The basic steps to connect your Brother printer to WiFi
Most Brother printers connect to WiFi through a menu on the printer itself, not through your computer. You'll need your WiFi network name (SSID) and password, then navigate to the printer's settings, find the wireless setup option, and select your network. The printer will ask you to enter your password, confirm the connection, and then you're done — no software installation required for the connection itself, though you may need to install the printer driver on your computer afterward so it can actually print.
The exact menu path depends on your Brother model, but the principle is the same across nearly all of them. Some newer models have a touchscreen that makes this obvious; older models use arrow buttons and a small LCD display. Either way, you're looking for a menu labeled "Network," "Wireless," "WiFi," or sometimes "Settings."
Key Takeaways
- Connect through the printer's own menu using its buttons or touchscreen, not through your computer's settings.
- You need your WiFi network name and password before you start, and the printer must be within range of your router.
- After the printer connects to WiFi, install the Brother printer driver on your computer so your computer can find and use the printer.
- If the printer cannot find your network, restart both the printer and your router, then try again.
- Brother printers can usually print over WiFi from any device on the same network once connected, including phones and tablets.
Finding the wireless setup menu on your printer
On a Brother printer with a touchscreen (like the MFC-L8360CDW or HL-L9310CDW), look for a "Menu" or "Settings" button on the home screen. Tap it, then look for "Network" or "Wireless" options. The exact wording varies, but Brother groups all connection settings in one place.
On older Brother models with physical buttons and a small display, press the "Menu" button (sometimes labeled with a wrench icon), then use the arrow keys to scroll to "Network Setup" or "Wireless Setup." Press "OK" to enter that section. If you're unsure which button is Menu, check the quick-start guide that came with your printer or search "Brother [your model number] manual" online — Brother publishes full PDFs for every model.
Once you're in the wireless setup menu, the printer will show you a list of available networks. Your WiFi network name should appear in that list. If it doesn't, your printer may be too far from the router, or your router may be broadcasting on a frequency your printer doesn't support (some older Brother models only work on 2.4 GHz, not 5 GHz).
Entering your WiFi password and confirming the connection
Select your network name from the list. The printer will then prompt you to enter your WiFi password. Use the arrow keys or touchscreen to type it in — this is tedious on older models with buttons, but necessary. Make sure you enter it exactly as it appears; WiFi passwords are case-sensitive, and a single wrong character will cause the connection to fail.
After you enter the password, the printer will attempt to connect. This usually takes 10 to 30 seconds. The printer will display a confirmation message — either "Connected" or a similar success indicator. If you see an error message instead, double-check that you typed the password correctly and try again. If the password is right but the connection still fails, restart the printer and try once more.
Once connected, the printer will display its IP address on the screen (something like 192.168.1.100). Write this down or take a photo — you may need it later if you're troubleshooting or setting up the printer on a new computer.
Installing the printer driver on your computer
The WiFi connection itself is now complete, but your computer still needs the printer driver — the software that lets your computer send print jobs to the printer. Without it, your computer won't recognize the printer even though it's on the network.
Go to Brother's support website (support.brother.com), enter your printer model number, and read the driver for your operating system (Windows or Mac). Run the installer and follow the prompts. During installation, the driver will search for your printer on the network. If it finds it automatically, you're done. If not, you can manually enter the IP address you wrote down earlier.
After installation, open any program that can print (like Notepad or a web browser), go to File > Print, and your Brother printer should appear in the list of available printers. Select it and print a test page to confirm everything is working.
What to do if your printer won't connect to WiFi
If your printer can't find your network, or if it finds it but won't connect, start by restarting both the printer and your router. Turn off the printer completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Do the same with your router. Then try the wireless setup again from the printer's menu.
If the printer still can't find your network, check whether your router is broadcasting your network name. Some routers have a setting to hide the network name (SSID). If yours is hidden, you may need to manually enter the network name instead of selecting it from a list — look for an option in the printer's wireless menu that says "Manual Entry" or "Other Network."
If your printer finds the network but won't connect after you enter the password, the password is likely wrong. Confirm your WiFi password by logging into your router's settings on a computer or phone, or by checking the sticker on the back of your router. Then try entering it on the printer again, character by character.
Some older Brother printers only work on 2.4 GHz WiFi networks, not 5 GHz. If your router broadcasts both, try connecting to the 2.4 GHz network specifically. You can usually tell which is which by the network name — many routers add "-5G" to the 5 GHz version.
Printing from different devices once connected
After your Brother printer is connected to WiFi and the driver is installed on your computer, you can print from any device on the same network. On Windows, any program's Print dialog will show your Brother printer. On Mac, the same applies — just make sure you installed the Mac driver, not the Windows one.
You can also print from phones and tablets without installing anything extra. On iPhone or iPad, use AirPrint (built into iOS) — open a document, tap Share, select Print, and your Brother printer should appear if it supports AirPrint (most newer models do). On Android, use Google Cloud Print or your printer's native app if Brother offers one for your model.
If you want to print from a phone but your printer doesn't appear, make sure the phone is connected to the same WiFi network as the printer. Phones on a guest network or a different WiFi band won't see the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use a USB cable to set up WiFi, or can I do it wirelessly from the start?
You can do it entirely wirelessly. The printer's menu lets you connect to WiFi without ever plugging in a USB cable. A USB cable is only necessary if you want to print directly from a computer without using the network, or if you're having trouble connecting wirelessly and want to troubleshoot with a wired connection instead.
Can I connect my Brother printer to WiFi if I don't know my password?
You need the password to complete the connection. Check the sticker on the back of your router, or log into your router's settings from a computer or phone to view or reset the password. If you've forgotten how to access your router, contact your internet provider — they can walk you through it or reset it for you.
What if my printer connects to WiFi but my computer can't find it?
The printer is connected to the network, but your computer doesn't have the driver installed. read and install the Brother driver from support.brother.com for your operating system. During installation, it will search for your printer on the network. If it doesn't find it automatically, manually enter the printer's IP address (the number the printer displayed after connecting to WiFi).
Can I move my printer to a different room after connecting it to WiFi?
Yes, as long as it stays within range of your router and on the same WiFi network. If you move it too far away, the signal may weaken and the connection may drop. If that happens, restart the printer and it should reconnect automatically. You don't need to set up WiFi again.
Will connecting to WiFi erase any settings or documents stored on my printer?
No. Connecting to WiFi only adds a network connection — it doesn't change any other settings, stored documents, or printer configuration. Your printer will work exactly as it did before, just with network access added.