If your Brother printer stopped connecting after you changed your router, Wi-Fi name, or password, you may need to reset the printer’s network settings and connect it again.
A Wi-Fi or network reset is especially useful when the printer keeps trying to connect to an old network, refuses the new Wi-Fi password, or simply won’t appear on your phone or computer.
The important thing to understand is that resetting the network settings is different from resetting the entire printer. If you only have a wireless connection problem, start with the network settings rather than performing a complete factory reset.
When Should You Reset Your Brother Printer Wi-Fi?
You probably don’t need a network reset every time printing stops. But it can make sense when:
- You installed a new Wi-Fi router.
- Your Wi-Fi network name changed.
- You changed the wireless password.
- You moved the printer to another home or office.
- The printer keeps trying to use an old network.
- You cannot connect the Brother printer to WiFi after normal troubleshooting.
- Wireless setup repeatedly fails.
Before resetting anything, make sure you know your current Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and network password because you’ll usually need them when reconnecting.
How Do I Reset My Brother Printer’s Wi-Fi?
The exact procedure depends on the Brother printer model.
On Brother printers with a display, look for a network-related reset option under menus such as:
Settings/Menu → Network → Network Reset
Confirm the reset if prompted and allow the printer to restart.
Afterward, the saved network configuration will need to be set up again.
On models without a display, the process may involve a specific combination of control-panel buttons. Do not use instructions for another Brother model simply because the printers look similar.
Brother confirms that a Network Reset can return network information such as IP address and password settings to their defaults.
How to Reset WiFi on Brother Printer DCP-T420W
If you’re specifically searching for how to reset WiFi on Brother printer DCP-T420W, this model has a button-based network reset procedure.
According to Brother’s instructions for the DCP-T420W:
- Turn on the printer and allow it to become ready.
- Press the WiFi button/LED and Stop button at the same time.
- The Power, Warning, and Ink LEDs will illuminate briefly, after which the WiFi LED begins blinking.
- Press and hold Colour Start for approximately two seconds.
- Allow the printer to restart.
This resets the print server/network configuration to its defaults, including IP address and password information.
Don’t confuse Network Reset with All Settings. If your only problem is Wi-Fi, resetting the entire printer is usually unnecessary.
How to Connect Brother Printer to New WiFi Network
If you’ve changed your router or moved somewhere with a different wireless network, you’ll need to connect the printer to the new network.
Before starting, have these two things ready:
Wi-Fi network name (SSID)
Wi-Fi password/network key
If the printer is still configured for the previous network, reset its network configuration using the procedure appropriate for your model.
Then run the printer’s wireless setup again.
On Brother models with a display, you may find options such as:
Menu/Settings → Network → WLAN → Setup Wizard
Choose the new Wi-Fi network, enter its password carefully, and wait for the connection to complete.
The menu names and setup process vary between Brother models, so use the instructions for your exact model if these options aren’t available.
How to Connect Brother Printer to WiFi
If you’re setting up the printer for the first time, you may not need to reset anything.
Start by checking:
1. Your Wi-Fi name
Make sure you’re connecting to the correct home or office network.
2. Your Wi-Fi password
Enter it exactly as configured on your router. Wireless passwords are normally case-sensitive.
3. Your printer’s wireless capabilities
Different Brother models can support different wireless standards and setup methods.
4. Signal strength
If setup repeatedly fails, temporarily move the printer closer to the router.
Then use the wireless setup method supported by your printer.
If your printer successfully connects, avoid resetting it again just because Windows or your phone can’t find it. In that situation, the problem may be communication between the device and printer rather than the printer’s Wi-Fi connection.
Cannot Connect Brother Printer to WiFi? Check This Before Resetting
If you cannot connect a Brother printer to WiFi, a reset isn’t always the first answer.
Try restarting both the printer and router first.
Then check whether another device can connect to the same Wi-Fi network. If your phone and computer also have trouble, the problem may be with the network rather than the printer.
Also verify:
- Correct Wi-Fi network selected
- Correct password entered
- Printer is within reasonable range of the router
- Router isn’t using settings unsupported by your printer model
- Old wireless settings aren’t still stored in the printer
If the printer previously worked on another Wi-Fi network and won’t accept the new one, that’s when a Network Reset becomes particularly useful.
How to Change WiFi on Brother Printer DCP-L2550DW
If you’re searching for how to change WiFi on Brother printer DCP-L2550DW, don’t perform a full factory reset just because you’ve changed routers.
The goal is to clear or replace the old network configuration and then run the wireless setup for the new network.
