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Brother Printer Setup: Step-by-Step Guide

Printers & Scanners

Brother Printer Setup: Step-by-Step Guide

Brother printers are known for being reliable and long-lasting — but the initial setup can be confusing, especially for wireless connection. This guide walks you through setting up a Brother printer from scratch, reconnecting it after a Wi-Fi change, and getting it working on multiple devices.

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Before You Start: What You Will Need

Gathering these things before you begin makes the setup process much smoother.

  • Your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password — check the label on your router if you are not sure
  • The model number of your Brother printer — printed on the front or a label on the bottom
  • A computer, phone, or tablet to download the driver and software
  • The USB cable that came with the printer (useful as a backup connection method)
  • Access to the printer's control panel — most Brother printers have a small LCD screen or button panel

Setting Up a Brother Printer on Wi-Fi (Wireless Setup Wizard)

Most Brother printers include a Wireless Setup Wizard that guides you through connecting to your home Wi-Fi network directly from the printer's control panel.

  1. 1Power on the printer and wait for it to fully start up
  2. 2On the printer's control panel, press the Menu button (or navigate to Settings on touchscreen models)
  3. 3Use the arrow keys to find Network and press OK
  4. 4Select WLAN (or Wireless LAN) and then Setup Wizard
  5. 5The printer will scan for available Wi-Fi networks — select your network name from the list
  6. 6Enter your Wi-Fi password using the keypad (use the arrow keys to scroll through characters, or use the touchscreen if your model has one)
  7. 7Press OK to confirm — the printer will connect and display a confirmation message

Tip: If your Wi-Fi password contains special characters, entering it on the printer's keypad can be tedious. An alternative is to use WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) if your router supports it: press the WPS button on your router, then press the WPS button on the printer within two minutes. They will connect automatically without needing to enter a password.

Installing the Brother Driver on Your Computer

Once the printer is connected to Wi-Fi, you need to install the driver on each computer that will use it.

  1. 1Go to support.brother.com and search for your printer model number
  2. 2Select your operating system (Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, etc.)
  3. 3Download the Full Driver and Software Package
  4. 4Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions
  5. 5When asked for a connection type, choose Wireless Network Connection
  6. 6The installer will search for your printer on the network and add it automatically
  7. 7Print a test page to confirm everything is working

Reconnecting a Brother Printer After a Wi-Fi Change

If you changed your Wi-Fi password, got a new router, or moved to a new home, your Brother printer will need to be reconnected to the new network. The printer remembers its old Wi-Fi settings and will not automatically connect to the new network.

  1. 1On the printer, go to Menu, then Network, then Network Reset (or Factory Reset for network settings only)
  2. 2Confirm the reset — this clears the old Wi-Fi settings
  3. 3Follow the Wireless Setup Wizard steps above to connect to the new network
  4. 4On your computer, you may need to remove the printer from Printers and Scanners and add it again after it reconnects

Warning: Do not perform a full factory reset on the printer unless you want to clear all settings including custom preferences. A network reset only clears the Wi-Fi settings and is the right choice when reconnecting to a new network.

Connecting a Brother Printer via USB

If wireless setup is giving you trouble, connecting via USB is a reliable alternative. The printer will work perfectly for the computer it is connected to, and you can still share it over the network if needed.

  1. 1Connect the USB cable from the printer to your computer
  2. 2Go to support.brother.com and download the driver for your model
  3. 3Run the installer and choose USB Connection when prompted
  4. 4The installer will detect the printer and complete the setup

Common Brother Printer Setup Problems

Here are the issues homeowners run into most often during Brother printer setup.

  • Printer not found during driver installation: Make sure the printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. Try restarting both the printer and your router.
  • Wrong Wi-Fi password entered: If the printer fails to connect, go back through the Wireless Setup Wizard and re-enter the password carefully. Passwords are case-sensitive.
  • Printer connects to Wi-Fi but computer cannot print: Remove the printer from Printers and Scanners on your computer and add it again. The IP address may have changed.
  • Driver installation fails or freezes: Temporarily disable your antivirus software during installation. Some security programs block printer driver installers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need Help Setting Up Your Brother Printer?

We'll come to your home, connect it to your Wi-Fi, and make sure it works on all your devices. Same-week scheduling available throughout Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County, MD.

Schedule Service(410) 870-9233