If your Brother printer not connecting to WiFi is preventing you from printing wirelessly, you’re not alone. Wi-Fi connection issues are among the most common problems Brother printer users experience. Whether your printer can’t find your wireless network, keeps disconnecting, or displays a connection error, the issue is often caused by incorrect network settings, outdated firmware, router configuration, or signal interference.

This comprehensive guide explains why your Brother printer won’t connect to WiFi and provides proven troubleshooting steps to restore your wireless connection quickly on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone.

Why Is My Brother Printer Not Connecting to WiFi?

A Brother printer may fail to connect to WiFi for several reasons. Identifying the root cause makes troubleshooting much easier.

Common causes include:

• Incorrect Wi-Fi password
• Weak wireless signal
• Printer too far from the router
• Router broadcasting only a 5 GHz network
• Disabled wireless function on the printer
• Outdated printer firmware
• Incorrect network configuration
• Temporary router or printer glitches
• Firewall blocking printer communication
• Corrupted printer drivers

In many cases, simply reconnecting the printer to your wireless network resolves the issue.

How to Fix Brother Printer Not Connecting to WiFi

Follow these troubleshooting steps in order. After completing each step, try reconnecting your printer to the network.

Restart Your Devices

Temporary network issues often disappear after restarting your equipment.

Turn off:

• Brother printer
• Wi-Fi router
• Computer or mobile device

Wait for at least one minute before turning everything back on.

Verify Your Wi-Fi Network

Ensure your wireless network is working correctly.

Check that:

• Internet connection is active
• Wi-Fi password is correct
• The router is broadcasting the SSID
• Other devices can connect successfully

If other devices cannot connect either, the issue is likely with your router rather than the printer.

Confirm Your Brother Printer Supports Your Wi-Fi Network

Most Brother printers support the following:

• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
• WPA2 security
• Standard home wireless networks

Many older Brother printers do not support 5 GHz-only wireless networks.

If your router uses Smart Connect or only broadcasts a 5 GHz signal, enable the 2.4 GHz band.

Reconnect the Brother Printer to WiFi

Reconnect your printer using the built-in control panel.

General steps:

1. Open Menu.
2. Select Network.
3. Choose WLAN.
4. Select Setup Wizard.
5. Enable WLAN if prompted.
6. Select your wireless network.
7. Enter your Wi-Fi password.
8. Wait for the connection confirmation.

Once connected, print a network configuration report to verify the connection.

Check the Distance Between Your Printer and Router

Wireless signal strength significantly affects printer performance.

For the best connection:

• Place the printer within 20–30 feet of the router.
• Avoid thick concrete walls.
• Keep away from microwave ovens and cordless phones.
• Reduce interference from Bluetooth devices.

Weak signals frequently cause random disconnections.

Update Brother printer firmware.

Firmware updates improve wireless stability and fix known bugs.

Updating firmware may resolve:

• Connection failures
• Random disconnects
• Security compatibility issues
• Router compatibility problems

Always install firmware updates using Brother’s official software tools.

Update the Brother printer driver.

Outdated drivers may prevent proper communication between your computer and printer.

Update the driver if you experience:

• The printer is showing Offline
• Unable to detect printer
• Failed wireless installation
• Printing errors after Windows updates

After installing the latest driver, restart your computer.

Reset the Network Settings on Your Brother Printer

If the printer still refuses to connect, resetting the network settings can help.

General process:

1. Open Menu.
2. Select Network.
3. Choose Network Reset.
4. Confirm the reset.
5. Restart the printer.
6. Run the Wireless Setup Wizard again.

A network reset removes saved Wi-Fi settings but does not erase printing preferences.

Check Your Router Settings

Certain router settings may block printer communication.

Review these settings:

• MAC address filtering
• Guest network isolation
• WPA3 compatibility
• DHCP enabled
• Firewall restrictions

If possible, connect the printer to your primary network instead of a guest network.

Disable VPN or Firewall Temporarily

Some VPN applications and security software prevent printers from communicating over the local network.

Temporarily disable:

• VPN software
• Antivirus firewall
• Windows Defender Firewall (for testing only)

If the printer connects successfully afterward, add the printer to your firewall’s allowed devices.

Connect Using WPS

If your router supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), you can connect without entering a password.

Steps:

1. Press the WPS button on your router.
2. On the printer, select WPS from the wireless setup menu.
3. Wait for the devices to pair.

This method usually completes within two minutes.

Fix Brother Printer Showing Offline After Connecting to WiFi

Sometimes the printer connects successfully but still appears offline.

Try these solutions:

• Set the printer as the default printer.
• Disable Use Printer Offline.
• Clear the print queue.
• Restart the Print Spooler service.
• Reinstall the printer driver.
• Remove duplicate printer entries.

These steps often restore normal printing.

Prevent Brother WiFi Connection Problems

Reduce future connection issues by following these best practices:

• Keep firmware updated.
• Restart your router periodically.
• Use the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band when supported.
• Maintain a strong wireless signal.
• Avoid changing your Wi-Fi password frequently.
• Print a test page every few weeks.
• Update printer drivers regularly.
• Place the printer in an open area.

Regular maintenance helps maintain a stable wireless connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won’t my Brother printer find my WiFi network?

The network may be hidden, out of range, broadcasting only on 5 GHz, or experiencing router issues.

How do I reconnect my Brother printer to WiFi?

Use the printer’s wireless setup wizard, select your network, enter the Wi-Fi password, and confirm the connection.

Why does my Brother printer keep disconnecting from WiFi?

Weak signal strength, outdated firmware, router interference, or unstable network settings are the most common causes.

Can I connect my Brother printer without a USB cable?

Yes. Most wireless Brother printers can connect directly through the Wireless Setup Wizard or WPS without using a USB cable.

Should I reset my Brother printer if it won’t connect?

A network reset is recommended if other troubleshooting steps fail. It clears saved wireless settings and allows you to reconnect the printer from scratch.

Conclusion

If your Brother printer not connecting to WiFi is disrupting your printing tasks, the problem can usually be resolved by checking your wireless network, reconnecting the printer, updating firmware and drivers, resetting the network settings, or adjusting your router configuration. Following the troubleshooting steps in this guide will help restore a reliable wireless connection and minimize future connectivity issues. Regular software updates and proper network maintenance will also keep your Brother printer performing at its best.