If your Brother printer won’t connect to Wi-Fi, keeps going offline, or fails to communicate with your computer, performing a Brother printer reset network settings procedure can often solve the problem. Resetting the network configuration removes saved wireless credentials and restores the printer’s network settings to their factory defaults, allowing you to reconnect it to your home or office network.

In this guide, you’ll learn when to reset your Brother printer’s network settings, how to do it on different Brother printer models, and how to reconnect your printer after the reset. We’ll also cover common issues, troubleshooting tips, and answers to frequently asked questions.

What You’ll Learn

• When you should reset Brother printer network settings
• How to reset wireless and wired network settings
• Steps for touchscreen and non-touchscreen Brother printers
• How to reconnect your printer to Wi-Fi
• Troubleshooting common connection problems
• Tips to prevent future network issues

Why You May Need to Reset Brother Printer Network Settings

A network reset is useful when your printer experiences persistent connectivity issues that normal troubleshooting cannot resolve.

Common situations include:

• The printer won’t connect to Wi-Fi.
• The wireless password has changed.
• You replaced your router.
• The printer remains offline.
• The printer cannot be found during setup.
• Printing over the network fails repeatedly.
• You are moving the printer to a different network.
• You want to remove saved network information before selling the printer.

Resetting only the network settings does not delete print quality settings, page counters, or other printer preferences.

What Happens After Resetting Network Settings?

When you reset your Brother printer’s network settings, the printer returns its networking configuration to factory defaults.

The following information is erased:

• Wi-Fi network name (SSID)
• Wireless password
• Static IP address
• Custom DNS settings
• Network profiles
• Wireless security configuration

After the reset, you’ll need to reconnect the printer to your network before you can print wirelessly.

How to Reset Network Settings on Brother Printers with a Touchscreen

Many Brother InkBenefit, INKvestment, and laser printer models include a touchscreen display.

Follow these steps:

1. Turn on the printer.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Select All Settings.
4. Open Network.
5. Tap Network Reset or Reset Network.
6. Confirm the reset when prompted.
7. Wait for the printer to restart automatically.

Once the restart is complete, the printer’s wireless settings have been removed.

How to Reset Network Settings on Brother Printers Without a Touchscreen

Many compact Brother printers use physical buttons instead of a touchscreen.

Although button combinations vary slightly between models, the process is generally similar.

1. Turn the printer on.
2. Press Menu.
3. Navigate to Network.
4. Select Network Reset.
5. Press OK.
6. Choose Yes to confirm.
7. Allow the printer to restart.

Consult your printer’s user manual if the menu names differ slightly.

How to Reconnect Your Brother Printer to Wi-Fi

After resetting the network settings, reconnect the printer to your wireless network.

Method 1: Using the Printer Control Panel

1. Open Network Settings.
2. Select WLAN.
3. Choose Setup Wizard.
4. Select your Wi-Fi network.
5. Enter the wireless password.
6. Wait for the connection confirmation.

Method 2: Using Brother Software

You can also reconnect using the Brother printer setup software installed on your Windows or Mac computer.

The setup wizard automatically searches for the printer and helps configure the wireless connection.

Method 3: Using WPS

If your router supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS):

1. Press the WPS button on the router.
2. Start WPS setup on the printer.
3. Wait until both devices establish the connection.

This method does not require manually entering the Wi-Fi password.

Common Problems After Resetting Network Settings

Sometimes users experience additional issues after completing the reset.

Printer Cannot Find the Wi-Fi Network

Possible causes include the following:

• Weak wireless signal
• Router broadcasting on an unsupported frequency
• Hidden SSID
• Router temporarily unavailable

Move the printer closer to the router and restart both devices before trying again.

Incorrect Wi-Fi Password

Double-check:

• Uppercase and lowercase letters
• Numbers
• Special characters

Even one incorrect character prevents the printer from connecting.

Printer Still Appears Offline

If Windows still shows the printer as offline:

• Restart your computer.
• Remove and re-add the printer.
• Clear pending print jobs.
• Restart the Print Spooler service.
• Update the printer driver.

Printer Receives a New IP Address

After resetting the network, the router usually assigns a new IP address.

If your computer is still trying to communicate with the old IP address, remove the existing printer and install it again using the updated address.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

If resetting the network settings doesn’t solve the problem, try these additional steps:

• Restart the router.
• Update the printer firmware.
• Install the latest Brother printer driver.
• Disable VPN software temporarily.
• Ensure the printer and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Check firewall or antivirus settings.
• Try connecting with a USB cable to verify the printer itself is functioning correctly.

These steps resolve most network communication problems.

Best Practices to Avoid Future Network Issues

To maintain a stable wireless connection:

• Keep printer firmware updated.
• Place the printer within range of the router.
• Avoid changing Wi-Fi settings frequently.
• Use WPA2 or WPA3 security.
• Restart your router occasionally.
• Reserve a static IP address through your router if multiple users access the printer.

Proper network maintenance helps reduce unexpected connectivity issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does resetting network settings erase print settings?

No. A network reset only removes networking information such as Wi-Fi credentials and IP settings. Print preferences remain unchanged.

Will I lose my documents?

No. Documents stored on your computer are not affected by a network reset.

Can I reconnect using USB after resetting?

Yes. You can connect the printer with a USB cable and later configure wireless settings again.

Why won’t my Brother printer reconnect after the reset?

Common reasons include an incorrect Wi-Fi password, weak wireless signal, outdated printer drivers, or router compatibility issues.

Is a network reset the same as a factory reset?

No. A network reset restores only network-related settings. A factory reset returns many additional printer settings to their default values.

Conclusion

Performing a Brother printer reset network settings procedure is one of the most effective ways to fix wireless connectivity issues, offline printer errors, and communication problems. Whether you have a touchscreen or button-based Brother printer, resetting the network configuration takes only a few minutes. After reconnecting the printer to your Wi-Fi network and updating the necessary drivers, you should be able to resume reliable wireless printing with minimal downtime.