The fastest way to add your Brother printer

The simplest route is to plug your Brother printer into your computer with a USB cable, then let Windows or macOS find and install the driver automatically. Most Brother printers work this way without you downloading anything first. If your printer is a network model (connects to WiFi or ethernet), you can set it up wirelessly instead — but you'll still need the driver software, which you download from Brother's website or install from the disc that came in the box.

The whole process usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. The printer will appear in your list of available printers as soon as the driver installs, and you can start printing right away.

Key Takeaways

  • USB connection is the fastest method: plug in the cable and Windows or macOS will usually find the driver on its own.
  • For network printers, you need the driver software from Brother's website or the installation disc, then connect to your WiFi during setup.
  • Find your exact printer model number (on the front or back of the machine) before downloading anything from Brother's site.
  • If the automatic driver installation fails, go to support.brother.com, search your model, and download the driver manually for your operating system.

USB connection: the no-download method

If you have a USB cable, connect one end to the back or side of your Brother printer and the other to an open USB port on your computer. Power on the printer. Windows 10 and 11, or macOS 10.13 and newer, will detect the printer within 30 seconds and begin installing the driver automatically — you'll see a notification that says "Installing device driver" or similar.

Wait for the installation to finish. You'll see another notification when it's done, usually saying "Device is ready to use" or "Printer installed." Open your system's printer settings to confirm the printer appears in your list. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners. On Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, then click the "+" button and select your Brother printer from the list.

If nothing happens after two minutes, your computer may not have the driver built in. Move to the manual download section below.

Network (WiFi or ethernet) connection: the wireless setup

Network printers connect to your home or office network instead of directly to one computer. You'll need the printer's model number and your WiFi password. The printer itself has a small screen or button panel where you enter the WiFi details.

Start by powering on the printer and looking for a WiFi or network setup option on its control panel. Most Brother printers have a "Menu" or "Settings" button. Navigate to Network or WiFi settings and select your network name from the list. Enter your WiFi password using the printer's keypad or screen. The printer will confirm when it connects — you'll usually see a checkmark or confirmation message on the display.

Once the printer is on your network, you still need to install the driver on your computer so your computer knows how to send print jobs to it. Follow the manual download steps in the next section, using your printer's model number.

Downloading the driver manually from Brother's website

If automatic installation didn't work, or if you're setting up a network printer, go to support.brother.com in your web browser. In the search box at the top, type your printer's exact model number — it looks like "HL-L8360CDW" or "MFC-L2750DW" and is printed on the front or back of the machine.

Click on your model in the search results. You'll see a page with download options. Look for the section labeled "Drivers" or "Software." Choose the driver for your operating system: select "Windows" if you use Windows, or "Mac" if you use macOS. Then select your specific Windows version (Windows 10, Windows 11, etc.) or your Mac version if prompted.

Click the download button. The file will save to your Downloads folder. Once it finishes, double-click the file to run the installer. Follow the on-screen prompts — the installer will ask you whether the printer is connected by USB or network. Select the correct option, and the installer will complete the setup. Restart your computer when prompted.

Troubleshooting when the printer doesn't appear

If you've installed the driver but the printer still doesn't show up in your printer list, restart both your computer and your printer. Power off the printer completely, wait 30 seconds, then power it back on. Restart your computer as well. This clears temporary connection issues and usually solves the problem.

If the printer is a network model and still doesn't appear, check that it's actually connected to your WiFi. Look at the printer's control panel — most Brother printers show a WiFi icon or signal strength indicator when connected. If it shows no connection, go back to the network settings on the printer and re-enter your WiFi password. Passwords are case-sensitive, so double-check capitalization.

For USB printers, try a different USB port on your computer. Some ports may be disabled or faulty. Also check that the cable itself isn't damaged — try a different USB cable if you have one available.

Installing additional software: when you need it and when you don't

The driver is all you need to print. Brother also offers extra software like "Brother iPrint&Scan" (for scanning documents to your computer) or "Brother Utilities" (for managing printer settings). These are optional. You can print without them.

If your Brother printer has a scanner and you want to scan documents to your computer, you'll want iPrint&Scan. It's free and available on the same support.brother.com page where you downloaded the driver. If you never plan to scan, you don't need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the installation disc that came with the printer?

No. The disc is optional — downloading the driver from support.brother.com is faster and gives you the newest version. Use the disc only if your internet is slow or unavailable. Insert the disc, follow the prompts, and select your printer model when asked.

My printer is on my WiFi but my computer can't find it. What's wrong?

Your computer and printer may be on different networks. Some routers create separate networks for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Check which band your printer connected to (look at the printer's network settings), then connect your computer to the same band. Alternatively, restart your router and reconnect both devices.

Can I print from my phone or tablet to a Brother printer?

Yes, if it's a network printer. Download the free "Brother iPrint&Scan" app from your phone's app store, connect to the same WiFi network as the printer, and the app will find it automatically. USB printers only work with computers, not phones.

What if I can't find my printer model number?

Look on the front of the printer below the brand name, on the back panel, or inside the paper tray area. It usually starts with letters like "HL-" or "MFC-" followed by numbers. If you still can't find it, take a photo of the printer and search Google Images for "Brother printer models" — you can often identify it by appearance.

Do I need to restart my computer after installing the driver?

Usually yes, though not always. If the printer appears in your printer list immediately after installation, you don't need to restart. If it doesn't appear, restart your computer — this completes the driver installation and makes the printer visible to your system.