How to Print to Brother Printer from iPhone (Complete Guide)

Brother printers are workhorses—reliable, economical, and built to last. But that durability means many people are still using Brother printers that predate AirPrint. Whether you have a new MFC model or a trusty HL laser printer from years ago, this guide covers every way to print from your iPhone.

Does Your Brother Printer Support AirPrint?

Brother has solid AirPrint support on most wireless models made after 2012, but many popular laser printers—especially monochrome models—lack it.

Quick Check

1. Look for AirPrint in your printer's specifications
2. Check Apple's AirPrint printer list
3. Search "[your Brother model] AirPrint"

Brother Printers With AirPrint

Generally supported:

• Brother MFC series (most wireless models from 2013+)
• Brother HL-L series (wireless laser printers)
• Brother DCP series (most wireless models)
• Brother INKvestment series (MFC-J models)
• Brother Color Laser (HL-L3000 series and newer)

Brother Printers Without AirPrint

Typically not supported:

• Brother HL-2000 series (basic laser)
• Older MFC models (pre-2012)
• USB-only Brother printers
• Brother QL label printers
• Most Brother printers without WiFi

No AirPrint? Skip to PrintCast or Brother iPrint&Scan.

Method 1: Native AirPrint

If your Brother supports AirPrint, start here—it's the simplest option.

Setup

1. Power on your Brother printer and ensure it's connected to WiFi
2. Verify your iPhone is on the same WiFi network
3. Open any app with content to print
4. Tap Share → Print
5. Tap Select Printer — your Brother should appear
6. Configure settings and tap Print

Troubleshooting AirPrint with Brother

If your Brother printer doesn't appear:

Check WiFi connection:

1. On the printer, press Menu → Network → WLAN → TCP/IP
2. Or print a Network Configuration page (usually Reports → Network Config)
3. Verify IP address and "Status: Connected"
4. Confirm your iPhone is on the same network

Power cycle properly:

1. Turn off the Brother printer using the power button
2. Unplug from power for 60 seconds
3. Plug back in and power on
4. Wait for WiFi indicator to show connected (solid, not blinking)

Re-run wireless setup:

1. On printer: Menu → Network → WLAN → Setup Wizard
2. Select your network and enter password
3. Wait for "Connected" confirmation

Check Web Based Management:

1. Enter printer's IP address in a browser
2. Go to Network → Protocol
3. Ensure "AirPrint" is enabled

Update firmware:

1. Visit Brother Support
2. Enter your model number
3. Download and install firmware updates

Method 2: PrintCast (Works with Any Brother) {#printcast}

For Brother printers without AirPrint—especially those reliable old laser printers—PrintCast is the ideal solution.

Why PrintCast Is Perfect for Brother

1. Laser printer support — Many Brother lasers lack AirPrint but work great via Mac
2. Full driver features — Access to toner saving mode, quality settings, etc.
3. Works with USB printers — Connect old Brother printers via Mac
4. Reliable connection — Mac-to-printer is more stable than iOS-to-printer

Setup

1. Verify your Brother printer works from your Mac (print a test page)
2. Download PrintCast from the Mac App Store
3. Launch PrintCast — it appears in your menu bar
4. Toggle on your Brother printer
5. Print from iPhone — your Brother appears like a native AirPrint printer

PrintCast works with:

• USB Brother printers connected to Mac
• Network Brother printers
• Older HL and MFC models
• Brother label printers (with Mac driver support)

PrintCast is a one-time purchase of $16.99.

Method 3: Brother iPrint&Scan App {#brother-iprint}

Brother's official iOS app provides direct printing without AirPrint.

Setup

1. Download Brother iPrint&Scan from the App Store
2. Open the app
3. Tap the machine selection area at the top
4. The app searches for Brother printers
5. Select your printer from the list
6. Grant any requested permissions

Printing with Brother iPrint&Scan

From within the app:

1. Open Brother iPrint&Scan
2. Choose Print from the main menu
3. Select Photo, Document, Web Page, or Email
4. Browse and select your content
5. Adjust settings (paper size, copies, quality)
6. Tap Print

From other apps:

1. Open your document or photo
2. Tap Share
3. Look for Brother iPrint&Scan or Copy to Brother
4. Configure and print

Scanning: Brother iPrint&Scan also supports scanning from your printer to iPhone—useful for MFC models.

