Brother Printer Won’t Connect to WiFi: Step-By-Step Troubleshooting
WiFi printers are great, and Brother has a fantastic range of options to go wireless.
However, if your Brother Printer won’t connect to WiFi, it turns what was once a convenience into a nuisance.
Technology is supposed to make the world more straightforward, but when it fails, it leaves you pulling your hair out with unexpected delays that ruin your schedule.
So let’s see if we can get you back on track quickly with some troubleshooting for your Brother printer WiFi setup.
Why Brother Printer Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi
There are several potential causes for your Brother printer not connecting to Wi-Fi.
The main culprits are:
- Weak Wi-Fi signal – Try moving your printer closer to the Wi-Fi router.
- Incorrect Wi-Fi network settings – See step 2
- Software issues such as out-of-date firmware or drivers – See step 3
Step 1 – Power Cycle All Devices
Before we go any further, a simple step that often solves a Brother printer not connecting to Wi-Fi is to turn all your devices off and on again.
This means the Wi-Fi router, computer, and Brother printer.
Rebooting your devices can get your Brother printer back connected to the Wi-Fi and back to being productive again.
If your devices do not automatically reconnect, see the end of the blog for a guide to connecting a Brother printer to Wi-Fi.
Step 2 – Checking the Wireless Connection
The next step is making sure your wireless network is working correctly.
You can’t connect to a Brother printer wirelessly if the Wi-Fi network isn’t operating as it should.
Try using another device to test the Wi-Fi connection. For example, can you access the internet, send/receive emails, etc.
If your internet access is okay, but your Brother printer won’t connect to Wi-Fi, the problem lies with the printer and its connectivity.
Brother Printer Connecting WLAN
The best way to find why your Brother printer won’t connect to WiFi is by printing the WLAN report.
To print the WLAN report navigate to “Print Reports” on your Brother Printer (Found in Settings or Menu), choose “WLAN Report,” and select either “Black (Mono) Start,” “Color Start,” or “Start.”
Listed at the top of the WLAN report is a “Connection” column. If the status reads “Connection: OK”, move on to the next section.
If the connection status reads “Failed,” you will also receive an error code.
Below is a table explaining the issue associated with each error code and its solutions.
| Error Code | Issue | Solutions |
| TS-01 | Wireless setting not activated | Change the printer’s network interface to “ON.” |
| TS-02 | Wireless access not detected | Power cycle WiFi RouterReinstall Drivers (see step 3)Reconfirm SSID and network key |
| TS-03 | Network or security setting incorrect | Reconfirm SSID and network key |
| TS-04 | Authentication/Encryption method not supported | Change the authentication/encryption methods for your WiFi router |
| TS-05 | SSID/Network key incorrect | Reconfirm SSID and network key |
| TS-06 | Incorrect wireless security information entered | Confirm wireless security information (authentication/encryption methods and SSID/network key) |
| TS-07 | Cannot detect WLAN access with WPS enabled | If using a WPS connection, confirm the connection method on the access point/router. |
| TS-08 | Two or more WLAN access points with WPS enabled detected | Confirm only one access point/router within range has the WPS method active. |
If you are unsure how to implement any of these solutions, see below.
Enabling Brother Printer Network Interface
- Press “Menu”
- Navigate to “Network”
- Select “Wired LAN” or “WLAN”
- Select “WLAN Enable”
- Select “On”
Confirming Wireless Security Information
Your Brother printer Wi-Fi setup needs the correct wireless security information to connect to the network.
This means inputting the correct network name (SSID) and password (network key).
See the end of the blog for how to connect a Brother printer to Wi-Fi and where to input the SSID and key.
If the error is caused by the authentication/encryption method, you will have to consult your printer’s manual to discover the available compatible methods.
WPS Connection
WPS, or Wireless Protected Setup, is a simple way to connect your printer to the Wi-Fi without entering an SSID and network key.
See the “How to Connect Brother Printer to Wi-Fi” section at the end of the blog to learn how to use it.
Network Connection Repair Tool (Windows Only)
This tool can assist in getting your Brother printer back connected to the Wi-Fi network.
It will automatically update your printer’s IP address in the driver.
You can download the tool for your printer model from Brother’s Support & Downloads Page.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Select your printer model from the list.
- Find the Network Connection Repair Tool in the list of available downloads for your printer model.
- Click the download link and save the file to your computer.
- Locate the downloaded file and double-click it to run the installer.
- Follow the installation prompts and launch the tool.
Step 3 – Software Issues
Drivers
Drivers provide the interface between your computer and the printer.
Unfortunately, out-of-date drivers can prevent you from connecting your Brother printer to Wi-Fi.
You can find up-to-date drivers for Brother Printers here.
Firmware
Firmware is the software that runs your printer.
If you have an old printer, it may require updated firmware in order to solve your Brother printer Wi-Fi setup problem.
Brother offers a guide for updating your machine’s firmware here.
Step 4 – Other Wireless Connection Solutions
Other more complex solutions when your Brother printer won’t connect to WiFi include:
- Print the Network Configuration Report and check the “Wireless Link Status”. If it shows an error, you may need to reset the network setting to the factory default.
