Setting up the Brother HL-2360DW wireless printer can be easy if you follow the proper steps, and it indeed is most efficient, high-quality and keeping up robust wireless capability, which is why it has grown to be such a popular printer for home or office use. In this article, therefore, we will explore every detail of the wireless setup process for the Brother HL-2360DW-from unboxing to troubleshooting. At the end, you will have a thorough understanding of using your printer in a wireless network so that you can print from any device without hassle.
Unboxing and Initial Setup
With this, you have an opportunity to set the basics before delving into wireless ones: unpacking your Brother HL-2360DW printer and ensuring that all components are present.
The box should contain the following:
Brother HL-2360DW printer
Starter toner cartridge
Drum unit (pre-installed)
Power cord
Installation CD (for Windows users)
Quick setup guide
User manual
1. Installing the Toner Cartridge and Drum Unit
This should be done after unboxing-the toner cartridge and drum unit should be installed. So here goes:
Open the front cover of the printer.
Carefully remove the drum unit assembly, which includes the toner cartridge.
Pull out the toner cartridge from the drum unit by pressing down the green lock lever.
Gently rock the toner cartridge from side to side to distribute the toner evenly inside the cartridge.
Reinsert the toner cartridge back into the drum unit until it clicks into place.
Reinsert the drum unit assembly into the printer.
Close the front cover.
2. Powering and Turning On Your Printer
Once toner and drum are installed, proceed to connect power to the printer. Attach the cord into the unit, then put in a power outlet. Turn on the printer by pressing the power button on the control panel.
You will now observe that the initial startup routine is taking place. It runs during which internal components may make some noise during their preparation commotion. It should last for a few minutes normally.
Wireless Setup Process
The Brother HL-2360DW has several options for wireless setup. Each of these is tailored to a different user style and technical environment. Let’s see the most common:
Using the Printer’s Control Panel
Using Connection Setting by WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)
Using Brother iPrint&Scan App
Using USB Cable for Setup
1. Wireless Setup Using the Control Panel of the Printer
The most basic option is to set up the wireless connection from the control panel of the printer itself. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Access the Network Settings
Press the “Menu” button on the printer control panel.
Scroll down using the arrow keys and select “Network,” and press “OK.”
Select “WLAN” and press “OK.”
Choose “Setup Wizard,” and press “OK.”
The printer will now start searching for the wireless networks available.
Step 2: Select Your Wi-Fi Network
As soon as the list appears with all available networks, navigate using the arrow keys to choose your Wi-Fi name (SSID), and then click on “OK.”
If your network is protected, you will be prompted to enter the Wi-Fi password (network key) using the keypad and pressing “OK.”
The printer is attempting to connect to your wireless network. If this is the case, you will see a “Connected” message on the display. The equipment will be connected to your Wi-Fi network, after which you will go ahead to install the drivers to your computer.
2. Wireless Setup Using WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)
The simplest way of connecting your printer to the wireless network is to activate the WPS on your router, and your printer can join the wireless network using this method without the need for the password. The router has to support WPS for this method to work. Here:” Start WPS on the printer
Press the “Menu” button on the control panel of the printer:
Go on to “Network” > “WLAN” > “WPS” and press “OK.”
It will prompt you to press WPS button on your router.
Press the WPS Button on the router.
Locate the WPS button on your wireless router. It may have a label reading “WPS” or have some similar icon.
Press and hold the button for WPS for a few seconds.
The printer will connect to the wireless network automatically. When connected, the display will show the message confirming this.
3. Wireless Setup Using Brother iPrint&Scan App
It gives them another option to set up their printer wirelessly. The Brother iPrint&Scan application can be accessed on either iOS or Android devices.
Step 1: Download and Install the App
Open the App Store (iOS) or the Google Play Store (Android) and type “Brother iPrint&Scan” in the search field.
Download and install the app to your mobile device.
Step 2: Connect Your Printer to Wi-Fi
This means to visit the Brother iPrint&Scan app on your mobile device. Follow the instructions on the screen to add a new printer. By this app, the users will be guided through the connection of the printer to their wireless network.
Most of all, this technique helps if you do not have a computer or if you would rather manage your printer using all settings through a mobile device only.
4. Wireless Setup with a USB cable instead:
Using USB connection, If you have been unsuccessful with the wireless setup, be able to use USB cable as an intermediary for the configuration of the wireless settings. Connect the printer temporarily to your computer in order to determine the wireless network settings.
Step 1: Connect the Printer to Your Computer
Using a USB cable, connect the printer to your computer.
Turn on the printer.
Step 2: Install the Printer Drivers
Insert the installation CD which came with the printer in the CD/DVD drive of your computer. If your computer does not have an in-built CD/DVD Drive, you can download the drivers from the Brother website.
Then just follow the instructions on the screen to install the printer drivers.
