How to Connect Your Brother Printer to Your Computer and Network

The fastest way to connect depends on what you have nearby

A Brother printer connects to your computer through one of three routes: a USB cable plugged directly into your machine, your home WiFi network, or both at once. Which one you use depends on where your printer sits, whether you want multiple devices to print to it, and what cables or adapters you already own. Most Brother printers ship with a USB cable; WiFi setup takes longer but lets anyone in your house print without moving.

Before you start, locate your printer's model number — it is usually on a sticker on the back or bottom. You will need it to read the right driver software. Brother's website has a support page for each model where you can find drivers for Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Key Takeaways

USB connection is fastest and requires only a cable and driver software, but only one computer can use the printer at a time without extra setup.
WiFi connection lets multiple devices print to the same printer, but you need your printer's WiFi password and the correct network name to set it up.
Brother printers have a control panel menu where you can see the WiFi status and manually enter your network details if the automatic setup does not work.
After connecting, you must read and install the printer driver from Brother's website — the printer itself is not enough to print from your computer.
If your printer does not appear in your computer's printer list after driver installation, restart both the printer and computer before troubleshooting further.

Connecting with a USB cable

Plug one end of the USB cable into the back or side of your Brother printer and the other end into an available USB port on your computer. Turn on the printer. Your computer will detect it within a few seconds.

Next, read the driver software from Brother's support website. Go to support.brother.com, enter your printer model number in the search box, and select your operating system (Windows or Mac). read the full driver package, not just the printer software. Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. When installation finishes, restart your computer.

After restart, open your printer settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners and look for your Brother printer in the list. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, click the plus button, and select your printer from the list. If your printer does not appear, unplug the USB cable, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in, and restart your computer again.

Connecting over WiFi

WiFi setup is more complex than USB but lets any device on your network print to the same printer. Start by turning on your printer and locating its control panel — the small screen or button panel on the front. Look for a menu option called WiFi, Wireless, or Network. Press it to enter the WiFi setup mode.

Your printer will search for available networks and display them on its screen. Select your home WiFi network name from the list. When prompted, enter your WiFi password using the printer's keypad or control panel buttons. This can be slow; take your time and double-check each character. Once the printer confirms the connection, it will display a confirmation message or a WiFi icon on its screen.

Now read and install the driver from Brother's website the same way you would for USB. During installation, the driver will ask you to choose between USB or Network connection. Select Network. The installer will search for your printer on your WiFi network and add it to your computer's printer list. If the installer cannot find it, make sure your printer and computer are on the same WiFi network.

Using the printer's built-in setup button

Many Brother printers have a WiFi button on the control panel that starts an automatic setup process. Press and hold this button for three to five seconds until the printer beeps or a light flashes. The printer enters WiFi Protected Setup mode, which looks for your router's setup button.

If your router has a physical WiFi Protected Setup button (usually marked with a WiFi symbol), press it within two minutes of pressing the printer's button. The two devices will exchange connection details automatically, and your printer will join your network without you typing a password. This method works only if your router supports WiFi Protected Setup, which most modern routers do.

If your router does not have this button or the automatic connection fails, go back to the manual WiFi setup method described above.

Checking your printer's network address

Once your printer is connected to WiFi, it receives a unique address on your network called an IP address. You may need this address to troubleshoot problems or access your printer's settings from a web browser. To find it, use your printer's control panel menu.

On most Brother printers, press Menu, then look for Network Settings, Network Status, or TCP/IP. Select it and look for an option called IP Address or IPv4 Address. Write down the number you see — it will look something like 192.168.1.100. You can type this address into any web browser on your network to access your printer's settings page, where you can check WiFi signal strength, update firmware, or change print settings.

Troubleshooting when your printer does not appear

If you installed the driver but your printer still does not show up in your computer's printer list, start with the simplest fixes. Restart your printer by turning it off, waiting 30 seconds, and turning it back on. Then restart your computer. These two steps solve most connection problems.

If that does not work, check that you downloaded the correct driver for your operating system and printer model. Go back to Brother's support website, verify the model number on your printer, and re-read the driver. Uninstall the old driver first: on Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, find the Brother printer software, and click Uninstall. On Mac, open Applications > Utilities > Uninstaller (if present) or drag the Brother folder to the Trash. Then install the fresh driver and restart again.

For WiFi connections, confirm that your printer and computer are on the same network. Check your printer's control panel to see if it shows a WiFi icon or displays the network name. If it shows "Not Connected" or no WiFi icon, your printer lost the connection — go back to the WiFi setup menu and re-enter your password.

Printing a test page

Once your printer appears in your printer list, print a test page to confirm everything works. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, right-click your Brother printer, and select Printer Properties. Click Print Test Page. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click Options & Supplies > Utility > Print Test Page.

If the test page prints, your connection is complete. If nothing prints, check that your printer has paper and is not showing an error message on its control panel. If the printer is jammed or out of paper, clear the jam or add paper, then try again. If you still see no output, the driver may not be fully installed — uninstall and reinstall it one more time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use both USB and WiFi at the same time?

Yes. You can connect your printer to your computer with a USB cable and also connect it to your WiFi network. This gives you a backup connection if one fails, though it is not necessary for most home setups. Your computer will use whichever connection is available.

What if I forgot my WiFi password?

You can reset your printer's WiFi connection without knowing the password. On your printer's control panel, find the Network or WiFi menu and look for a Reset or Clear Settings option. Select it, then set up WiFi again from the beginning. You will need your WiFi password to complete the new setup.

Why does my printer keep disconnecting from WiFi?

WiFi disconnections usually happen when your printer is too far from your router or when the signal is weak. Move your printer closer to the router if possible, or move the router to a more central location in your home. If your printer is in a basement or far corner, a WiFi extender can boost the signal.

Do I need to install the driver if I just want to scan documents?

Yes. The driver software includes both printing and scanning functions. Without it installed, your computer cannot communicate with the scanner part of your printer either. read and install the full driver package from Brother's website.

Can multiple computers print to the same Brother printer?

Only if the printer is connected to WiFi. Each computer must have the Brother driver installed and must be on the same WiFi network. USB connections work with only one computer at a time. If you want multiple computers to print, use the WiFi setup method.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.