How to connect a Brother printer to a computer via Wi-Fi: a complete guide with troubleshooting steps

Connecting a printer Brother Connecting to a computer via Wi-Fi seems like a simple task—until you encounter errors like “device not found” or “incorrect network password.” In practice, even new models like Brother DCP-T425W or HL-L2350DW require precise adjustments on both the printer and the PC side. In this article, we'll look at all stages of connection — from router setup to driver installation, and we'll also solve common problems that 70% of users encounter.

The biggest mistake newbies make is trying to connect to Wi-Fi directly from their computer, bypassing the printer's control panel. This only works for models that support it. Wi-Fi Direct (at Brother This feature is not available in all series). We will show a universal method that will work even for older printers from 2018–2020, if they are equipped with a wireless communication module. And for owners Brother MFC-J6945DW and similar MFPs, we will add instructions on how to set up a scanner via the network.

Before you begin, check three key points: 1) The printer and computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network (not via a repeater or guest network!). 2) On your PC, disable VPN and firewalls (they block device detection). 3) Make sure the Wi-Fi indicator on the printer is on (if it's blinking orange, the network is not connected).

1. Preparing the router: why doesn't the printer see Wi-Fi?

Most often, connection problems are not caused by the printer, but by the router settings. Brother Doesn't work well with:

• 🔒 Networks with hidden SSID (when the Wi-Fi name is not broadcast).
• 🔄 Routers in mode 802.11r (Fast Roaming) - printers do not support it.
• 🛡️ Networks with WPA3 encryption (need to switch to WPA2-PSK).
• 📡 Dual-band networks, if the printer only supports 2.4 GHz (and you are trying to connect to 5 GHz).

To avoid errors, perform the following steps on the router (the instructions are universal for TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic):

1. Go to your router's control panel (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Go to the section Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) → Security Settings.
3. Install:
   • Network mode: 802.11b/g/n (only 2.4 GHz).
   • Encryption: WPA2-PSK.
   • Channel: Auto or select manually 1, 6 or 11 (least loaded).

Save the settings and reboot the router.

⚠️ Attention: On some routers (for example, Zyxel Keenetic) The "Client Isolation" feature is enabled by default. It blocks communication between devices on the local network. turn it off in the section Home Network → Insulation.

2. Connecting a Brother Printer to Wi-Fi: 3 Ways

Depending on your printer model, different connection methods are available. We'll cover all three so you can choose the best one.

Method 1: Via the printer control panel (recommended)

This method works for most models including Brother DCP-T720DW, HL-L2370DN And MFC-L2710DWInstructions:

1. Turn on the printer and wait until it is fully loaded (the indicators will stop flashing).
2. On the control panel, press the button Menu (or Settings on touch models).
3. Go to the section Network → WLAN → Setup Wizard.
4. Select your Wi-Fi network from the list and enter the password (case sensitive!).
5. Confirm the connection. If everything is successful, a check mark or text will appear on the screen. Connected.

Method 2: Via WPS (if your router supports it)

A quick method for routers with a WPS button (e.g. TP-Link Archer C6). Suitable for printers with logo Wi-Fi Protected Setup on the body:

1. On the printer, press and hold the button Wi-Fi (or WPS) for 2-3 seconds until the indicator flashes.
2. Press the button within 2 minutes WPS on the router.
3. Wait for the printer to connect (the Wi-Fi indicator turns green).

Method 3: Via USB cable (for older models)

If your printer is not equipped with a display (for example, Brother HL-1210WE), you can temporarily connect it to your PC via USB and then reconfigure it to Wi-Fi:

1. Connect the printer to the computer with a USB cable.
2. Install the driver from the official website Brother (link in section 4).
3. Run the utility Brother Wireless Setup Helper (comes with drivers).
4. Follow the wizard's instructions, selecting your Wi-Fi network.

The printer is turned on and charged (for portable models)|

Router is not in 5GHz Only mode|

The Wi-Fi password was entered correctly (check Caps Lock)|

Airplane mode is disabled on the PC.

3. Installing drivers on your computer: without them, the printer won't work.

Even if the printer is successfully connected to Wi-Fi, the computer will not see it without the correct drivers. Do not use drivers from the disk. — they were already outdated at the production stage. Download the latest versions only from the official website:

1. Go to the support page Brother: https://support.brother.com.
2. Please enter your printer model (e.g. DCP-T825DW) in the search bar.
3. Select your operating system (Windows 10/11 64-bit or macOS).
4. Download Full Driver & Software Package (not "Basic Driver"!).
5. Run the installer and follow the instructions. When selecting the connection type, specify Wireless network.

After installing the drivers, the printer should automatically appear in the list of devices. You can check this as follows:

• 🖥️ Windows: Start → Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners.
• 🍎 macOS: System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
What to do if the driver is not installed?

If the installer gives an error 0x00000005 or Unable to connect to printer>, please try:

1) Run the installer as administrator (right click → Run as administrator).

2) Temporarily disable the antivirus (for example, Kaspersky or Avast block the installation of drivers).

3) Remove old drivers via Control Panel → Programs and Features and reboot the PC.

⚠️ Attention: If you are connecting the printer to virtual machine (For example, VirtualBox or VMware), first configure USB device sharing in the VM settings. Without this, the printer won't be detected even with a proper Wi-Fi connection.

