Brother Printer Setup: A Complete Guide for Easy Installation
Brother Printer Setup: A Complete Guide for Easy Installation
As one of the most well-established brands in the printing world, Brother printers are renowned for being reliable, affordable and producing high-quality print jobs. Their user-friendly nature and various models make them ideal for home and office use.
When you follow the steps to set up your Brother printer correctly, you’ll enjoy seamless operation and trouble-free printing.
This Brother printer setup guide will give you step-by-step instructions on how to set up your printer on a wireless network, install the software for Windows or Mac, connect without a router, set up ethernet and Wi-Fi connections, troubleshoot setup issues, and optimise your Brother printer for home or office use.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Brother Printer
Your new Brother printer setup should be straightforward, as this brand makes its models very user-friendly.
Your new printer will come with setup instructions; however, here’s a quick-start step-by-step guide to your Brother printer setup:
- Carefully unpack your new printer and remove it from the packaging.
- Plug the printer into a power socket.
- Decide if your connection will be wireless or wired (Ethernet).
- Connect your printer to your computer with the USB cord or wireless setup (more instructions below).
- Locate your printer settings in the Control Panel for Windows or System Preferences for Mac.
- Click on ‘Add a printer’ and follow the instructions.
- Print a test page.
Setting Up Brother Printer on a Wireless Network
Purchasing a wireless Brother printer is excellent for home or office use when multiple people use the same printer. You will avoid running cords around your home or office, and printing will be seamless.
Before you start any wireless setup, you’ll need to locate your wireless network’s SSID and password on the back of your router or a sheet your internet provider will have given you.
Brother printer Wi-Fi setup on a touchscreen model:
- Press the Wi-Fi icon on your printer’s touch screen and select ‘Setup Wizard’ or ‘Find Wi-Fi Network’.
- Alternatively, you can press ‘Settings’ or ‘Menu’ > All Settings > Network > WLAN (Wi-Fi) > Setup Wizard or Find Wi-Fi Network.
- You’ll either see:
- Enable WLAN or
- Switch Network interface to wireless or
- Network I/F switched to Wireless
- Press any of the above to start the wireless Brother printer setup wizard.
- Select your Network Name (SSID).
- Enter the Network Key (Password) and press OK.
Brother printer Wi-Fi setup on an LCD Display model:
- Press the Up or Down arrows to select either:
- Network (hit OK)
- WLAN (hit OK)
- Setup Wizard (hit OK)
- When WLAN Enable appears, click enable to start the wireless setup wizard.
- A list of SSIDs will appear – select yours and press OK.
- Enter your Network Key (Password) and press OK.
Brother printer Wi-Fi setup on non-touchscreen models:
- Press Menu or Settings
- Use the Up and Down arrows to choose:
- Select Network (hit OK)
- WLAN (Wi-Fi) (hit OK)
- Setup Wizard or Find Wi-Fi Network (hit OK)
- When WLAN Enable appears, click enable to start the wireless setup wizard.
- A list of SSIDs will appear – select yours and press OK.
- Enter your Network Key (Password) and press OK.
- Select Yes to apply the settings.
Installing Brother Printer Setup Software for Windows and Mac
Here’s how to install your Brother printer setup software:
- Windows
Download the printer’s driver from the Brother website and install it following the easy on-screen steps. The easiest way is to connect your new printer to your computer with the provided USB cord, allowing your computer to download the drivers automatically.
- Mac
You must download the free Brother iPrint&Scan app from your app store. Once you’ve installed it, open it and follow the installation guide.
When looking online for Brother printer drivers, it’s always best to use the official Brother Australia website. When you enter your model number, you’ll receive the correct download drivers and any available support resources.
How to Connect Your Brother Printer Without a Router
If you use your mobile for printing, you can connect it to your Brother printer using Wi-Fi Direct. Here’s how:
- Download the Brother Mobile Connect app
- For Android devices, use the Google Play Store
- For iOS devices, use the Apple App Store
- On your Brother printer, find the Network Settings menu
- Select ‘Wireless Direct’ and ‘On’ to activate the feature
When you do this, your printer will become a hotspot with your mobile phone. This is useful in environments where multiple people may need to print securely to the same printer.
You can also use this method to connect using your wireless router if you choose to. All you need to do is open the app on your phone, select ‘Printer Setup’ and ‘Setup via Wireless Router’, enter your SSID and password and follow the onscreen instructions.
Ethernet Setup for Brother Printers
You may consider setting up your Brother printer using an Ethernet connection for stable and secure network printing in office environments. Ethernet connections are generally faster than Wi-Fi, allowing for quicker print jobs. They are also more secure as the Wi-Fi connection can’t be intercepted.
Here’s how to complete an Ethernet setup for Brother printers:
- Download the drivers from the Brother website and install them.
- When ‘Connection Type’ appears, choose ‘Wired Network Connection (Ethernet), click ‘Next’ and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
- With the printer turned off, connect the provided LAN cable to the LAN Port on the back of the printer.
- Connect the LAN cable to a LAN Port on your network router.
- Turn on your printer and make sure the ‘wireless’ function is turned off.
Wi-Fi Setup for Brother Printers
You’ll find detailed instructions on the Brother printer Wi-Fi setup above. However, a quicker wireless setup option uses a one-push configuration (WPS).
Here’s how to set up your Brother printer wirelessly using WPS:
- Place your printer within the WPS range of your Wi-Fi router (once configured, you can move it).
- On your Brother printer, navigate to Network Settings > WLAN > WPS
- Press the WPS button on your router.
- Your printer will print a confirmation if the connection is successful.
Troubleshooting Brother Printer Setup Issues
As with all things tech, your Brother printer setup may not go to plan. Here are some common troubleshooting issues:
- Connectivity Issues
These are often caused by the printer not being correctly connected to the Internet. To check your printer’s Wi-Fi is active, select ‘Network Settings’ or ‘WLAN Settings’ on the control panel, verify that ‘Wireless Network’ is enabled, and check you’ve entered the correct SSID.
- Software Installation
You will need your computer’s latest drivers, which can be downloaded online at the Brother website. Make sure you enter the correct model number to get the proper drivers.
- Router Issues
Ensure no access or privacy restrictions are blocking your printer on your router. MAC users may need to configure the MAC address of your Brother printer.
Brother Australia has a fantastic helpline for setup issues. If you purchased your Brother printer through Ink Station, you’re also welcome to call our friendly team for help.
Optimising Brother Printer Setup for Your Home or Office
When you’re done with your Brother printer setup, you can do some things to optimise it for efficient printing:
- In settings, set it as your default printer so that each print job will automatically go to your new printer without you needing to select it each time.
- For eco-friendlier printing, make your default settings double-sided, black and white printing.
- For quicker printing, disable firewalls, connect your printer directly to the router or move your printer closer to the router.
Enjoy Your Brother Printer with a Proper Setup
Modern Brother printers are designed to be up and running quite quickly, using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or a router, or no router at all.
When you download the correct drivers and software and follow the right instructions for your environment, you should enjoy seamless printing for years to come.
If you need printer supplies, accessories or machines, explore the Brother printer range at Ink Station and enjoy fast delivery Australia-wide. If you need any help with your Brother printer setup, contact our experienced team.