Your Brother printer needs to be connected the way your model supports before anything can print, and most setups also need Brother’s software. The exception is driverless printing: an AirPrint-capable Brother machine on the same network prints from a Mac, iPhone, or iPad with no Brother download at all. Install the Brother software when you want full setup, scanning, and utility features, or when your model or platform requires it. Start at setup.brother.com, then use the matching Wi-Fi, mobile, or Mac setup path below.
Keep your Brother model name, Wi-Fi Network Name, and Network Key nearby before you begin.
Start at setup.brother.com
This method applies when you are setting up a current Brother printer or all-in-one from a Windows PC or Mac and want Brother’s recommended installer. Brother limits this setup software to machines released in April 2020 or later, and the macOS version of the setup tool requires macOS 13 or later. On an older machine, or on macOS 12 or earlier, skip the setup tool and pull the compatible package from Brother’s Support & Downloads page instead.
Open setup.brother.com in your browser.
Enter or select your Brother machine model.
Choose the download Brother recommends for that model and operating system.
Run the downloaded installer after it finishes downloading.
Follow the Brother software’s on-screen instructions, since the available driver, utility, and setup components vary by printer model and by Windows or macOS version.
You can also use Brother’s Support & Downloads page. Search by Model Name or Product Category, select the operating system when prompted, choose the available driver or software package, and follow that download page’s instructions.
Connect the printer to Wi-Fi with the installer
This fixes a Brother printer that has the installer ready but is not yet joined to Wi-Fi.
Download the installer for your model from setup.brother.com or Brother’s Downloads page.
Start the installer on your computer.
Choose Wireless Network Connection (Wi-Fi) when the installer asks for the connection type.
Click Next.
Follow the Brother installer’s on-screen instructions until wireless setup finishes.
Use the printer screen when Wi-Fi setup stalls
The most common cause is that the printer still needs the wireless network name and key entered from its own controls.
Have your Network Name, also called the SSID, and Network Key ready.
On button and LCD models that use these labels, go to Network, press OK, open WLAN(Wi-Fi), press OK, choose Find Network, and press OK.
Brother renames this wizard on some machines. If your panel has no Find Network entry, press Settings and look for Network, WLAN, then Setup Wizard, which is the same wireless wizard under a different name. Your model’s online manual lists the exact labels.
When WLAN Enable? appears, select On.
Select your SSID and press OK.
Enter the Network Key when required, press OK, then choose Yes.
Wait for the printer to show Connected.
On touchscreen Brother models that use these labels, open Settings, then All Settings, Network, WLAN(Wi-Fi), and Find Wi-Fi Network. On touchscreen machines that show WLAN rather than WLAN(Wi-Fi), take Settings, All Settings, Network, WLAN, then Setup Wizard.
Press Yes at Enable WLAN?, choose the SSID, press OK, enter the Network Key when required, press OK, wait for Connected, and press OK.
Turn Brother Wi-Fi back on
Some failed setups come down to Wi-Fi being disabled on the printer itself. On supported button and LCD models, open Network, press OK, open WLAN(Wi-Fi), press OK, choose WLAN Enable, and press OK.
Select On to enable Wi-Fi, then press Go. Run the setup.brother.com installer again after the printer is back on Wi-Fi.
For a hidden Wi-Fi network, use Find Network, enable WLAN, then choose <New SSID>. Enter the SSID, choose the Authentication Method and Encryption Type requested by the printer, enter the WEP or WPA key, select Yes, and wait for Connected.
Use WPS when your router supports it
WPS is a quicker wireless setup path for Brother printers and routers that support WPS Push Button setup.
On the printer, open Network, press OK, open WLAN(Wi-Fi), press OK, choose WPS/Push Button, and press OK.
When WLAN Enable? appears, select On.
When Press Key on rtr appears, press the WPS button on your wireless access point or router, then follow the instructions on the Brother printer LCD.
Wait until the printer shows Connected.
Return to the Brother installer or Brother Mobile Connect after the printer joins the network.
If this method fails, use the printer’s Find Network Wi-Fi wizard and enter the Network Key manually.
Set up Brother Mobile Connect
Install Brother Mobile Connect from Google Play on Android or the Apple App Store on iPhone and iPad.
Open Brother Mobile Connect on your device.
Follow the setup flow shown in the app for Android or iOS.
When you already connected the printer with WPS first, return to Brother Mobile Connect.
Tap Add machine, then tap Connected.
Brother notes that features vary by machine, and print or scan is not available on every supported Brother model.
Print without a router using Wi-Fi Direct
Use Wi-Fi Direct when you need a direct phone-to-printer connection instead of joining the printer to a router.
- 1.On button-panel Brother Wi-Fi Direct models, open Network, press OK, open Wi-Fi Direct, press OK, choose Manual, and press OK. On touchscreen machines, Network sits one level deeper, so go to Settings, All Settings, Network, then Wi-Fi Direct and Manual.
- 2.When Wi-Fi Direct On? appears, select On.
- 3.Write down the SSID name and Password shown on the printer.
- 4.On your phone or tablet, open Wi-Fi settings, select the Brother SSID, and enter the password.
- 5.Wait for the printer to show Connected, then open Brother Mobile Connect.
Add the printer on a Mac with AirPrint
This fixes a Brother printer that is already on the network but is not listed as a usable printer on your Mac.
On macOS 13 or later, open the Apple menu.
Open System Settings.
Open Printers & Scanners.
Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax.
Select your Brother machine.
Open the Use pop-up menu.
Select the model name, then click Add.
On macOS 12 or earlier, open the Apple menu.
Open System Preferences.
Open Printers & Scanners.
Click +.
Select your Brother machine.
Choose the model name on macOS 12, or choose AirPrint on macOS 11 or earlier.
Click Add.
Fix discovery and reinstall problems
When a phone or computer cannot see the printer after setup, start with the discovery controls for that platform. On Android, open Settings, then Connected devices, Connection preferences, Printing, and Mopria Print Service (MPS) or Brother Print Service Plugin; turn the service off, then turn it on again.
On iOS 14 or later with Brother iPrint&Scan, open Settings, then iPrint&Scan, and enable Local Network. On macOS 15 or later, open System Settings, then Privacy & Security, Local Network, and allow Brother iPrint&Scan.
For a cleaner Windows reinstall, open Start, then All apps, Brother, and Brother Utilities on Windows 11; on Windows 10, open Start, then Brother, and Brother Utilities. Choose your model from the drop-down list, click Tools, click Uninstall, and follow the dialog instructions before installing again from setup.brother.com.
If this method fails, remove the Brother printer from your system’s printer list and reinstall the current package from setup.brother.com for your exact model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use setup.brother.com?
No. Brother also provides setup through its Support and Downloads page, where you can search by model name or product category and choose the available driver or software package.
What information do I need before connecting a Brother printer to Wi-Fi?
You need the printer model, your Wi-Fi Network Name or SSID, and the Network Key. For hidden networks, you also need the authentication and encryption details requested by the printer.
Can I set up a Brother printer from my phone?
Yes, for supported models. Install Brother Mobile Connect from Google Play or the Apple App Store, open the app, and follow its Android or iOS setup flow.
What should I do on a work or managed Wi-Fi network?
Ask the network administrator for the SSID, authentication method, encryption mode, user ID, password, and any required certificate details. Brother supports enterprise wireless setup on supported models.
