How to Fix Brother Printer WiFi Connection Issue (Quick Solutions)

There’s nothing more frustrating than your printer saying it’s connected to WiFi—yet nothing comes out. We’ve all been there, wondering what went wrong. If you’re trying to figure out how to fix Brother printer WiFi connection issue, you’re not alone. It’s a common problem, and honestly, one that’s fixable without needing to call tech support.

I’ve dealt with my fair share of stubborn Brother printers, and in this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps that’ve worked for me and many others. No tech jargon, just plain steps that anyone can follow.

Start With the Basics—Really

It might sound silly, but make sure your WiFi is working. Is your internet up? Can other devices connect to it? If your laptop or phone’s working fine but the printer isn’t, it’s time to dig deeper.

Before we get technical, check this:

• Printer is turned on (no weird blinking lights or errors)
• You’re trying to connect to the right WiFi name (SSID)
• Password is correct (typos happen more often than we admit)

And yeah, sometimes just restarting everything—printer, router, your computer—can magically fix it.

Step-by-Step: Reconnect the Printer

If you’ve already tried rebooting and it’s still giving you trouble, it’s time to reconnect your printer from scratch.

Here’s how:

1. On the printer, press Menu → Network → WLAN → Setup Wizard
2. Choose your WiFi from the list
3. Enter the password carefully (use the arrow keys—yes, it’s annoying)
4. Wait for the confirmation that it’s connected

Still not printing? Let’s not give up yet.

Common Causes (and Fixes) for Brother WiFi Issues

1. Weak Signal or Router Too Far

This is more common than you’d think. If your printer’s tucked away in a corner or behind thick walls, it may not get a strong signal.

Fix: Move it closer to your router. Or try using a WiFi extender if the room isn’t negotiable.

2. Dual-Band Confusion

Most Brother printers don’t support 5GHz WiFi—only 2.4GHz. But modern routers usually combine both under one name.

Fix: Go into your router settings and split the SSIDs (one for 2.4GHz, one for 5GHz). Then reconnect your printer to the 2.4GHz network only.

3. IP Address Conflict

When two devices try using the same IP, stuff breaks.

Fix: Go to the router dashboard, assign a static IP to your printer (you’ll find the current one by printing the Network Config page from your printer menu).

4. Brother Printer Showing as Offline

It’s connected, but Windows says it’s offline? Classic.

Fix: On your computer, open Devices and Printers, right-click on your Brother printer, and make sure “Use Printer Offline” is unchecked.

Still Not Working? Time for a Reset

Sometimes it’s best to clear everything and start over.

To reset your Brother printer’s network:

• Go to Menu > Network > Network Reset
• Follow the prompts and restart the device
• Set it up again using the WLAN Setup Wizard

It’s tedious but worth it—especially if you’ve changed routers recently or moved the printer.

Update Drivers & Firmware

Let’s not ignore the software side. Outdated drivers or firmware can seriously mess with WiFi connectivity.

• Visit the official Brother support page
• Enter your printer model
• Download the latest driver and firmware update tool
• Run it and follow the on-screen instructions

Tip: Use a USB connection just for the update process if WiFi isn’t working at all.

Use WPS (If You’re Lucky)

If your router and printer both support WPS, this is the fastest method.

Steps:

• Press the WPS button on your router
• Within 2 minutes, press and hold the WiFi or WLAN button on the printer
• They should find each other and connect automatically

Not all routers support WPS anymore though, so don’t panic if you can’t find the button.

USB Setup (Plan B That Works)

For stubborn cases, just go the old-fashioned route.

1. Plug a USB cable from your printer into your PC/laptop
2. Download Brother’s software suite
3. During installation, choose Wireless Setup Using USB
4. Enter your WiFi credentials when prompted
5. Disconnect the cable once it says the setup is complete

This is often the most reliable workaround when nothing else seems to do the trick.

More Help? We’ve Got You

For detailed fixes, take a look at our complete Brother printer WiFi setup walkthrough. It’s full of practical examples and updated steps for different models.

FAQs – How to Fix Brother Printer WiFi Connection Issue

1. Why does my Brother printer keep dropping the WiFi connection?
   It could be signal interference, IP conflicts, or your router switching bands. Try setting a static IP and sticking to 2.4GHz.
2. How do I check if my Brother printer IP address is conflicting?
   Print the configuration page from the printer and match the IP with your router’s device list. If there’s overlap, assign a new static IP.
3. Can a firmware update fix WiFi issues on Brother printers?
   Absolutely. Updates often resolve bugs and improve connectivity. Just make sure you’re downloading them from Brother’s official site.
4. Why is my Brother printer connected but showing as offline?
   Usually a Windows issue. Open Devices & Printers and uncheck “Use Printer Offline.” If that doesn’t help, reinstall the driver.
5. What router settings can interfere with Brother printer WiFi?
   MAC filtering, 5GHz-only mode, or disabled DHCP. All of these can block or confuse the printer during setup.
6. How do I clear network settings on a Brother printer to reconnect?
   Use the control panel to access Network Reset, then start fresh using Setup Wizard.

Final Word

Dealing with WiFi problems on a Brother printer can feel like an endless loop—but with a little patience (and the right info), you’ll be printing again in no time.

Just remember: restart, reset, reconnect. And if that still doesn’t work? There’s always our full setup guide to walk you through every model.