Is your Brother printer not connecting to WiFi? Maybe it worked perfectly a few days ago, but now your computer says the printer is offline. Or perhaps you bought a new router and your printer no longer shows up when you try to print.
Don't worry. You probably don't need to replace the printer or spend hours changing computer settings.
A Brother printer can lose its WiFi connection for several simple reasons. Your WiFi password may have changed, your printer may be connected to another network, your router may have been replaced, or the printer may simply need its wireless connection restarted.
Brother's own troubleshooting instructions suggest checking the wireless connection, making sure the printer and computer are using the same network, checking network information, and resetting network settings when needed.
Let's go through seven practical fixes, starting with the easiest ones.
Why Is My Brother Printer Not Connecting to WiFi?
There are several reasons your Brother printer may not connect to your home WiFi.
Some of the most common causes include:
- The printer is connected to the wrong WiFi network.
- Your WiFi password recently changed.
- You bought a new router.
- The printer lost its wireless connection.
- Your computer and printer are using different networks.
- The printer has an old IP address.
- The printer's saved network settings are no longer correct.
- Your router is blocking communication between connected devices.
- The printer is too far from the router.
- A previous printer installation on your computer is causing confusion.
If your printer worked before and suddenly stopped, start with the simple checks. There is no reason to reset everything right away.
If you recently changed your router, WiFi name, or password, you may need to connect the Brother printer to the new network again.
Check Your Brother Printer’s Wireless Connection
Start with the printer itself. Make sure it is turned on, is not showing an error, is not stuck with a paper jam, is connected to your home WiFi, and is within a reasonable distance from the router.
If your Brother printer has a screen, look for a WiFi, WLAN, or Network option.
On many Brother models, you can find wireless setup through a menu similar to:
Settings or Menu → Network → WLAN → Setup Wizard
The exact wording depends on your printer model.
The wireless setup wizard lets the printer search for nearby networks. You can then select your home WiFi and enter the password.
If your printer shows that it is connected to WiFi but your computer still cannot print, move to the next step.
Make Sure the Printer and Computer Use the Same WiFi Network
This is one of the most common reasons a wireless printer doesn't work.
Think of your home WiFi as a neighborhood. Your computer and printer need to be in the same neighborhood so they can find each other.
For example:
Computer: SmithHomeWiFi
Printer: SmithHomeWiFi
That's what you want.
But you may have:
Computer: SmithHomeWiFi
Printer: SmithHomeWiFi-Guest
That can cause problems because guest networks often keep connected devices from communicating with one another.
Check the WiFi on Your Windows Computer
Click the WiFi icon near the clock and look at the name of the network your computer is using. Write it down if you need to.
Check the WiFi on Your Brother Printer
Open the printer's network or WLAN settings and check the network name.
If the printer is connected to a different network, connect it to the same network your computer uses.
Also check whether your phone, tablet, or other devices are connected normally. If several devices are having WiFi problems, the issue may be your router rather than the printer.
Restart the Brother Printer’s WiFi Connection
Sometimes the simplest fix works.
If your Brother printer was working yesterday but is offline today, restart it before changing any settings. Turn the printer off, wait about 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Give it a minute or two to reconnect to your wireless network, then try printing again.
Some Brother models also include a wireless recovery option in the network settings. The exact menu depends on the model.
Restart Your Router
If restarting the printer does not help, restart your router too. Unplug the router from power, wait about 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Give the router a few minutes to reconnect to your internet service, then restart the Brother printer and try printing again.
If your phone, television, laptop, and other devices are also having WiFi trouble, check the router before changing anything on the printer.
Check the Printer’s Network Configuration
If the Brother printer still won't connect, check its network information.
Many Brother printers can print a Network Configuration Report or similar network information page.
This page can show information such as:
- Wireless network name
- IP address
- Connection status
- Network details
- Wireless settings
You don't need to understand every number on the page.
The most useful things to check are whether the printer has a network connection and whether it has an IP address.
An IP address is simply an address that lets devices communicate with each other on your home network.
If your printer has an old network address, your computer may have trouble finding it.
Some Brother models also have a Network Connection Repair Tool for Windows. This tool can find the printer and update its IP address in the installed printer driver.
If your model has this tool, it can be worth trying before removing the printer from your computer.
Check the Printer's Network Report
If your printer can print a network report, look for the SSID, which is the name of your wireless network. It should match the WiFi name your computer uses.
You can also look for the IP Address. The printer should have a network address when it is properly connected.
If the printer is not connected to your network, go back to the wireless setup wizard and connect it again.
Reset the Brother Printer’s Network Settings
If the earlier steps did not work, you can reset the printer's network settings.
