Discovering that your Brother printer keeps disconnecting from WiFi is really annoying at the best of times.
Of course it’s even more frustrating when you’re trying to print an important document, only to find that your Brother printer is offline again.
So if you’re tired of constantly restarting your printer or router to re-establish a connection, you’ve come to the right place.
This issue is more common than you might think, and it’s often caused by a handful of underlying problems that can be resolved with a bit of troubleshooting.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the most common causes of WiFi disconnects and provide you with the solutions you need to get your Brother printer back online and working reliably.
In a Hurry? Brother Printer Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi Quick Fix:
If your Brother printer keeps disconnecting from your WiFi network, the most common culprits are the printer’s sleep mode settings, an unstable IP address, or router configuration issues.
This guide is for anyone experiencing intermittent or frequent wireless connection drops with their Brother printer.
We’ll cover everything from basic troubleshooting to advanced solutions, helping you achieve a stable and reliable connection.
Common Causes Of The Brother Printer Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi Issue
Understanding why your Brother printer keeps disconnecting from WiFi is the first step toward a permanent solution.
In most cases, the problem can be traced back to a few common culprits.
By systematically addressing these potential issues, you can identify and resolve the root cause of your connectivity problems.
1. Aggressive Sleep Mode and Power-Saving Settings
To conserve energy, Brother printers are designed to enter a “sleep” or “power-saving” mode after a period of inactivity.
While this is an eco-friendly feature, it can sometimes cause the printer to disconnect from the WiFi network.
When the printer goes into a deep sleep, it may not always wake up and reconnect to the network properly when you send a print job.
According to Brother’s official support documentation, this sleep mode cannot be disabled, but its settings can sometimes be adjusted to prevent disconnections.
2. Unstable or Incorrect IP Address
Every device on your network, including your printer, needs a unique IP address to communicate.
Most routers assign these addresses automatically using a system called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).
However, if your printer’s IP address changes frequently, your computer may not be able to find it on the network.
In some cases, the printer may fail to obtain a valid IP address and assign itself an APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) address, which typically starts with 169.254.x.x.
This type of address indicates a network communication failure and will prevent you from printing.
3. Router and Network Configuration Issues
Your router’s settings play a crucial role in maintaining a stable connection with your printer.
Several factors can contribute to WiFi disconnects, including:
- 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz Bands:
Most modern routers are dual-band, meaning they broadcast both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi networks. While the 5 GHz band is faster, the 2.4 GHz band has a longer range and is better at penetrating walls.
Many Brother printers only support the 2.4 GHz band, and if your router uses the same name (SSID) for both bands, the printer can become confused and disconnect. Brother recommends using unique names for each band to avoid this issue. - Security Protocols:
The security protocol your router uses can also affect connectivity. Brother printers generally work best with WPA2-PSK security and AES encryption.
Using older protocols like WEP or TKIP can lead to connection problems. For more details on recommended security settings, you can review guidance from sources like Apple Support. - Router-Specific Features:
Some routers have advanced features that can interfere with printer connectivity. For example, ASUS routers with “Airtime Fairness” enabled have been known to cause issues with Brother printers.
Advanced Troubleshooting For Brother Printer Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi Problems
If you’ve already tried the basic troubleshooting steps without success, it’s time to delve into some more advanced solutions.
These steps involve making changes to your printer’s settings, your computer’s configuration, and your router’s settings.
While they may seem more technical, they are often the key to resolving persistent WiFi disconnection issues.
1. Assign a Static IP Address to Your Printer
To prevent your printer’s IP address from changing, you can assign it a static IP address.
This ensures that your computer always knows where to find the printer on the network.
You can do this through your router’s settings or directly on the printer itself.
To assign a static IP address, you’ll first need to print a network configuration report from your printer to find its current IP address and MAC address.
Then, you can log in to your router’s administration page and look for a feature called “DHCP Reservation” or “Static IP.”
2. Update Your Printer’s Firmware
Printer manufacturers regularly release firmware updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
An outdated firmware version could be the cause of your WiFi connectivity issues.
