Why Is My Brother Printer Not Connecting to WiFi and How to Fix It?

A wireless printer makes printing simple—until it suddenly stops connecting to WiFi. If your Brother printer is refusing to link to your wireless network, you’re not alone. Thousands of users face the same issue, and it’s usually caused by small setup errors, outdated drivers, or network glitches.

The good news is that these connection problems are easy to fix once you know what’s causing them. In this guide, you’ll learn why your Brother printer won’t connect to WiFi and how to fix it step by step using the right Brother printer support and Brother printer setup methods.

Common Reasons Why Your Brother Printer Won’t Connect to WiFi

Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand the common causes of WiFi connectivity issues in Brother printers:

1. Incorrect WiFi credentials – The printer won’t connect if the network name (SSID) or password is entered incorrectly.
2. Weak or unstable WiFi signal – If the router is too far from the printer, the signal may drop intermittently.
3. Network congestion – Too many devices connected to the same router can affect performance.
4. Outdated printer firmware or drivers – Missing or outdated software can cause pairing failures.
5. Router frequency mismatch – Some older Brother printers only work with 2.4GHz WiFi networks.
6. Firewall or security settings – Certain router settings may block the printer from connecting.
7. Improper Brother printer setup – Skipping wireless setup steps during installation can lead to connection problems.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Brother Printer WiFi Connectivity Issues

Let’s go through each troubleshooting method one by one so you can restore your wireless connection easily.

1. Verify WiFi Network and Password

The most common cause of failed wireless connections is incorrect network credentials.

• On your router, note the SSID (network name) and password.
• On the printer’s control panel, re-enter the details carefully during Brother printer setup.
• Ensure you’re connecting to the correct network if multiple WiFi connections are available.

Tip: Passwords are case-sensitive—check for uppercase, lowercase, and special characters.

2. Restart Your Printer, Router, and Computer

Sometimes, a quick restart can refresh the connection and fix minor glitches.

1. Turn off your Brother printer, WiFi router, and computer.
2. Wait for at least 30 seconds.
3. Power them back on in this order: router → computer → printer.

This resets your devices and clears temporary connection conflicts.

3. Check WiFi Signal Strength

If your Brother printer is located far from the router, move it closer temporarily to test connectivity. Walls, microwaves, and electronic devices can weaken the signal.

• Ideally, keep the printer within 6–8 feet of the WiFi router.
• Avoid placing the printer in corners or behind large metal objects.

If the printer connects after moving it closer, you can consider adding a WiFi extender for better coverage.

4. Connect Your Brother Printer Using the Control Panel

Follow these steps to reconnect manually:

1. Turn on your Brother printer.
2. Press the Menu button.
3. Navigate to Network > WLAN > Setup Wizard.
4. The printer will search for available networks.
5. Select your WiFi network from the list.
6. Enter your WiFi password using the on-screen keypad.
7. Press OK to confirm.

Once connected, the printer will display “Connected” or “Connection Successful”.

You can now test printing a wireless document from your computer or smartphone.

5. Update Brother Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers often prevent your system from communicating with the printer properly.

• Visit the official Brother Printer Support page.
• Enter your printer model (e.g., Brother HL-L2395DW).
• Download the latest driver and firmware updates for your operating system.
• Install the updates and restart your computer.

Keeping drivers up to date ensures your printer and computer communicate without network errors.

6. Reinstall Your Brother Printer Setup

If you’ve recently changed your WiFi password or router, the printer may still be trying to connect to the old network.

Perform a fresh Brother printer setup:

1. Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers on your PC.
2. Right-click on your Brother printer and select Remove Device.
3. Download the latest Brother printer setup utility from the Brother website.
4. Follow the on-screen steps to add your printer again using the correct WiFi network.

This clean setup ensures your system recognizes the printer properly under the current network settings.

7. Check for Router Compatibility (2.4GHz vs 5GHz)

Many Brother printer models are compatible only with 2.4GHz WiFi networks. If your router broadcasts both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, make sure you connect your printer to the 2.4GHz one.

How to Check:

• Log in to your router settings (usually via 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
• Confirm both network bands are enabled.
• Connect the printer to the 2.4GHz SSID.

8. Temporarily Disable Firewall or Antivirus

Firewalls and antivirus software can sometimes block the printer’s connection to your PC.

Try turning them off temporarily and check if the printer connects successfully.

If it does, adjust your security settings to allow the Brother printer software through the firewall.

9. Reset the Brother Printer Network Settings

If none of the above steps work, try resetting the network settings:

1. On the printer panel, press Menu > Network > Network Reset.
2. Confirm the reset by pressing OK.
3. Reboot the printer and perform the Brother printer setup again using the WiFi setup wizard.

This process clears all previous network data and allows you to start fresh.

10. Use the WPS Push Button Method

If your router supports WPS (WiFi Protected Setup), this is one of the fastest ways to connect:

1. On your printer, navigate to Menu > Network > WLAN > WPS Push Button.
2. When prompted, press the WPS button on your router within 2 minutes.
3. Wait for the printer to display “Connected Successfully.”

This eliminates the need to manually enter WiFi credentials.

Extra Tips for a Stable WiFi Connection

• Keep your printer firmware updated via the Brother printer support website.
• Assign a static IP address to your printer from the router to avoid disconnections.
• Avoid connecting the printer to guest networks or VPNs.
• Check that your WiFi router is not overloaded—limit background devices if needed.

When to Contact Brother Printer Support

If you’ve tried all these steps and your Brother printer still won’t connect to WiFi, it may be a hardware or configuration issue. Contact Brother printer support directly for advanced troubleshooting.

They can assist with:

• Firmware issues
• Router compatibility checks
• Network configuration assistance
• Printer hardware inspection

You can reach Brother printer support through their official website, chat, or phone assistance for real-time help.

Conclusion

A wireless Brother printer setup offers convenience and flexibility, but connectivity problems can sometimes get in the way. Fortunately, most WiFi issues stem from simple misconfigurations or outdated software.

By verifying your network settings, updating drivers, and following the correct setup process, you can easily get your printer connected again.

For ongoing assistance, bookmark All Printer Setup, your trusted source for Brother printer support, setup guides, and troubleshooting solutions.