This is a bigger step, so save it for later rather than doing it first.
A network reset removes saved wireless information from the printer. This can include the WiFi password, network name, and other network details.
After the reset, you will need to connect the printer to your WiFi again.
Before You Reset the Printer
Have your WiFi password nearby so you can enter it when you reconnect the printer.
How to Reset the Network Settings
The exact steps depend on the Brother printer model.
On many touchscreen models, the menu may look similar to:
Settings → All Settings → Network → Network Reset
Other Brother printers may use:
Menu → Network → Network Reset
The wording and button sequence can be different on older models.
Follow the instructions for your exact Brother printer rather than trying a reset sequence from another model.
Once the reset is complete, the printer may restart. That's normal.
Your previous WiFi information will be erased, so the printer will need to be connected to your home network again.
Set Up the Brother Printer on WiFi Again
After resetting the network settings, connect the printer to WiFi from scratch.
For many Brother printers, the wireless setup wizard is the easiest way.
The process usually looks like this:
- Turn on the Brother printer.
- Open Settings or Menu.
- Select Network.
- Select WLAN or WiFi.
- Select Setup Wizard.
- Wait while the printer searches for nearby networks.
- Select your home WiFi name.
- Enter your WiFi password.
- Confirm the password.
- Wait for the printer to connect.
Take your time when entering the password. WiFi passwords are case-sensitive.
For example:
MyHouse123
and
myhouse123
are two different passwords.
If the printer asks you to choose between several WiFi networks, select the one your computer normally uses.
What If Your WiFi Network Doesn't Appear?
Move the printer closer to your router and search for available networks again.
If your WiFi network still does not appear, check your router settings. Older Brother printers may have limits on which wireless bands and security settings they can use.
Your router may also have separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks.
If you are unsure which one your printer needs, check the manual for your exact Brother model or contact your internet provider.
What to Do If the Brother Printer Still Won’t Connect
If you have tried all seven fixes and your Brother printer still won't connect, don't assume the printer is broken.
There are a few more things you can check.
Move the Printer Closer to the Router
Put the printer in the same room as your router for testing. Try connecting again.
If it works near the router but not in its usual location, the WiFi signal may be weak where the printer normally sits.
Check Whether You Recently Changed Your WiFi Password
If you changed your WiFi password, the printer may still have the old password saved. Connect it again using the new password.
Check Whether You Recently Replaced Your Router
A new router often means a new WiFi name or password. Your Brother printer may still be trying to connect using the old information.
In this situation, run the wireless setup again.
Check for a Guest Network
Make sure your printer and computer are using your regular home network.
Guest networks can sometimes prevent connected devices from communicating with each other.
Remove an Old Printer From Windows
If the printer connects to WiFi but Windows still shows it as offline, the old printer entry may be causing the problem.
On Windows:
- Open Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Find your Brother printer.
- Select it.
- Choose Remove.
- Restart the computer.
- Add the Brother printer again.
Then print a test page.
Check for Duplicate Brother Printers
You may see several entries such as:
- Brother MFC-L2710DW
- Brother MFC-L2710DW Copy 1
- Brother MFC-L2710DW Network
- Brother MFC-L2710DW Series
This can happen after repeated installations.
If several entries exist, check which one is connected to your current network and remove old entries if needed.
Try a USB Connection
If you have the right USB cable, connect the Brother printer directly to your computer.
If the printer works through USB but not WiFi, that gives you a useful clue.
The printer itself may be working normally, while the wireless connection still needs attention.
Check the Printer Driver
If the printer connects to WiFi but Windows does not print, the printer driver may need to be reinstalled.
Download the driver for your exact Brother model and Windows version from Brother's website.
Avoid installing a driver made for a different Brother model just because the printer names look similar.
Final Thoughts
When your Brother printer is not connecting to WiFi, start with the easy things.
Check the printer's wireless connection. Make sure the printer and computer are using the same WiFi network. Restart the printer and router, then check the printer's network information.
If those steps don't work, reset the printer's network settings and connect it to WiFi again.
If you recently changed your router, WiFi name, or password, you may simply need to set up the wireless connection again.
Also Read:- Brother HL-L2350DW Driver: Download, Install & Setup Guide
And don't feel like you need to change ten settings at once. Go one step at a time.
For most home users, the problem becomes much easier to solve once you figure out whether the issue is with the printer's WiFi connection, the home network, or the computer's printer installation.
If the printer works through USB but not WiFi, focus on the wireless connection. If the printer connects to WiFi but your computer cannot find it, check the computer's printer settings and network connection.
The exact buttons and menu names vary between Brother models, so always use the instructions for your specific printer when performing a network reset or changing advanced network settings.