Brother iPrint&Scan Features

Limitations

• Must open app to print
• Connection can be finicky
• Not all document types supported
• Some settings not available vs. AirPrint

Method 4: Brother Web Connect

Some Brother printers can download and print directly from cloud services.

Setup

1. Register for a Brother account at Brother Web Connect
2. On printer: Menu → Web → Web Connect → Register
3. Link cloud accounts (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.)

Usage

1. Upload files to your linked cloud storage
2. On the Brother printer, navigate to Web Connect
3. Browse and select files to print
4. Print directly from the printer

Limitations

• Requires setup on printer itself
• Limited file format support
• Not convenient for quick prints
• Doesn't work with all content

Brother-Specific Issues and Fixes

Brother Printer Not Found on iPhone

1. Check WiFi light — Solid light means connected
2. Verify network mode — Printer might be in Ad-hoc mode
3. Check IP address — Print Network Config and verify valid IP
4. Restart WiFi on printer — Network → WLAN → Enable → Off then On
5. Check router — Ensure Bonjour/mDNS is enabled

Brother Printer Goes Offline

Brother printers are reliable but can lose connection:

1. Disable Deep Sleep — Menu → General Setup → Ecology → Sleep Time → Increase or disable
2. Assign static IP — In router settings or via printer's network menu
3. Use Ethernet — More reliable than WiFi if available
4. Update firmware — Brother fixes connectivity issues in updates

Print Jobs Stuck in Queue

1. Cancel jobs on printer — Menu → Print Jobs → Cancel All
2. Power cycle — Turn off, wait 60 seconds, turn on
3. Clear iPhone queue — Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Printers → Cancel jobs
4. Check paper/toner — Brother printers won't print if supplies are critical

Slow Printing

Brother laser printers are typically fast, but if printing is slow:

1. Check resolution — Lower DPI prints faster
2. Disable toner save — Uses more toner but prints faster
3. Use Ethernet — Faster than WiFi for large documents
4. Update firmware — Fixes performance issues

Toner/Ink Warnings

Brother printers are notorious for toner warnings long before actually empty:

"Toner Low" appears early:

• This is normal—Brother warns early
• You can often print hundreds more pages
• Press "Go" or "OK" to continue printing

"Replace Toner" but still prints:

• Brother allows continued printing after warning
• Quality may decrease gradually
• Consider having replacement ready

Reset toner counter (drum replacement):

1. Open front cover
2. Press and hold "OK" for 2 seconds
3. Press "Up" arrow to select "Yes"
4. Close front cover

Paper Jam Errors

Brother printers are jam-resistant but when they happen:

1. Open all covers — Front, back, and paper tray
2. Remove paper gently — Pull in direction of paper path
3. Check for torn pieces — Small bits cause repeated jams
4. Clean rollers — Dust causes feeding issues
5. Fan paper before loading — Prevents static cling

Error Codes

Common Brother error codes:

Which Method Should You Use?

Brother Printer Recommendations

If you're buying a Brother for iPhone use:

Best monochrome laser:

• Brother HL-L2460DW — Fast, duplex, AirPrint built-in
• Brother MFC-L2820DW — Adds scanning/copying

Best color laser:

• Brother HL-L3280CDW — Compact, affordable, AirPrint
• Brother MFC-L3780CDW — Full-featured color laser MFC

Best inkjet:

• Brother MFC-J1205W — INKvestment Tank, low running costs
• Brother MFC-J4535DW — Fast, versatile, AirPrint

Best for small office:

• Brother MFC-L5710DN — Heavy-duty mono laser
• Brother MFC-L8900CDW — Heavy-duty color laser

Avoid for iPhone use:

• Basic HL-2000 series without WiFi
• USB-only models (unless using PrintCast)
• Very old MFC models (pre-2012)

Summary

Brother printers are reliable workhorses that can last for years—sometimes outlasting AirPrint support. Here's your best approach:

1. AirPrint — Try first if your Brother supports it
2. PrintCast — Perfect for older Brother lasers without AirPrint (requires Mac)
3. Brother iPrint&Scan — Good free alternative when you don't have a Mac

For those trusty Brother laser printers that just won't quit, PrintCast lets you keep using them with your iPhone instead of replacing perfectly functional hardware.