEG.
⚠️ Note: Some Android manufacturers (Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung) may aggressively conserve battery power by closing background app processes. Add Brother iPrint&Scan to the battery exceptions ("No Limits") to prevent printing interruptions mid-print.
What should I do if the application says "Not found"?
If automatic search doesn't work, try adding the printer manually by IP address. In the app, select "Add Printer" → "Enter IP Address." You can find the address by printing a network configuration report from the printer itself (Menu → Print Reports → Network Config). Enter the numbers exactly as they appear on the report.
Printing from iPhone and iPad: AirPrint and Mobile Apps
Ecosystem users Apple are in an advantageous position thanks to technology AirPrintThis feature is built into iOS and iPadOS, so no additional drivers are required. Just make sure your iPhone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer. Open a document, photo, or webpage, tap the Share button, and select the Print icon.
The printer selection menu should appear Brother DCP-1623WRIf the device doesn't show up, check if AirPrint is enabled in the MFP's settings (it's usually enabled by default, but can be disabled in rare cases via the web interface). AirPrint's advantage is high-quality font and image rendering, as the smartphone's processor handles the data processing.
For advanced features such as scanning to the cloud or customizing tray settings, it is recommended to also install the app Brother iPrint&Scan from the App Store. It works similarly to the Android version, providing a convenient interface for managing print queues and scanner calibration. This is especially useful for batch processing documents.
Alternative methods: Wi-Fi Direct and cloud services
If your router is temporarily unavailable or you are away from home, technology will come to the rescue Wi-Fi DirectIn this mode, the printer creates its own access point, which the phone connects to directly, without the need for a router. Activate this feature in the printer menu: "Menu" → "Network" → "WLAN" → "Wi-Fi Direct" → "On."
A signal with a name containing "DIRECT" and the printer model will appear in the phone's list of Wi-Fi networks. The connection password (usually 8 characters) can be printed on the configuration report or viewed on the MFP screen. Once connected, printing works the same as through a router, but data transfer speeds may be lower, and internet access on the phone will be temporarily lost.
Also worth mentioning are cloud services such as Google Cloud Print (although support is ending, many features have migrated to native Android services) or Brother CloudThey allow you to print from anywhere in the world with internet access by sending the document to the manufacturer's server, which then forwards the task to the printer. This requires pre-registration of the device in your Brother account.
Troubleshooting and Error Table
Even with proper setup, problems may still occur. Most often, these issues are related to the printer dynamically changing its IP address or ports being blocked by antivirus software on the router. If printing is slow or interrupted, try rebooting the entire chain: router → printer → phone. Also, make sure the device's firmware is up to date.
Below is a table of errors and solutions that will help you quickly diagnose the problem without calling a technician.
| Symptom | Possible cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| The phone doesn't see the printer. | Different Wi-Fi networks (guest/main) | Connect both devices to the same SSID |
| Printing is stuck in the queue | Invalid driver or port | Delete the printer and add it again via IP |
| Weak Wi-Fi signal | Long distance to the router | Use Wi-Fi Direct or a repeater |
| Error "No paper" when present | Contamination of sensors or software failure | Wipe the sensors, reset the memory |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can the Brother DCP-1623WR be connected to 5G Wi-Fi?
Model DCP-1623WR The printer is equipped with a Wi-Fi module that operates primarily in the 2.4 GHz band. Direct connection to 5 GHz networks is not possible. However, if your router is dual-band and broadcasts one network (Smart Connect), the printer will automatically connect to the available 2.4 GHz frequency.
How to find a printer's IP address without a computer?
The most reliable way is to print a network configuration report. Click Menu → Print Reports → Network ConfigThe printed sheet will show the device's current IP address in the TCP/IP section.
Why is printing from my phone so slow?
Speed may be reduced by a weak Wi-Fi signal, a document containing large amounts of graphic data, or using Wi-Fi Direct while downloading background data on your phone. Try lowering the print quality or moving closer to the router.
Does the scanner work via Wi-Fi on the phone?
Yes, the scanning function is fully accessible through the app. Brother iPrint&ScanYou can scan documents and photos directly to your smartphone's memory or send them by email using a wireless connection.