You can check for and install the latest firmware for your Brother printer through its control panel or by downloading it from the official Brother support website.
Keeping your printer’s firmware up to date is a crucial step in maintaining a stable connection.
3. Reinstall the Printer Driver and Software
A corrupt or outdated printer driver can also cause a variety of problems, including network disconnects.
Uninstalling and reinstalling the full Brother driver and software package can often resolve these issues.
When reinstalling, make sure to download the latest version from the Brother support website to ensure you have the most up-to-date and compatible software for your operating system, as recommended by general troubleshooting guides from Microsoft Support.
4. Adjust Your Router’s Settings
As mentioned earlier, your router’s settings can have a significant impact on your printer’s connectivity.
In addition to separating the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands and using WPA2-AES security, you may need to adjust other settings.
For a more in-depth look at how to optimize your router for a stable printer connection, you can watch a couple of YouTube videos I really like.
The first video is actually from the router manufacturer Linksys and is all about separating the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands (and is hopefully also embedded below!)
The second video provides a step-by-step complete guide to adjusting router security and other settings (and is also hopefully embedded below!)
Final Thoughts For This Brother Printer Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi Article
Dealing with a Brother printer that keeps disconnecting from WiFi can be a major headache, but with a systematic approach to troubleshooting, you can resolve the issue and enjoy a stable, reliable connection.
By working through the common causes and advanced solutions outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to diagnose and fix the problem.
Remember to start with the basics, like checking your printer’s sleep mode settings and ensuring it has a valid IP address, before moving on to more advanced steps like assigning a static IP or updating the firmware.
With a little patience and the right knowledge, you can put an end to frustrating WiFi disconnects and get back to printing with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Brother printer go offline when it sleeps?
When your Brother printer enters sleep mode to save power, it can sometimes lose its connection to the WiFi network.
This can be due to a variety of factors, including the printer’s power-saving settings, the router’s configuration, or an unstable IP address.
While you can’t disable sleep mode, you can often adjust its settings to prevent disconnections.
How do I keep my Brother printer from going offline?
To prevent your Brother printer from going offline, you can try assigning it a static IP address, updating its firmware, and ensuring your router is configured correctly.
Separating the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi bands and using WPA2-AES security can also help maintain a stable connection.
What is an APIPA address and why does my printer have one?
An APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) address, which typically starts with 169.254.x.x, is a sign that your printer is unable to communicate with your router to obtain a valid IP address.
This is a clear indication of a network connection problem that needs to be resolved.
How To Reconnect Your Brother Printer To WiFi
If your Brother printer has lost its WiFi connection, follow these simple steps to get it back online.
This process typically takes about 5 minutes and can resolve most common connectivity issues.
What You’ll Need:
- Your Brother printer
- Your WiFi router
- A computer or mobile device
Step 1: Restart Your Devices
Turn off your Brother printer, your router, and your computer. Wait for about 60 seconds, and then turn them back on in the following order: router, printer, and then computer. This can often resolve temporary network glitches.
Step 2: Check Your Network Connection
Ensure that your printer is within range of your WiFi router and that the signal is strong. You can check the signal strength on the printer’s control panel. If the signal is weak, try moving the printer closer to the router.
Step 3: Run the Wireless Network Setup Wizard
On your Brother printer’s control panel, navigate to the network settings and run the wireless network setup wizard. This will guide you through the process of selecting your WiFi network and entering the password.
Step 4: Print a Network Configuration Report
Once the setup is complete, print a network configuration report to verify that the printer is connected to the network and has a valid IP address. The report should show a status of “Connection: OK” and an IP address that is in the same range as your other devices.
Finally be sure to check out our Tech Troubleshooting FAQ or our Printer Troubleshooting Tips pages for even more general tips that cover a wide range of technical problems and solutions.
(If after reading the above article you still have a problem where your “Brother printer keeps disconnecting from WiFi”, then you might find a much less obvious solution on the above tech pages!)