In today’s connected world, wireless printers offer unparalleled convenience, allowing you to print documents from anywhere in your home or office without the clutter of cables. Brother printers are known for their reliability and user-friendly features, and connecting them to your computer via Wi-Fi is a straightforward process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to establish a seamless wireless connection between your Brother printer and your computer, ensuring you can print effortlessly whenever you need to.
Before you begin, it’s crucial to ensure your Brother printer is compatible with wireless networking. Typically, Brother printers that support Wi-Fi connectivity are powered by an AC adapter or a Li-ion battery. Printers using alkaline or Ni-MH batteries generally do not support wireless connections. Verify your printer’s power source to proceed with these instructions.
There are primarily two main methods to connect your Brother printer to your computer wirelessly, depending on whether you have already installed the printer driver on your system. Let’s explore both approaches to get your printer up and running wirelessly.
Method 1: Setting up Wireless Connection During Driver Installation
This method is ideal if you are setting up your Brother printer for the first time or haven’t yet installed the necessary printer drivers on your computer. The installation process will guide you through connecting to your wireless network.
-
Ensure Computer is Connected to Wi-Fi: First and foremost, make sure your computer is successfully connected to your wireless network. You’ll need to be on the same network as your Brother printer for them to communicate wirelessly. If you’re already connected, you can proceed to the next step.
-
Download the Latest Driver and Software: Navigate to the official Brother support website and locate the “Downloads” section. Enter your Brother printer model to find the appropriate drivers and software package for your operating system (Windows or macOS). Download the recommended full driver package, which usually includes the printer driver and P-touch Editor software.
-
Initiate the Installation: Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded file (usually in your Downloads folder) and double-click it to begin the installation process.
-
Select Wireless Connection Type: During the installation, you will be prompted to choose a connection type. Select “Wireless Network Connection” as your desired setup and click “Next” to proceed.
-
Choose Brother Peer-to-Peer Network Printer (Windows Only): If you are using a Windows computer, you will see an option to select “Brother Peer-to-Peer Network Printer.” Choose this option and proceed. Mac users can skip to the next step.
-
Firewall Settings (Windows Only): Windows may prompt you about firewall settings. It’s recommended to allow the installer to “Change the Firewall port settings to enable network connection.” This ensures smooth communication between your printer and computer. Select the recommended option and click “Next.”
-
Prepare USB Cable (Recommended): For a more stable and straightforward setup, it is recommended to use a USB cable temporarily. Select “Yes, I have a USB cable to use for installation.” If you prefer WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) and your router supports it, you can choose “No, I do not have a USB cable” and follow the on-screen WPS instructions. However, this guide focuses on the USB cable method for broader compatibility.
-
Select Your Wi-Fi Network (SSID): The installer will display a list of available wireless networks. Choose your Wi-Fi network’s name (SSID) from the list and click “Next.” Ensure you select the correct network you want your printer to connect to.
-
Installation Confirmation: Review the installation confirmation screen to ensure the selected Wi-Fi network (SSID) is correct. Make sure the checkbox is selected and click “Next” to confirm.
-
Verify SSID Details: Double-check that the displayed SSID (Network Name) is indeed your Wi-Fi network. Select “Yes” to confirm and proceed with the wireless setup.
-
Complete Software Installation: Follow the remaining on-screen prompts to finish the software installation. This process may involve connecting your printer to your computer using the USB cable you prepared earlier. Once the installation is complete, click “Finish” to close the installer window.
-
Check Printer’s Wi-Fi LED: After successful wireless connection, check your Brother printer. The Wi-Fi LED indicator on the printer should now be lit steadily, indicating it’s connected to your wireless network.
-
Launch P-touch Editor and Select Printer: Ensure the Editor Lite LED on your printer is off. Open the P-touch Editor software (or other Brother printing software you installed) and select your newly connected printer from the printer list within the software.
-
Start Wireless Printing: Congratulations! You can now start editing and printing labels or documents wirelessly from your computer. Your Brother printer is successfully connected to your computer over Wi-Fi.
Method 2: Manual Wireless Setup (Driver Already Installed – Windows)
If you have already installed the printer driver and software for your Brother printer, you can manually configure the wireless connection using the Printer Setting Tool.
