Brother MFC‑J470DW Wireless Setup

The Brother MFC‑J470DW is a compact inkjet all‑in‑one that supports Wi‑Fi printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. It doesn’t have a modern color touchscreen, so wireless setup happens through the small LCD and a few buttons. Once connected properly, it’s very stable, but a single missed menu step can leave it searching for a network or showing “Connected” while the computer can’t find it. This guide walks through WPS and manual Wi‑Fi setup, installing Brother drivers, and the fixes that keep the printer online.

Prep the Printer and Router

• Confirm your SSID and password. The J470DW uses 2.4 GHz only.
• Move the printer close to your router for first‑time setup.
• If the printer was on an old network, reset its WLAN settings.

To reset WLAN on many Brother models: press Menu > Network > Network Reset, then confirm.

Method 1: WPS Push‑Button Setup

If your router has WPS enabled, this is the fastest way to connect:

1. Press Menu on the printer.
2. Go to Network > WLAN > WPS/AOSS.
3. When prompted, press the WPS button on your router.
4. The printer will connect and display “Connected” when successful.

Method 2: Setup Wizard (Manual SSID Entry)

1. Press Menu > Network > WLAN.
2. Select Setup Wizard.
3. Choose your network name from the list.
4. Enter the Wi‑Fi password using the keypad, then press OK.

Password entry is the most common failure point, so double‑check caps and symbols.

Install Drivers on Windows

Download the full Brother MFC‑J470DW driver package from Brother’s support site. Run the installer and choose Wireless Network Connection. It should find the printer automatically. If it doesn’t:

• Print a Network Configuration report from the printer menu.
• Add the printer by IP in Windows Printers & scanners.
• Disable any VPN that separates your PC from the local network.

Install Drivers on macOS

On macOS, use Brother’s installer or add the printer through System Settings > Printers & Scanners. AirPrint may work, but Brother’s driver provides better scan control. If your Mac can’t see the printer, add it by IP with protocol IPP or LPD.

Scanning, Fax, and Mobile Printing

Once connected, install Brother iPrint&Scan or Brother Utilities to scan to your computer. For phones, theBrother Mobile Connect app can print and scan over Wi‑Fi. Fax requires a phone line connected to the LINE port and a quick wizard run from the Menu.

Print a Network Report and Reserve the IP

After Wi‑Fi setup, print the network report to confirm everything. Press Menu > Print Reports > Network Config. You should see your SSID and an IP address. If your printer frequently goes offline, reserve that IP in your router so the address doesn’t change. This prevents Windows and macOS from “losing” the printer after a router reboot.

Installing the Correct Brother Package

Brother provides a full driver bundle that includes printing, scanning, and ControlCenter shortcuts. If you only install a basic driver, printing may work but scan buttons can be missing. Use Brother’s support site to grab the latest MFC‑J470DW package for your OS, then run the installer as admin. During install, select wireless connection and allow the software through your firewall if prompted.

Common Connection Errors

If the setup wizard reports a failure, note the message:

• “Connection failed” or TS‑02: wrong Wi‑Fi password, WPA3‑only security, or weak 2.4 GHz signal.
• “Cannot find SSID”: hidden network or band steering masking 2.4 GHz; reboot router and try again.
• Printer connected but not printing: add by IP and avoid WSD discovery on Windows.

Keep Wireless Stable Long‑Term

The J470DW prefers WPA2 security. If your router is WPA3‑only, switch to mixed WPA2/WPA3. Place the printer away from thick walls and metal shelving, and avoid guest networks with client isolation. Printing a small page weekly keeps the ink system healthy and also confirms the network link is still active.

Troubleshooting Wireless Problems

Printer says connected but computer can’t find it: Ensure both are on the same 2.4 GHz SSID and not a guest network. Connection drops: Reserve the printer IP in your router and move the printer away from thick walls or microwaves. Setup wizard can’t see your SSID: Reboot the router or temporarily disable 5 GHz steering so the SSID broadcasts clearly on 2.4 GHz.

After setup, print a test page and keep the IP reserved. The Brother MFC‑J470DW should stay online and ready for printing and scanning across your home network.