Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing from iPhone and What Can I do?

In today’s fast-paced world, printing directly from your mobile devices has become a necessity. Brother printers are renowned for their reliability, efficiency, and ease of use, but sometimes even these trusted machines encounter hiccups, especially when printing from an iPhone. If you find yourself asking, “Why is my Brother printer not printing from iPhone?” you are not alone. In this blog, we will explore the common reasons behind this issue and provide step-by-step solutions to get your Brother printer back on track. Additionally, we’ll discuss helpful resources like Brother printer support and guide you through proper Brother printer setup.

Understanding the Problem: Why Your Brother Printer Isn’t Printing from iPhone

There are multiple reasons why your Brother printer may fail to print from an iPhone. These issues usually stem from connectivity problems, software glitches, or incorrect configurations. Some common causes include:

1. Wi-Fi or Network Connectivity Issues: Brother printers and iPhones rely heavily on a stable Wi-Fi connection for wireless printing. If your devices are not on the same network or if the Wi-Fi signal is weak, printing can fail.
2. Incorrect Brother Printer Setup: Sometimes, the printer is not set up correctly to communicate with your iPhone. This can occur if the printer’s AirPrint feature isn’t activated or if the printer isn’t configured to allow mobile device printing.
3. Outdated Software or Firmware: Both your iPhone and Brother printer need to have the latest updates installed. Outdated software may prevent compatibility between devices, causing printing errors.
4. AirPrint Issues: Apple’s AirPrint technology allows iPhones to print without additional drivers. If AirPrint is disabled on your Brother printer, your iPhone won’t be able to detect the printer.
5. Printer Offline or Errors: Sometimes, the printer itself may show an error, be offline, or have pending jobs stuck in the print queue. These internal issues can prevent your iPhone from sending print commands successfully.

Step-by-Step Solutions: Fixing Brother Printer Printing Issues on iPhone

Below are some proven solutions to resolve Brother printer printing problems on an iPhone. Make sure to follow each step carefully for a smooth setup.

1. Check Your Network Connection

• Ensure that both your Brother printer and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Restart your Wi-Fi router to refresh the network connection.
• Move your printer closer to the router if the signal is weak.

A stable network connection is essential for seamless printing, and this is often the easiest problem to resolve.

2. Verify Brother Printer Setup

Proper setup is crucial for wireless printing. If you haven’t done a complete Brother printer setup, follow these steps:

1. Turn on your Brother printer.
2. Access the printer’s control panel and navigate to Network Settings.
3. Connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network using the correct SSID and password.
4. Ensure AirPrint is enabled if you’re printing from an iPhone.

You can also consult your printer’s manual or Brother printer support for step-by-step guidance. A correct setup of the Brother printer process eliminates many common printing issues.

3. Restart Your Devices

• Turn off your Brother printer and iPhone.
• Wait for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then turn them back on.
• Retry printing from your iPhone.

This simple step often resolves minor glitches and resets the printer’s communication with your iPhone.

4. Update Firmware and Software

Outdated software can cause printing issues. Ensure both devices are running the latest versions:

• On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• For the Brother printer, check the Brother website or the Brother printer support page for firmware updates.
• Install any pending updates, then attempt to print again.

Keeping your devices updated ensures compatibility and often fixes known bugs.

5. Check AirPrint Functionality

Brother printers support Apple’s AirPrint, which allows printing from iPhones without installing extra drivers. If printing fails:

1. Verify that your printer supports AirPrint (check the Brother printer model specifications).
2. Ensure AirPrint is enabled in your printer settings.
3. On your iPhone, open the document or photo, tap the share icon, and select Print.
4. Choose your Brother printer from the list of available printers.

If AirPrint still doesn’t detect your printer, try restarting both devices and reconnecting them to the same Wi-Fi network.

6. Clear Print Queue

A stuck print job can prevent new jobs from printing. To clear the print queue on your iPhone:

1. Open the Print Center app if available.
2. Cancel all pending print jobs.
3. Restart your Brother printer and retry printing.

Clearing the queue ensures that no old jobs are causing conflicts.

7. Reinstall the Brother iPrint&Scan App

Brother offers a dedicated app called iPrint&Scan that allows wireless printing from iPhones and iPads. Steps to reinstall:

1. Delete the Brother iPrint&Scan app from your iPhone.
2. Download the latest version from the App Store.
3. Open the app and follow the instructions to add your Brother printer.

This app is particularly useful if AirPrint fails or if you need advanced printing options.

8. Contact Brother Printer Support

If you’ve tried all the above steps and your Brother printer still isn’t printing from your iPhone, it’s time to reach out to professional help. Brother printer support can assist with:

• Diagnosing network and device-specific issues
• Guiding you through a complete Brother printer setup
• Resolving hardware or firmware-related problems

You can contact Brother support via phone, live chat, or their official website.

Preventing Future Printing Issues

Once your Brother printer is working correctly with your iPhone, you can take steps to prevent future issues:

• Always keep your printer firmware and iPhone software updated.
• Avoid switching Wi-Fi networks frequently while printing.
• Regularly check printer status and paper/ink levels.
• Use the Brother iPrint&Scan app for a smoother printing experience.

A little proactive maintenance can save a lot of frustration.

Conclusion

Printing from your iPhone to a Brother printer should be a seamless experience, but connectivity issues, improper setup, or outdated software can cause hiccups. By following the steps above—from checking your Wi-Fi connection and verifying your setup, the brother printer process to using AirPrint and contacting Brother printer support—you can troubleshoot and fix most printing problems efficiently.

Remember, a well-maintained Brother printer not only ensures high-quality printing but also saves you time and frustration. Don’t let a small printing error disrupt your workflow—take action today and enjoy hassle-free printing from your iPhone.