On the printer, use its Network/WLAN settings to configure the new wireless connection. If old network settings are preventing setup, use the model’s Network Reset function first.
After resetting the network, run the WLAN setup and select your new network.
Have the new SSID and password ready before beginning.
Because menu labels and firmware can vary, check the DCP-L2550DW documentation if the options shown on your printer differ.
How to Change WiFi on Brother Printer MFC-J1205W
The Brother MFC-J1205W is different because it relies heavily on control-panel buttons rather than a large display.
If old wireless settings are causing trouble, Brother provides a specific Network Reset procedure for the MFC-J1205W:
- Press the Wi-Fi and Stop buttons simultaneously.
- Wait for the Wi-Fi LED to begin blinking.
- Press and hold COLOR COPY for two seconds.
- Allow the machine to restart completely.
Brother states that this resets network information such as the password and IP address.
Afterward, configure the printer for your new wireless network.
Brother also documents control-panel options on this model for entering Wi-Fi mode, restarting Wi-Fi/Wireless Direct, enabling or disabling Wi-Fi, and resetting network settings.
How to Connect Brother Printer to WiFi With Phone
If you’re wondering how to connect Brother printer to WiFi with phone, a supported Brother mobile application can simplify the process on compatible models.
Brother provides the Brother Mobile Connect app for supported printers and documents wireless setup using a mobile device.
A typical process is:
- Connect your phone to the Wi-Fi network you want to use.
- Make sure the Brother printer is turned on.
- Install/open the appropriate Brother mobile application.
- Add or set up the Brother machine.
- Follow the wireless setup instructions.
- Select or confirm the Wi-Fi network.
- Enter the network password when requested.
- Wait for the connection to finish.
- Test whether the phone can communicate with the printer.
Brother recommends having your router’s SSID and network key available before beginning mobile wireless setup.
Not every Brother printer supports the same mobile setup method, so verify compatibility for your model.
How to Turn Off WiFi on Brother Printer DCP-T420W
If you’re searching for how to turn off WiFi on Brother printer DCP-T420W, don’t use Network Reset merely because you want to temporarily disable wireless communication.
A network reset clears network configuration. Turning Wi-Fi off is a different action.
Because button behavior can be model- and firmware-specific, use the DCP-T420W’s official network instructions for the exact Wi-Fi enable/disable procedure rather than experimenting with reset combinations.
This distinction is important:
Turn off Wi-Fi → disable wireless connectivity.
Network Reset → clear/reset network configuration.
Factory/All Settings Reset → reset substantially more printer settings.
Choose the option that actually matches the problem you’re trying to solve.
What Happens After a Brother Printer Network Reset?
After resetting the network settings, don’t expect the printer to automatically reconnect to your old Wi-Fi network.
You’ll generally need to configure wireless connectivity again.
Have your:
Network name (SSID)
Wi-Fi password/network key
ready before starting.
If you’ve installed a new router, use the credentials for the new router, not the previous network.
Brother Printer Still Won’t Connect After WiFi Reset
If the printer still doesn’t connect after a Network Reset, stop repeating the reset. Something else may be preventing the connection.
Check the Wi-Fi password again and test the printer closer to the router.
Also determine whether the printer can see the wireless network at all.
If the printer connects successfully but your computer still can’t find it, the wireless setup may already be working. At that point, troubleshoot the computer’s printer settings, driver, print queue, and network communication instead.
The same applies to phones: if another device can print successfully, the printer itself is probably connected correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will resetting Brother printer WiFi erase everything?
A Network Reset is intended to reset network-related settings rather than all printer settings. Brother states that network information such as password and IP address information can be reset.
A full machine/factory reset is a different operation.
Do I need to reset my Brother printer after changing routers?
Not necessarily, but if the printer keeps trying to use the previous wireless configuration, a Network Reset followed by setup on the new network can help.
How do I connect my Brother printer to a new WiFi network?
Have the new network’s SSID and password ready. Configure the printer using its supported WLAN/wireless setup method. If old settings interfere, perform the model-specific Network Reset first.
Can I connect my Brother printer to WiFi with my phone?
Supported Brother printers can use mobile setup methods such as Brother Mobile Connect. The exact procedure and application compatibility depend on the printer model.
Why can’t my Brother printer connect to WiFi after I changed the password?
The printer may still have the old wireless credentials saved. Reconfigure it using the new password. If necessary, reset its network settings and perform wireless setup again.
Should I factory reset my Brother printer to fix WiFi?
Usually, no. If the issue is limited to wireless networking, start with troubleshooting the Wi-Fi connection or using Network Reset rather than resetting every printer setting.
