You hit Scan to Computer on the Brother MFC-J1010DW and nothing happens. Or the scan completes but the file never appears on your PC or Mac. Or the printer just sits there saying "Connecting" until it gives up. The MFC-J1010DW is a 2021 budget all-in-one that uses LC401 cartridges, connects over 2.4 GHz WiFi or USB, and scanning issues almost always trace back to the software service on your computer, the network connection, or a stalled mobile app setup.
The quickest fix is to check that Brother iPrint&Scan (or the newer Brother Mobile Connect app, depending on your setup) is actually open and active on your computer. Without that helper app running in the background, the printer's Scan button has no idea where to send the file. Open iPrint&Scan on your desktop, confirm it's running, and try the scan again from the printer's touchscreen.
If that didn't get you a file, here's the rest of the troubleshooting.
The App That Actually Runs Scanning
Brother has two apps for the MFC-J1010DW, and which one you need depends on what you're doing. For scanning directly to your computer over WiFi or USB, you want Brother iPrint&Scan (the legacy desktop app, still fully supported). For mobile printing and scanning from your phone, you want Brother Mobile Connect (iOS 14+ or Android 9+, the current primary app).
The confusion happens when people install Mobile Connect on their phone and expect it to handle desktop scanning. It doesn't. For Scan to Computer from the printer's touchscreen, iPrint&Scan needs to be installed and running on that specific computer. Double-check which app you have open.
If iPrint&Scan is running but the printer still won't talk to it, check the Windows system tray or Mac menu bar. The app needs to be active, not just installed. On Windows, look for the Brother icon near the clock. On Mac, check the top menu bar. If you see it, click it and make sure it shows your MFC-J1010DW as connected.
WiFi Band and Network Compatibility
The MFC-J1010DW is strictly 2.4 GHz WiFi. It cannot see 5 GHz networks. Most modern routers broadcast both bands under one SSID (band steering), and the printer usually finds the 2.4 GHz side just fine. But if your router uses band steering aggressively, the printer might struggle to stay connected during a scan.
Here's the bigger issue: WPA3-only networks. If your mesh router or access point is set to WPA3 security exclusively, the MFC-J1010DW cannot join it. The printer supports WPA2 and mixed WPA2/WPA3. Go into your router settings and temporarily switch the 2.4 GHz SSID to WPA2 or mixed mode. Pair the printer fresh, and once it's connected, you can switch back to WPA3 if your router allows mixed mode clients to stay connected.
Same goes for PMF (Protected Management Frames). If your mesh network requires PMF, the Brother may fail to associate. Turning off PMF for the 2.4 GHz band usually resolves it.
Allow iPrint&Scan Through the Firewall
This one is sneaky. The MFC-J1010DW sends scan data over the network, but Windows Defender Firewall or a third-party security suite can block iPrint&Scan from receiving it. The printer doesn't show an error. The scan just never arrives.
On Windows, open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall. Scroll through the list and find Brother iPrint&Scan. Make sure both Private and Public boxes are checked. If you don't see it, click Allow another app and browse to C:\Program Files\Brother\iPrint&Scan\ and add the main executable.
If you run Norton, McAfee, or another suite, open its firewall settings and allow iPrint&Scan through there too. Restart the computer, open iPrint&Scan, and try scanning from the printer again.
Wake the Computer Fully Before Scanning
Scan to Computer needs the destination machine awake and active. If your laptop is in sleep mode or the display is off, the printer's scan request hits a closed door. The job hangs on the printer's screen with no timeout warning.
Wake the computer completely. Log in if needed. Confirm iPrint&Scan is running in the foreground or system tray. Then press Scan on the MFC-J1010DW and choose your computer from the list. The file should transfer in a few seconds.
Use USB for the Most Reliable Scan Connection
The MFC-J1010DW has a USB Type-B port on the back. If you're fighting WiFi dropouts, scan timeouts, or network discovery failures, plugging in a USB cable eliminates the entire networking variable. Connect the printer to your computer with a standard USB printer cable (the square-end type). Windows and Mac detect it as a new device within about 30 seconds.
Open iPrint&Scan, switch to USB mode if prompted, and run a test scan. USB scans are faster, more reliable, and completely immune to WiFi congestion or 2.4 GHz interference.
Reset the Printer's Network Connection
If the MFC-J1010DW can't be found on the network at all and printing also fails, the printer's WiFi config might be corrupted. This is common after a router change or ISP modem swap. Reset the network settings from the printer's menu.
On the touchscreen, press Menu > Network > Network Reset. Confirm. The printer forgets all WiFi credentials and restarts. Go through the initial WiFi setup again using Brother Mobile Connect on your phone (or via the WPS button on your router if supported). After reconnecting, re-add the printer in iPrint&Scan on your computer.
Factory Reset the Printer (Last Resort for Stubborn Issues)
If the scanner still won't cooperate after all the above, a full factory reset clears everything, including any corrupted settings or hung scan jobs. On the MFC-J1010DW, press Menu > Initial Setup > Reset > All Settings. This wipes your WiFi credentials, any saved scan destinations, and custom settings. The printer reboots fresh out of the box.
After reset, you'll need to reconnect to WiFi, reinstall ink if the printer prompts you (it won't actually reset the ink gauges, it just asks), and re-add the printer to iPrint&Scan. But for scanning issues that nothing else fixed, this usually clears whatever was stuck.
Update the Printer's Firmware
Brother occasionally pushes firmware updates that fix scanning bugs. The MFC-J1010DW can update itself over WiFi. On the touchscreen, press Menu > Firmware Update > Update. The printer checks for new firmware and installs it if available. Keep the printer plugged in during the update. It takes about 5 minutes.
Updated firmware has resolved scan-to-computer timeouts and connection drops in earlier models. It's worth running the check even if you think your firmware is current.
Reinstall the Scanner on Your Computer
If nothing else has worked and iPrint&Scan just doesn't see the MFC-J1010DW, remove the printer from your computer and add it back fresh. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners. Click the MFC-J1010DW, choose Remove, and confirm. Then click Add device and let Windows rediscover it.
On Mac, open System Settings > Printers and Scanners. Select the MFC-J1010DW and hit the minus button to delete it. Then click the plus button and re-add it from the list. The fresh registration clears any stale driver cache or corrupted scanner entry that was blocking discovery.
Test a scan immediately after re-adding. If the printer shows up in iPrint&Scan now, the old registration was the problem.
