Connect your Brother printer to WiFi through the control panel or Brother's mobile app
Most Brother printers connect to WiFi using the printer's built-in menu, not your computer. You'll need your WiFi network name and password, and the printer must be within range of your router. The process takes about five minutes and works the same way whether you're setting up a new printer or moving an existing one to a different network.
Brother printers show WiFi status on their small LCD screen or through LED lights on the front panel. If you see a WiFi icon that's lit or a status message saying "Connected", the printer is already on your network. If the icon is off or shows "Not Connected", you'll need to run the WiFi setup.
Key Takeaways
- Access WiFi settings through your printer's control panel menu, usually under Network or Wireless settings, not through your computer.
- Your printer will search for available networks and display them on screen — select yours and enter your WiFi password exactly as it appears, including uppercase and lowercase letters.
- After connection, the printer's screen will confirm the connection and display its IP address, which you can write down for future reference.
- If connection fails, restart both the printer and router, move the printer closer to the router, and check that your WiFi password is correct before trying again.
- Brother's iPrint&Scan app can also set up WiFi on newer models, but the control panel method works on all Brother printers with WiFi capability.
Access the WiFi menu on your printer's control panel
Open the menu on your Brother printer by pressing the Menu button (sometimes labeled Settings or Home). Use the arrow buttons to navigate to Network, Wireless, or WiFi — the exact name depends on your model. Press OK or Enter to open that section.
Look for an option called "Wireless Setup", "WiFi Setup", or "Network Setup". Some models show "WLAN" instead of WiFi. Select this option and the printer will begin scanning for available networks. This scan usually takes 10 to 20 seconds.
Select your network and enter your password
The printer will display a list of WiFi networks it found. Scroll through the list using the arrow buttons until you see your network name (also called your SSID). Press OK to select it.
The printer will then prompt you to enter your WiFi password. Use the arrow buttons to scroll through letters, numbers, and symbols, and press OK to select each character. WiFi passwords are case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter — if your password is "MyNetwork123", entering "mynetwork123" will fail. Take your time and double-check each character before moving to the next one. When you've entered the full password, select OK or Confirm.
The printer will attempt to connect. You'll see a message saying "Connecting" or "Authenticating" for a few seconds. If successful, the screen will show "Connected" and display your printer's IP address (a series of four numbers separated by periods, like 192.168.1.100). Write this number down — you may need it later to add the printer to your computer.
Use the Brother iPrint&Scan app for WiFi setup on newer models
If your Brother printer is newer and has NFC (near-field communication) or a QR code on the back, you can use the Brother iPrint&Scan app instead. read the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your phone or tablet.
Open the app, tap the plus sign or "Add Device" button, and select "Wireless". Hold your phone near the NFC tag on the back of the printer, or use the app to scan the QR code. The app will ask for your WiFi password and send it to the printer automatically. This method skips the manual character-by-character entry on the printer's small screen.
The app method works only if your phone and printer are on the same network already, or if your printer supports direct connection to your phone's hotspot. Check your printer's manual to see if this feature is available on your specific model.
Add the printer to your computer after WiFi connection
Once your printer is connected to WiFi, your computer still needs to know where to find it. On Windows, go to Settings, then Devices, then Printers & Scanners. Click "Add a printer or scanner" and wait for your Brother printer to appear in the list. Click it and select "Add device".
On Mac, go to System Preferences, then Printers & Scanners. Click the plus sign, select your Brother printer from the list, and click "Add". Both systems will read the necessary driver software automatically in most cases.
If your printer doesn't appear in the list, you can add it manually by IP address. On Windows, click "Add a printer or scanner", then "The printer that I want isn't listed", then "Select a shared printer by name", and type the IP address you wrote down earlier (with backslashes instead of periods: 192.168.1.100 becomes 192\168\1\100). On Mac, click the plus sign in Printers & Scanners, select "IP" from the dropdown, and enter the IP address.
Troubleshoot if your printer won't connect to WiFi
If the printer shows "Connection Failed" or "Incorrect Password", the most common cause is a typo in the password. Go back to the WiFi menu, select your network again, and re-enter your password character by character. Pay special attention to the first and last characters, which are straightforward to miss on a small screen.
If the printer can't find your network at all, check that your router is powered on and that the printer is within 30 feet of it. Walls, metal objects, and microwaves can block WiFi signals. Move the printer closer to the router and try the scan again.
If the printer found your network but connection keeps failing, restart both devices. Turn off the printer completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. After both devices are back on, try the WiFi setup again from the printer's menu.
If you've changed your WiFi password recently, the printer is still trying to use the old one. Go back to the WiFi menu and select your network again — the printer will ask for the password again, and you can enter the new one.
Verify the connection and print a test page
After the printer shows "Connected", print a test page to confirm everything is working. On Windows, go to Devices and Printers, right-click your Brother printer, and select "Printer Properties". Click "Print Test Page". On Mac, go to Printers & Scanners, select your Brother printer, and click "Print Test Page".
If the test page prints, your printer is fully connected and ready to use. If it doesn't print, check that the printer is set as your default printer. On Windows, right-click the printer and select "Set as default device". On Mac, go to Printers & Scanners, select the printer, and click "Default printer".
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't know my WiFi password?
On Windows, go to Settings, Network & Internet, WiFi, and click "Manage known networks". Select your network and click "Properties", then toggle "Show" next to the password field. On Mac, open Keychain Access, search for your network name, double-click it, check "Show password", and enter your computer's login password. Write down the password exactly as shown before entering it into the printer.
Can I connect my Brother printer to a 5GHz network instead of 2.4GHz?
Most older Brother printers only support 2.4GHz WiFi. Check your printer's manual or the sticker on the back to confirm. If your router broadcasts both bands, the printer will only see and connect to the 2.4GHz network. Newer Brother models support 5GHz, but they still default to 2.4GHz — you may need to select the 5GHz network manually from the WiFi list if your router gives them different names.
Do I need to connect the printer with a USB cable first?
No. WiFi setup works entirely through the printer's control panel menu. You don't need a computer or USB cable at any point. The only time you'd use a USB cable is if the printer fails to connect to WiFi and you want to use it as a wired printer instead.
Will the printer stay connected if I restart my router?
Yes. Once the printer has your WiFi password stored, it will automatically reconnect to the network when the router comes back on. You don't need to re-enter the password or run setup again unless you change your WiFi network name or password.
What's the difference between the printer's IP address and my WiFi password?
Your WiFi password is what the printer uses to join your network — it's the same password you use on your phone or computer. The IP address is the printer's unique location on the network, assigned automatically after it connects. You need the password to set up the connection, and you may need the IP address later if you're adding the printer to a new computer.