Brother Printer Not Printing From Phone? Find the Problem
If your Brother printer not printing from phone is the problem, the printer may be working perfectly from a computer while your phone cannot find it or send a print job. In most cases, the issue comes down to the phone and printer being on different networks, a mobile printing service not being available, or the printer not being detected correctly by the app.
Start with the connection between the phone and printer before changing printer settings or reinstalling anything.
Quick Diagnosis: Start Here
| What you’re seeing | Start here |
|---|---|
| Phone cannot find the Brother printer | Go to Fix 1 |
| Printer appears but won’t accept the print job | Go to Fix 2 |
| iPhone says no AirPrint printers were found | Go to Fix 3 |
| Android phone cannot find the printer | Go to Fix 4 |
| Printer and phone are connected to different Wi-Fi networks | Go to Fix 5 |
| Phone used to print but suddenly stopped | Go to Fix 6 |
| Printing starts but does not complete | Go to Fix 7 |
| Nothing works after checking the connection | Go to Fix 8 |
Why This Happens
Printing from a phone is slightly different from printing from a computer. Your Brother printer needs to be discoverable by the phone, and the mobile device needs to use a supported printing method.
Common causes include:
- The phone and printer are connected to different Wi-Fi networks.
- Wi-Fi is switched off on the phone.
- The printer has lost its network connection.
- AirPrint is not detecting the printer on an iPhone or iPad.
- The Android printing service or Brother app is not detecting the printer.
- The phone does not have the required local-network permission.
- The printer was recently moved to another Wi-Fi network.
- The mobile printing app needs to be restarted or reconfigured.
Fix 1: Check That Your Phone Can See the Printer
Start by checking the basics.
Make sure:
- Wi-Fi is turned on on your phone.
- The Brother printer is switched on.
- The printer is connected to a network.
- Your phone is connected to the same network as the printer.
If your printer has been sitting idle for some time, give it a moment to reconnect to the network after powering it on.
Then open the printing option or Brother app on your phone and check whether the printer appears.
If it doesn’t, don’t immediately reinstall the app. Check the network first.
Fix 2: Check Whether the Printer Is Actually Available
If your phone can see the Brother printer but the print job does not start, check the printer itself.
Make sure there is no:
- Paper jam
- Paper-out warning
- Ink or toner error
- Cover-open warning
- Other printer error
Try printing a simple one-page document.
If the printer works from a computer on the same network but not from the phone, the problem is more likely related to mobile printing or device discovery.
Fix 3: Check AirPrint on iPhone or iPad
If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, compatible Brother printers can use Apple’s AirPrint feature.
If you see “No AirPrint Printers Found,” first make sure Wi-Fi is enabled on the Apple device.
AirPrint does not work when the device is relying only on cellular data.
Then check that the Brother printer and iPhone or iPad are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
If the printer is connected to a different network or access point, the Apple device may not be able to discover it.
Also check that the router isn’t preventing devices on the network from communicating with each other.
Restarting both the Brother printer and the iPhone or iPad can also refresh printer discovery.
Fix 4: Check Android Printing or Brother’s Mobile App
On Android, the printer may be detected through a supported Brother app, Mopria Print Service or Brother Print Service Plugin, depending on the printer and Android setup.
If your Brother printer does not appear:
- Open the Android device’s printing settings.
- Check whether the relevant printing service is enabled.
- If you’re using Brother’s printing service, turn it off and back on.
- Open the printing app again.
- Search for the printer.
If the printer still isn’t detected, restart the phone and printer.
If you’re using Brother iPrint&Scan, make sure the app is installed and has the permissions it needs to discover devices on your network.
Fix 5: Make Sure the Phone and Printer Are on the Same Wi-Fi
This is one of the most common reasons a phone cannot find a network printer.
Check the Wi-Fi name shown on your phone.
Then check the network name configured on the Brother printer.
They should be connected to the same network.
Be particularly careful if your router has:
- Multiple Wi-Fi network names
- Guest Wi-Fi
- Separate access points
- A mesh system
- Device-isolation or privacy settings
For example, if your phone is connected to a guest network while the Brother printer is connected to the main network, the phone may not be able to discover the printer.
Fix 6: Reconnect the Printer After a Wi-Fi Change
If mobile printing worked previously but stopped after you changed your router, Wi-Fi name or password, the printer may still be configured for the old network.
Reconnect the Brother printer to your current Wi-Fi network.
Then restart the printer and phone and try again.
If the printer has a network configuration report, checking it can also confirm which network the printer is currently using.
This is particularly useful when the printer appears to be connected but your phone cannot discover it.
Fix 7: Check Local Network Permissions and the App
If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, check whether the Brother printing app has permission to access the local network.
Without this permission, an app may not be able to discover a printer on your home network.
On supported iOS versions, look under the app’s settings and make sure Local Network access is enabled.
On Android, check the permissions available to the Brother printing app and make sure the app is allowed to use the required network features.
If the app recently stopped finding the printer after an update, closing and reopening it may help. If necessary, restart the phone before trying again.
Fix 8: Restart the Printer, Phone and Network
If everything looks correct but the phone still won’t print, refresh the entire connection.
- Close the printing app.
- Turn off the Brother printer.
- Restart your phone.
- Restart your router if other network devices are also having problems.
- Turn the Brother printer back on.
- Wait for it to reconnect to Wi-Fi.
- Open the printing app or AirPrint again.
- Select the Brother printer and send a simple print job.
If the printer works from a computer on the same network but remains invisible to the phone, focus on the phone’s printing service, app permissions and network discovery rather than reinstalling the printer.
How to Prevent Brother Printer Phone-Printing Problems
A few simple checks can make mobile printing more reliable:
- Keep your phone and Brother printer on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Avoid using a guest network for either device.
- Keep the printer connected to a stable wireless network.
- Check app permissions after major phone or app updates.
- Keep the Brother mobile app or supported printing service updated.
- Reconnect the printer if you replace your router or change the Wi-Fi password.
- If the printer disappears from the phone, check network discovery before reinstalling the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t my phone find my Brother printer?
The most common things to check are Wi-Fi, the printer’s network connection and whether the phone and printer are connected to the same network. Also check that your mobile printing app or service can access the local network.
Why does my iPhone say no AirPrint printers found?
Make sure Wi-Fi is enabled on the iPhone and that the Brother printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Also check that the network isn’t blocking communication between connected devices.
Why can’t my Android phone find my Brother printer?
Check that the printer is on the same Wi-Fi network and that the appropriate printing service or Brother app is enabled. Restarting the printing service or reinstalling the app can help if the printer disappeared after an app update.
Can I print from my phone without Wi-Fi?
That depends on your Brother printer model and the connection methods it supports. Standard network printing from a phone generally requires the phone and printer to have a compatible connection.
Why did my Brother printer stop printing from my phone after changing Wi-Fi?
The printer may still be configured for the old wireless network. Reconnect the printer to the current Wi-Fi network and then check whether the phone can discover it.
Why can my computer print to the Brother printer but my phone cannot?
The printer may be working normally while the phone’s printing service, app permissions or network discovery is preventing communication. Check the phone’s connection and mobile printing setup.
Should I reinstall the Brother app if my phone cannot find the printer?
Not immediately. First check the Wi-Fi connection, printer status and app permissions. If the printer still cannot be detected, restarting or reinstalling the relevant printing app may help.
