Add a Brother Printer to Your iPhone

Brother printers pair easily with iPhones through AirPrint, the Brother iPrint&Scan app, Wi-Fi Direct, or a shared Wi-Fi network. This guide walks you through each method and the quick fixes for common issues like “No AirPrint Printers Found,” WPS timeouts, or jobs stuck in the iOS queue. Follow the steps in order so you connect once and stay connected.

Check Network Basics

Make sure your iPhone and the Brother printer are on the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Many Brother home and small-office models do not support 5 GHz. Disable VPN or Private Relay temporarily during setup; both can block local discovery. If your router uses band steering, consider separating 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz SSIDs while you pair.

Use AirPrint (Fastest)

1) Connect the printer to Wi-Fi using its control panel or WPS (see below). 2) On your iPhone, open any app (Notes, Safari, Photos), tap Share, then Print. 3) Tap Select Printer and choose your Brother device. If it appears, you’re ready to print. If not, move to the troubleshooting section to fix discovery issues.

Connect the Brother Printer to Wi-Fi

On models with a screen, go to Network > WLAN > Setup Wizard, select your SSID, and enter the password. For models with buttons, hold Wi-Fi until the icon flashes, then press the WPS button on your router. Wait for the Wi-Fi light to turn solid. If WPS is disabled on your router, enable it or use the wizard to enter the password manually.

Use Brother iPrint&Scan

Install the Brother iPrint&Scan app from the App Store. Make sure your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi as the printer, open the app, tap Add Printer, and select your model. The app can also set up Wi-Fi on some printers by temporarily connecting to a setup network broadcast by the device; follow on-screen prompts if offered.

Wi-Fi Direct Without a Router

If you cannot use a router, enable Wi-Fi Direct on the printer (often under Network > Wi-Fi Direct). The printer will display a network name and password. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, join that network, then print via AirPrint or iPrint&Scan. Remember to switch your iPhone back to your normal Wi-Fi when you're done.

Fix AirPrint Discovery Problems

If you see “No AirPrint Printers Found,” try these steps: toggle Wi-Fi off/on on the iPhone, power-cycle the printer, and restart the router. Ensure the printer and phone are on the same subnet (avoid guest networks with client isolation). Disable VPN/Private Relay, and check that the printer has a valid IP by printing a network report. As a fallback, use iPrint&Scan, which can find the printer even when AirPrint discovery is blocked.

Handle WPS and Password Errors

If WPS pairing times out, verify WPS is enabled in the router settings and retry near the main router. For manual entry, retype the Wi-Fi password carefully—case matters. If the printer previously connected to another network, reset network settings (often via Network Reset in Settings) and start over.

Print and Scan from iPhone

Once connected, AirPrint works in most apps: choose Share > Print, select the Brother printer, set copies, and print. For scanning, open iPrint&Scan, tap Scan, choose color/mono, adjust resolution, and save to Files or Photos. If scans fail, ensure the printer's scan function is ready (ADF or flatbed clear) and that no error codes are showing on the panel.

Advanced: Static IP and Router Tweaks

Give the printer a DHCP reservation in your router so its IP never changes; this helps AirPrint discovery. Disable AP/client isolation and avoid guest SSIDs that block local traffic. If your router uses band steering, keep the printer on the 2.4 GHz SSID and let the iPhone join that same band while printing. Update router firmware if multicast or Bonjour traffic is unstable—both are required for AirPrint.\n

Keep the Connection Stable

Reserve the printer's IP in your router to prevent “offline” messages. Avoid guest networks and client isolation. Keep firmware updated via Brother's tools to improve Wi-Fi stability. If you change Wi-Fi passwords, rerun the setup wizard immediately rather than waiting until you need to print.

Quick Checklist

• Put the printer and iPhone on the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi; disable VPN/Private Relay.
• Connect the printer via WPS or the WLAN setup wizard.
• Use AirPrint from the Share menu; if not found, try iPrint&Scan.
• Use Wi-Fi Direct when no router is available.
• Reserve the printer IP and keep firmware updated.

Follow these steps and your Brother printer will appear on your iPhone every time, ready to print or scan without repeated setup.