My Brother printer isn’t connecting to wifi. Just got a new router and can’t seem to connect it to the network. Tried following the manual but no luck. Anyone know the steps?
Brother printers can be a serious pain when it comes to connectivity, let’s be real. If you got a new router, there’s a good chance your printer’s lost its previous connection settings. Honestly, Brother should really make this easier.
First, make sure your printer is ON and has the latest firmware update. Check their website because the manual’s useless if firmware’s outdated. Then go into the printer’s settings menu – it’s usually called ‘Network’ or ‘WLAN’ in Brother printers. Look for ‘Setup Wizard’ or something similar.
- Select ‘Setup Wizard.’
- Your printer should now search for available networks. If it doesn’t, congratulations, it’s officially trash.
- When you see your network name (SSID), select it.
- Put in your WiFi password. Be ready for more frustration if it doesn’t take the first time.
If you somehow get it connected, great. If not, maybe call their awful customer support, or simply toss it and get a HP or Canon because they at least try to be user-friendly.
And no, Wi-Fi Direct isn’t a magical solution; it can be glitchy and not as reliable as it sounds. Having Bluetooth printers could make life easier, but they’re rarely a perfect fix.
Pros of ‘network setup’:
- Once it works, it stays stable.
- Fast printing jobs.
Cons of ‘network setup’:
- Huge headache to troubleshoot.
- Interface isn’t user-friendly.
Competitors like HP and Canon aren’t saints either, but seriously, Brother’s like they hate their customers.
Enjoy your doomed journey of connecting this monstrosity.
In light of what @techchizkid mentioned, it’s clear you’re dealing with a bit of a nightmare situation with your Brother printer post-router upgrade. While his venting is justified, let’s tackle this problem constructively with some additional steps and workarounds.
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Firmware Update: Tech was spot on about outdated firmware. Make sure your printer’s firmware is the most recent version. You can usually find this on Brother’s support site by entering your model number. Perform the firmware update through the USB connection to your computer if necessary.
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Reset Network Settings: Sometimes the printer holds onto old network settings which may conflict with the new network. Go into the Network menu of the printer and perform a ‘Factory Reset’ or specifically a ‘Network Reset’. Just be aware, you’ll lose all previous network configurations doing this.
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Manual IP Configuration: If automatic setup continues to fail, manually configuring the IP settings can work wonders. Access your printer’s network settings and select ‘TCP/IP’. Switch to a manual IP configuration. You can find the new router’s IP range in the router settings (usually accessed by typing the router’s IP into a web browser). Configure the printer to have a static IP outside the router’s dynamic range to avoid future conflicts. For instance, if your router’s IP address range is 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.50, set the printer to something like 192.168.1.60, Netmask 255.255.255.0, Gateway 192.168.1.1 (assuming your router IP ends in .1).
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Wi-Fi Bands: Ensure that the new router’s frequency band (2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz) is supported by your printer. Most Brother printers operate on 2.4 GHz. Dual-band routers can have issues if they’re trying to connect the printer on a 5 GHz band. Split your network into distinct SSIDs for each band if needed and connect only to the 2.4 GHz.
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SSID Broadcast: Sometimes new routers come with advanced security settings, including disabling SSID broadcast. Ensure your SSID broadcast is enabled while setting up the printer.
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Temporary Disabling Security: Temporarily disabling the router’s security settings (like WPA/WPA2) during setup can sometimes bypass connection issues. Once the printer is connected, you can re-enable security settings. This is a bit risky, so make sure you re-enable security immediately after.
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Use WPS:
- Home routers often have a WPS button. If your Brother printer supports WPS (check the user manual or Brother website for your model), you could try connecting this way.
- Press the WPS button on the router.
- Within a couple of minutes, press the corresponding button on the printer or choose the WPS option within the printer’s network settings.
- Though WPS can be a security risk if left always enabled, using it temporarily for setup can sometimes be a quick solution.
If all else fails and you’re up for a bit of DIY, considering some additional quirkier methods might provide a temporary fix while you plan for lasting solutions.
- Wi-Fi Extender: If your router and printer aren’t in great proximity, sometimes using a Wi-Fi extender closer to the printer can ensure a more stable connection.
- USB Printing: As a last resort for immediate needs, directly connect the printer to a computer via USB and share this printer over your home’s network through that computer.
Pros of taking these additional steps:
- Higher chances of resolving connectivity issues.
- Permanent fix rather than temporary band-aids.
Cons:
- Complexity increases with manual IP setup.
- WPS risks and some methods might not be optimal long-term.
While tech giants like HP and Canon do occasionally offer better user interfaces, all printer brands have their quirks. Sticking it out with Brother might be worth it if you can nail the setup. But yeah, I get it, dealing with network printers can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield. Here’s hoping these tips smooth out your journey a bit more than expected!
Got to agree, Brother printers can be notoriously finicky with WiFi, especially after changing routers. While @byteguru and @techchizkid covered a lot of good ground, here are some additional tips and tricks that might help without repeating their points too much.
One thing to consider is firmware updates via USB. Yeah, I know that sounds archaic, but connecting your printer directly to your computer and updating the firmware that way can sometimes bypass any connection issues you’re experiencing. Sometimes WiFi problems are due to the printer running outdated software that can’t sync properly with newer router tech.
More advanced, but effective: Managing DHCP Settings
- DHCP Leases: Make sure that your router is not restricting the number of devices that can connect to the network. Adjusting DHCP settings to ensure there are plenty of IP addresses available can sometimes avoid connection conflicts.
- DHCP Reservation: Instead of assigning a static IP on the printer, you can do DHCP reservation from your router. This would reserve a specific IP address for your printer. You can usually find this in the LAN settings of your router, and it helps in making sure the printer always gets the same IP without needing to set it manually.
Different Network Channels:
- 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz WiFi Bands: This is worth stressing again. Routers usually set up both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels. Some printers have trouble auto-selecting the correct one. Disable the 5 GHz temporarily during the setup process to ensure the printer connects to the 2.4 GHz network.
Printer Isn’t Broadcasting Network at All?
- If your printer is particularly old, it might default its broadcast method to an outdated protocol. If that’s the case, an Ethernet connection to the router for initial setup can sometimes “wake it up.” Once it’s connected via Ethernet, you can configure the WiFi settings and then remove the Ethernet cable.
Restart Everything
- Simple but effective: reboot your router, your printer, and your computer/other connected devices. Sometimes a fresh start resolves hidden conflicts in connectivity.
Printer Software vs Printer Driver
- If all else fails, using a newer, more recent printer driver from Brother’s website might solve your issues. Download and install it before starting the setup process again.
Humorously Desperate Measures
- If you’re at your wit’s end and already considering @techchizkid’s suggestion to junk it for an HP/Canon, gather your patience and consider tethering your phone to temporarily create a separate WiFi network. Connect the printer to your phone’s hotspot, then transfer that connection to your main router network settings.
Last Resort Hardware Alternative
- WiFi to Ethernet Adapters: A long shot, but using a Wi-Fi to Ethernet bridge adapter to connect your Brother printer as a wired network device, indirectly resolving Wi-Fi connectivity issues.
Pros:
- Extended troubleshooting might uncover unique solutions
- Consistent IP configuration avoids future conflicts
Cons:
- Increased complexity with advanced steps
- Manual tweaks can be frustrating and confusing for beginners
Hope you don’t end up hating your printer by the end of all this. Sometimes ingrained issues make it feel like Brother’s out to get us – a little digital tormentor in the corner. Best of luck navigating this maze!