Brother Printer Setup Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions for Beginners


Dial 1-888-966-6097 Setting up a new Brother printer for the first time? Whether you're using it for home, school, or office use, getting your Brother printer up and running is easier than you might think. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire Brother printer setup process—covering both wired (USB) and wireless (WiFi) methods for Windows and Mac users.

 What You'll Need

Before you begin, make sure you have:

Your Brother printer (unboxed and plugged in)

A power source

A USB cable (for wired setup only)

Your WiFi network name (SSID) and password (for wireless setup)

A computer running Windows or macOS

Internet access to download drivers or software

Brother Printer Setup Methods

Brother printers can be installed in two main ways:

Wired (USB) Setup – Simple and fast for single-device use.

Wireless (WiFi) Setup – Ideal for multiple devices and remote printing.

Method 1: Brother Printer Setup via USB (Wired)

Step-by-Step (Windows & Mac)

Connect the USB cable

Plug one end of the USB cable into the printer and the other into your computer.

Turn on your printer

Press the power button and wait for the printer to initialize.

Download the driver/software

Visit the Brother Support Center

Enter your printer model (e.g., Brother HL-L2350DW)

Select your operating system

Download the Full Driver & Software Package

Install the software

Run the installer and follow on-screen instructions. The installer will detect the printer and complete the setup.

Print a test page

Once installation is complete, go to Devices and Printers (Windows) or System Settings > Printers & Scanners (Mac) to print a test page.

 Method 2: Brother Printer Wireless (WiFi) Setup

Wireless setup allows you to print from multiple devices without any cables.

 Step-by-Step (Control Panel Setup)

Power on the printer

Make sure it's near your WiFi router.

Navigate to Network Settings

On the printer’s display panel, go to:

Menu > Network > WLAN > Setup Wizard

Select your WiFi network

Choose your WiFi name (SSID) from the list.

Enter WiFi password

Use the keypad to enter your network password. Press OK or Apply.

Print a Network Configuration Page (optional)

This confirms that the printer is connected to the network.

Install drivers/software on your computer

Download the Full Driver & Software Package from the Brother website.

During installation, choose Wireless Connection and follow on-screen prompts.

Add printer manually (if needed)

On your computer:

Windows: Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a printer

Mac: Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer

Brother Printer Setup on Windows

Connect via USB or WiFi as per your preference.

Install drivers from the Brother support site.

Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners

Click Add a Printer, and select your Brother printer from the list.

Set it as default printer (optional but recommended).

Brother Printer Setup on Mac

Install drivers compatible with macOS from Brother’s official site.

Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.

Click + to add a printer.

Select your Brother printer from the list.

Choose the correct driver (AirPrint or Brother-specific) and click Add.

🔁 Using Brother iPrint&Scan App (Optional)

Brother’s iPrint&Scan app (available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android) lets you:

Check printer status

Scan and print wirelessly

Troubleshoot common issues

Download from the Brother website or app store.

Troubleshooting Tips

Issue Solution

Printer not detected Check USB cable or WiFi connection. Restart both printer and computer.

Wrong driver installed Uninstall and reinstall the correct model-specific driver.

Cannot connect to WiFi Ensure password is correct and printer is within range.

"Printer Offline" error Set the printer as default and make sure it’s online in settings.

Final Checklist Before Printing

✅ Printer is powered on and error-free

✅ Correct drivers are installed

✅ Printer is connected (via USB or WiFi)

✅ Test page prints successfully

✅ Printer appears in device list (Windows/Mac)

FAQs

Q1. Do I need a CD to install a Brother printer?

No. All Brother printers can be set up without a CD. Just download the software from the Brother support site.

Q2. Can I use my Brother printer on multiple devices?

Yes, especially with WiFi setup. You can connect laptops, desktops, and mobile devices to the same printer.

Q3. What if my Brother printer doesn’t show up during setup?

Try restarting the printer and computer. Make sure both are on the same network. Reinstall the driver if needed.

 Conclusion

Setting up a Brother printer doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you choose USB or WiFi, the process is straightforward—especially when you follow the steps above. With your printer now ready, you can start printing documents, labels, and photos with confidence.