- Check the IP address of your computer and printer (Found on the Network configuration report), making sure they are the same except for the end numbers.
- Ping your Brother printer from your computer to make sure they are connected.
- You can try resetting the network settings back to factory settings. This resets all information, including the password and IP address.
Step 5 – Get in Touch with Brother
If you have tried everything and your Brother printer won’t connect to WiFi, unfortunately, you will have to contact Brother customer support.
How To Connect Brother Printer to Wi-Fi
1. Find Your Wi-Fi network Settings
Find the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and key (password) if it is not an open network. These are often found on the router itself.
2. Brother Printer Wi-Fi Setup
Navigate to “Network”, select “WLAN”, and ensure the wireless network interface is enabled on your Brother Printer.
Begin the “Setup Wizard” (Also under the WLAN menu).
The printer will return a list of available networks (list of SSIDs).
Select your chosen network and enter the network key (password) if required.
When successful the display will return “Connected.”
3. Download and Install Brother Printer Software
When connecting your Brother printer to Wi-Fi for the first time, ensure you have all the correct, up-to-date drivers installed.
Connecting Via WPS
WPS is a method of connecting your printer to the Wi-Fi network without entering the SSID and network key.
To implement this, you need a WPS-compatible printer and router.
There are two methods for WPS connection:
- Push Button Method
Select the “WPS” option under “WLAN”.
Next, press the Push Button, then press the WPS button on the router.
Leave the devices for 2 minutes until they are synced.
- PIN Method
Under the “WPS” option and select the “PIN” option.
Then enter the WPS pin available on your router.
Summary
Frustratingly there are many possible reasons why your Brother printer won’t connect to Wi-Fi.
Hopefully, you found a simple fix here and are back printing away.
If not, we hope you have a USB cable to hand while you contact Brother to find a solution
Further reading:
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19 comments
Latestmodapks
I had the same issue with my brother printer not connecting to wifi. I followed the steps and it worked!
John A Nierengarten
I haven’t tried any of these or succeeded in reconnecting yet, but this is good advice. It’s more complete than anything I’ve found on the internet.
Pylar gomez
I made all steps several times. It connects and disconnects inmediatly over and over
Rob Errera
The fact that your printer connects briefly before disconnecting makes me think it’s a firmware or driver issue. Double-check both are up to date, Pylar.
Sander
I connected the dc1610w to my wifi repeater and it worked fine, but after a few minutes the cd wont show up in the iprint&scan app. Eveytime i need to fill in the password on the printer but the dc doenst remeber it.. can anybody help me?
Rob Errera
That sounds like a temperamental connection between the app, the router, and the printer, Sander. If you haven’t already, try restarting all of the above. You may also want to delete and redownload the IPrint & Scan app and ensure your phone software is up to date. You can learn more about the Brother iPrint & Scan app here.
Mark
I am unsure why but I followed step 2 (which I thought I did before) and now things are working again. So thanks for the info.
Rob Errera
Glad we could help, Mark!
joe h
my printer says it’s connected to wifi, but my Mac says the printer is offline…any ideas?? thanks 🙂
Rob Errera
We experienced this same problem ourselves, Joe, and it’s always a bit of a process to get your Mac and printer working together. First, make sure your printer’s firmware is up to date. Next, restart everything; computer, wifi router, and printer. If your printer still doesn’t come online, you may have to open your System Settings, delete your printer from the list of available printers, and add it again as a new device. Hang in there, Joe, you can do this!
Michael F
Hopefully someone can help me? I am at my wits end .. 🙁 My Brother printer won’t connect any longer to my Comcast WiFi, saying there is a network key issue. I am putting the correct network key in but it gives me time over time the TS-05 error message. I feel I tried it all. Checking my Xfinity app as well, and it shows that the printer was connected (used it for 2 years). The printer display shows the “wireless” icon crossed out, and my Mac won’t find the printer either when going into the ‘printers & scanner’ section. I tried to re-install the software but that won’t work because it can’t find the printer ‘online’. Not sure what to do. Mac user and the printer is the MFC-L3770CDW. Any help is GREATLY appreciated! Michael
Steve Hogg
Still can’t print. Printer says its connected.
manfred
deleted my printer from list because it had stopped connecting to wifi. wanted to add it as a new device but there simply is NO printer in that list to add. tried rebooting and resetting and reinstalling driver and whatnot. there is still no printer to add ☹️ cheers manfred
Terri
The printer asks if I want to apply settings before I’ve finished entering the network key
lynda
thankyou, after reading your steps I was able to get my printer back online.
Eva
Thank you!
Dan McMonigle
My few months old brother printer says YES NO to connect to WiFi. It was working before we went on vacation. There is a up arrow and a down arrow next to the words, but it doesn’t really look like a arrow and there’s no buttons with those symbols.
Meli
Brother HL-2350-DW Wireless Wi-Fi Printer Don’t know where to write/enter the key.
Akash Kumar
My printer MFC-J497DW was connected to my wifi for the last 3 years. 5 days ago it disconnected and now it won’t reconnect to my wifi network (wifi hasn’t changed at all). Error code TS-02 is showing up on the page that prints off each time the connection fails. Any help would be greatly appreciated