-
Ensure Driver and Tools are Installed: Verify that the printer driver, Printer Setting Tool, and P-touch Editor (or relevant Brother software) are already installed on your Windows computer.
-
Power On Your Printer: Turn on your Brother printer and wait for it to initialize.
-
Check Wi-Fi LED Status: Observe the Wi-Fi LED on your printer. It should be flashing, indicating it’s ready to connect wirelessly. If it’s not flashing, press and hold the Wireless Mode button on your printer for one second to activate wireless mode. Release the button when the Wi-Fi LED starts flashing.
-
Connect Printer via USB: Connect your Brother printer to your computer using a USB cable. This temporary USB connection is needed to configure the wireless settings.
-
Open Printer Setting Tool: Launch the “Printer Setting Tool” on your computer. You can usually find it in the Brother Utilities folder in your Start Menu. Once opened, click on “Communication Settings.”
-
Configure Wireless LAN Settings: In the Printer Setting Tool, navigate to the “Wireless LAN” tab and then to “Wireless Settings.”
a. Communication Mode: Ensure “Infrastructure” is selected as the Communication Mode. This is the standard mode for connecting to a wireless router.
b. SSID (Network Name): Enter the SSID (Network Name) of your Wi-Fi network. You can either type it in directly if you know it, or click “Search…” to scan for available networks and select yours from the list. -
Enter Password (Passphrase) and Apply: Enter the password for your Wi-Fi network in the “Passphrase” field. Make sure to select the correct “Authentication Method” and “Encryption Mode” settings that match your wireless network’s security configuration. These are usually automatically detected but can be manually adjusted if needed. Click “Apply” to save these wireless settings to your printer.
-
Verify Wireless Connection: After applying the settings, the printer will attempt to connect to your Wi-Fi network. Once successful, the printer’s Wi-Fi LED will stop flashing and become steadily lit. You can now disconnect the USB cable.
-
Launch P-touch Editor and Select Printer: Make sure the Editor Lite LED is off. Open the P-touch Editor software and select your printer from the list. It should now be available as a wireless printer.
-
Start Wireless Printing: You are now set to print wirelessly from your Windows computer.
Method 3: Manual Wireless Setup (Driver Already Installed – Mac)
For Mac users who have already installed the Brother printer driver, the “Wireless Device Setup Wizard” simplifies the manual wireless connection process.
-
Download Full Software Package (If Needed): If you haven’t already, download the “Full Software Package” for your Brother printer model from the Brother support website.
-
Open Downloaded File: Locate the downloaded file and double-click it to open it.
-
Access Utilities Folder: Within the opened file, find and open the “Utilities” folder.
-
Launch Wireless Device Setup Wizard: Inside the Utilities folder, locate the “Wireless Device Setup Wizard.app” and double-click it to launch the wizard.
-
Follow On-Screen Instructions: The Wireless Device Setup Wizard will guide you through the steps to configure the wireless settings between your Brother printer and your wireless router/access point. It is generally recommended to use a USB cable during this wizard setup for a more reliable connection process, as prompted by the wizard.
-
Connect Computer to Wi-Fi: Ensure your Mac computer is connected to the same wireless network you intend to connect your printer to. Verify that Wi-Fi is enabled on your Mac and select the correct SSID.
-
Launch P-touch Editor and Select Printer: Confirm that the Editor Lite LED is off on your printer. Open the P-touch Editor software and select your Brother printer from the available printer list.
-
Begin Wireless Printing on Mac: Your Brother printer is now wirelessly connected to your Mac. You can start printing wirelessly.
Alternative Connection Methods:
Brother printers often offer additional wireless connection options:
- Wireless Direct: Allows direct connection between your printer and a mobile device without a router.
- Ad-hoc Mode: Enables wireless printing from a computer without a router (may not be supported by all devices and operating systems).
Refer to your Brother printer’s manual or the Brother support website for instructions on these alternative methods if needed.
Conclusion:
Connecting your Brother printer to your computer wirelessly enhances your printing flexibility and convenience. By following these detailed steps, you can easily set up a stable wireless connection using either the driver installation method or manual configuration. Whether you are a Windows or Mac user, these guides provide clear instructions to get your Brother printer seamlessly integrated into your wireless network, allowing you to enjoy hassle-free wireless printing.
