Trying to install a Brother Wireless Printer to my computer but it won't work

Hi jefffromdunwoody,

Unless you have already thrown it away, the Brother MFC-J6945DW is listed in About AirPrint - Apple Support (en-us edition May 08, 2023). This means that the model in question supports Apple's AirPrint technology. The printer should work without additional drivers for macOS, provided that it is connected to the same network (Wi-Fi router) as the Mac. So, you may want to try a network connection.

AirPrint works with wireless (Wi-Fi) or wired (Ethernet) network connections. The MFC-J6945DW has Ethernet, so you could choose to wire the printer to one of the LAN ports of a router instead of connecting wirelessly.

Brother recommends using AirPrint for the MFC-J6945DW. There is also a recent firmware update.

https://support.brother.com/g/b/downloadlist.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=mfcj6945dw_us_eu_as&os=10077

If necessary, try resetting the printing system and re-adding the printer.

Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem – Apple Support (UK)

Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac – Apple Support (UK)

USB does not work with AirPrint and this printer. Using a long USB cable is not a good solution anyway.

Hi HannahSHa,

babowa provided you with a link indicating that a macOS 10.5 Catalina driver could be tested. The iPrint&Scan may even work for printing, but with limitations.

Since the HL-2270DW is a network printer, you could perhaps carry out a test with a network connection, if a direct USB connection was used earlier. You have the choice of testing a wireless or wired network connection to a router. A wired network connection would be by Ethernet cable to one of the LAN ports of the router.

Unfortunately, an HL-2270DW does not appear to support Apple's AirPrint technology, so some kind of driver would be needed.

https://support.brother.com/g/b/downloadlist.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=hl2270dw_all&os=10060

The HL-2270DW seems to support PCL6, so if nothing else works, you may even want to carry out an experiment with generic PCL printer software from a macOS pop-up menu (see also Use under the Add a network printer by specifying its IP address section in Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac – Apple Support (UK)).

If necessary, try resetting the printing system and re-adding the printer.

Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem – Apple Support (UK)

As always, make sure that you have backup copies of all important files before testing anything. Software conflicts cannot be ruled out.

This is what I found on the mfr's website:

https://help.brother-usa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/183192?R3ModelID=HL2270DW&_gl=1*cbf4dx*_gcl_au*MTQ5Mjk0MTIwLjE2ODc4MDUzOTU.*_ga*MjIzNzA4ODA5LjE2ODc4MDUzOTU.*_ga_NCEW43SJ8W*MTY4NzgwNTM5NS4xLjEuMTY4NzgwNTQxNy4zOC4wLjA.&_ga=2.244134790.2076542993.1687805397-223708809.1687805395

They are not releasing new drivers, but have notes on which drivers may work.

Yes, through it away! I gave up on the same issue yesterday. It's actually been an issue with my Brother MFC-J6945DW since I purchased it some years ago. I purchased a 25 foot USB cable to connect it to my 2017 iMac, but with a new Studio M2 Ultra I refused to continue with this Model-T solution.

I ordered a reconditioned Epson WF-7840 for $200 from Amazon. Even new it's only $250. Brother and I are now officially divorced.

I also have a Brother HL-2270WD and recently just got it working via USB with Sonoma 14.4 (should probably work with older Mac OS versions too). Installed Gutenprint package - https://gimp-print.sourceforge.io/MacOSX.php and selected the 'Brother HL-2250DN - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.3.3' driver when adding the printer. I was able to print with the generic PCL driver that came with Mac OS but the Gutenprint driver allowed me to get duplex printing working again.

What Mac?

>indicating that a macOS 10.5 Catalina driver could be tested.

Correction:

indicating that a macOS 10.15 Catalina driver could be tested.