4. Setting up Wi-Fi printing: testing and troubleshooting

Now that the printer is connected and the drivers are installed, it's time to test printing. Open any document (e.g., Word or PDF) and press Ctrl + PIf your printer doesn't appear in the list or displays an error, follow these steps:

Error 1: "Printer not responding" or "Offline"

Reasons and solutions:

• 🔌 The printer is turned off or in sleep mode → Press the power button and wait for it to load.
• 📶 Weak Wi-Fi signal → Move the printer closer to the router or use Wi-Fi repeater.
• 🔒 Blocked by firewall → Add an exception for brsvc01a.exe And brmf06ga.exe in the settings Windows Defender.
• 🔄 IP address failure → Restart the printer and router. If that doesn't help, assign a static IP address to the printer in the router settings.

Error 2: "Driver not available"

This means that Windows cannot communicate with the printer over the network. Solution:

1. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
2. Find your printer Brother, right click and select Printer properties.
3. Go to the tab Ports and make sure that the port with the printer name is selected (for example, Brother DCP-T425W (network)).
4. If there is no port, click Add Port → Standard TCP/IP Port and enter the printer's IP address (you can find it out by printing it out Network Configuration from the printer control panel).

5. Setting up the scanner via Wi-Fi (for MFPs)

If your Brother - this is a multifunctional device (MFP), for example, MFC-L2750DW or DCP-L5600DNAfter connecting the printer, you need to configure the scanner separately. To do this:

1. Install the program Brother ControlCenter (comes with drivers).
2. Run it and select Network setup.
3. Enter the IP address of the printer (you can find out by printing Network Config from the control panel).
4. In the section Scanner select Network scanner and follow the instructions.

You can also use the standard application to scan via Wi-Fi. Windows Scan (Windows 10/11) or Image Capture (macOS) The main thing is that the printer is selected as the default device.

⚠️ Note: If the scanner works but the images are blurry, check the resolution in the settings. For documents, a resolution of 200–300 dpi, for photographs - 600 dpiHigher values ​​slow down Wi-Fi transmission.

6. Optimize Wi-Fi for stable printing

Even after a successful connection, users often experience printing delays or connection interruptions. This is due to the operating characteristics of printers. Brother on wireless networks. Here's how to improve stability:

• 📶 Change Wi-Fi channel on the router. Printers don't work well on congested lines. Use apps like Wi-Fi Analyzer (Android) or NetSpot (Windows/macOS) to find a free channel.
• 🔌 Set up IP reservation for the printer in the router (DHCP Reservation). This will prevent the address from changing after a reboot.
• 🔄 Turn off power saving on the printer. In some models (for example, Brother HL-L2390DW) there is a mode Sleep Mode, which breaks the Wi-Fi connection. Disable it in Settings → Power Saving.
• 🛡️ Update your printer firmware. Go to the website Brother, download the latest version for your model and update it through the control panel or utility Firmware Update Tool.

7. Connecting a Brother printer to a smartphone (Android/iOS)

Printing from a smartphone or tablet requires separate setup. To do this:

1. Install the official app:
   • 🤖 Android: Brother iPrint&Scan (from Google Play).
   • 🍎 iOS: Brother iPrint&Scan (from App Store).

Launch the app and click Add a printer.

Select your model from the list or enter the IP address manually.

To print from other applications (eg. Google Docs or Photos) select Print → Brother Printer.

If the printer is not found, check:

• 📱 The phone and printer are connected to one Wi-Fi network (not via mobile internet!).
• 🔒 It's disabled in the router settings AP Isolation (client isolation).
• 🔄 The printer is not in sleep mode (press any button on the panel).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about connection

🔍 Why can't my Brother printer find my Wi-Fi network?

Possible reasons:

• The network operates in the range 5 GHz, and the printer only supports 2.4 GHz.
• The mode is on 802.11r (Fast Roaming) on the router.
• Hidden SSID (network name is not broadcast).

Solution: Configure your router as described in Section 1 or connect the printer via WPS.

🖨️ How do I print a test page to check my connection?

On most models Brother:

1. Press and hold the button Go (or Cancel) within 5 seconds.
2. Or go to Menu → Reports → Print Network Config.

The printout will show the printer's IP address, network name, and connection status.

💻 Can I connect a Brother printer to multiple computers at the same time?

Yes, if all PCs are on the same network. After connecting the printer to Wi-Fi:

1. Install drivers from the official website on each computer.
2. When adding a printer, select Add a network printer and specify its IP address.

Limitation: Only one device can print at a time (other tasks are queued).

🔄 How do I reset my Brother printer's network settings?

If your printer has forgotten Wi-Fi or is displaying connection errors, reset it:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Press and hold the button Go (or Menu) and turn on the printer without releasing the button for 10 seconds.
3. On some models (eg, MFC-L2700DW) you need to clamp Menu + Mono Start.
4. After the reset, set up Wi-Fi again (see Section 2).

🛡️ Do I need to update my printer firmware?

Yes, if:

• The printer does not support modern encryption standards (for example, WPA3).
• There are problems connecting to new routers (for example, ASUS RT-AX88U).
• A message appears on the printer screen. Firmware Update Available.

Update firmware only through the official utility Brother or the printer control panel. Don't interrupt the process! This may damage the device.