how do i connect my brother hl-l2350dw to wifi without using the wps button?

Diagnosis

Your Brother HL-L2350DW printer has a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button, but you need to connect it to your Wi-Fi network using a standard manual method instead. This is common if your router doesn't support WPS or if you prefer a more controlled setup process.

How to Fix It

Connect your printer manually using its control panel. Ensure the printer is powered on and within range of your Wi-Fi router.

1. Press the Menu button on the printer's control panel.
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to Network, then press OK.
3. Navigate to WLAN and press OK, then select Setup Wizard.
4. The printer will search for available networks. Select your Wi-Fi network's name (SSID) from the list and press OK.
5. When prompted, carefully enter your Wi-Fi password using the arrow keys to cycle through characters and the OK button to select each one. This step requires patience.
6. After entering the password, select Apply or End. The printer will then attempt to connect to your network. Wait for the process to complete and for the Wi-Fi indicator light to stop flashing.

If That Didn't Work

If the manual entry fails, try these alternative methods:

• Use the Brother iPrint&Scan App: Download the free app on your smartphone (iOS or Android). Ensure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network you want the printer to join. The app can often detect the printer and guide you through the wireless setup more easily than the control panel.
• Wi-Fi Direct Connection: You can connect your computer or phone directly to the printer via its own Wi-Fi signal for printing without a home network. Press and hold the printer's Wi-Fi button for a few seconds until the Wi-Fi light flashes, then connect your device to the network named something like "DIRECT-xx-BRHL2350DW."
• Temporary Wired Setup: Connect the printer to your router with a USB cable (if supported) or an Ethernet cable (requires an optional adapter for the HL-L2350DW) to establish a network connection, which may allow you to then run wireless setup software from your computer.

Heads Up

When entering the Wi-Fi password via the control panel, accuracy is critical. Double-check for capital letters and special characters. The printer supports standard 2.4GHz networks (802.11b/g/n); it cannot connect to 5GHz bands. After a successful connection, print a network configuration report from the menu to confirm the IP address.