And at the “connection type” stage during installation, select the “Wireless Network Connection”.
The setup wizard will guide you through the process of connecting the printer to your wireless network.
Once you complete this setup, you can remove that USB cable. It should then be on your wireless network.
Installing Printer Drivers and Software:
There you have a printer connected to your Wi-Fi network. The next step is to install Driver and software on your computer. Drivers make your computer talk to the printer, and software provides extended range scanning or advanced print settings.
1. Installing Windows
Insert the installation CD into your computer or download the drivers from the Brother website.
On-screen installation helps you install the drivers and software onto your computer.
Choose ”Wireless Network Connection” upon this prompt during installation.
The installation wizard will then search for your printer in the network. Chose from the installation wizard once your printer is found and complete the installation.
2. Installing on macOS
When you visit the Brother website, you may then download the most current version of drivers and software bundles.
Open the downloaded file and install the drivers according to the instructions provided on-screen.
During the installation, your Mac would discover the printer automatically on the
network and everyone can continue afterward.
3. Installing on Linux
Drivers for Linux users are available on the Brother website. The various installation steps usually vary with the particular Linux distribution you are using.
Then download the correct Linux drivers for your device from the Brother website. Open your terminal and navigate into the directory from which the driver package was downloaded. Then install the drivers by using get_packages of your particular distribution (dpkg -i for Debian-based systems or rpm -i for Red Hat-based systems).
Once installed, your printer should now be available to use with your Linux system.
Troubleshooting: Wireless Setup Problems
Though generally it’s a pretty simple task setting up the Brother HL-2360DW wirelessly, there may be few troubleshooting problems. Here is the guide for dealing with them:
1. Unable to Find Printer on Network
If your printer is not detected throughout a wireless setup, here are some steps to take:
Check if it is within range of the wireless router and double-check whether your Wi-Fi network is functioning by trying out other devices.
Restart the printer, router, and your computer or mobile device.
Make sure the feature for wireless printing is activated via control panel of the printer.
2. Incorrect Wi-Fi Password
Entering the wrong Wi-Fi password is a common issue. If you suspect this might be the case:
Carefully re-enter the password, keeping case sensitivity and special characters in mind.
Confirm the password by checking the router’s settings or documentation.
3. WPS Setup Failed
In case WPS setup fails;
Confirm that your router supports WPS, and that your router is enabled for WPS.
WPS button must have been pressed on the router within that time duration of about 2 minutes.
Try restarting the printer as well as the router and other devices before retrying the WPS setup.
4. Erase Connection of Network Printer
When a printer keeps losing its connection to the wireless network:
Make sure the printer is within the optimum range from the router.
Check other devices such as microwave ovens and cordless phones that might interfere with other coupled devices.
Continuously update firmware of the printer to the latest version to solve various connectivity problems.
5. Cannot Print Wirelessly
If the printer is connected to the network, but you are unable to print:
Check if your computer or device is connected to the same wireless network as the printer. This is very important because if your device is on a different network (for example, a guest network or connected to a mobile hotspot), it will not be able to communicate with the printer.
Check the printer status on your computer or mobile device. For Windows, you would do that by going to “Devices and Printers” under Control Panel, right-clicking the Brother HL-2360DW and ensuring that it is the default printer. For macOS, go to “System Preferences” > “Printers & Scanners,” and ensure the printer is checked.
Restart printer spooler service on your computer. In Windows, search for services.msc, find “Print Spooler” in the list, right-click it, and select Restart.
If you are using a mobile device, check that the Brother iPrint&Scan app is up to date. An out-of-date app might render connectivity dysfunctional.
Temporarily disable any firewall or security software to check it is not blocking the term print. If the disabling of firewall solves the problem, you will want to set it up for allowing printer communication.
Advanced Wireless Setup and Features
You can also enjoy several advanced features that enhance the functionality and convenience of the printer once you’ve connected your Brother HL-2360DW to your wireless network.
1. Printing from multiple devices
Brother HL-2360DW allows printing from multiple devices which can connect to a network; they are computers, smartphones, and tablets, and numerous other smart home devices. Here is how you print from various devices:
Windows/MacOS: The printer should automatically appear once after initial setup under the available printers list when printing any document using any application.
iOS Devices: Print documents straight from your iPhone using the Brother HL-2360DW without installing any software. It’s fully compatible with Apple AirPrint, so simply open the document, photo, or website you want to print, tap the “Share” icon, select “Print,” choose your Brother printer, and tap “Print.”
Android Devices: One can make use of Brother iPrint&Scan app or Google Cloud Print to print from Android devices. That is, you can print even from a country different from the one where the printer is located, just as long as both printer and the internet connection are okay.
Linux Devices: In the case of Linux users CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) is normally taking care of network printing. The printer is ready for printing once the Brother drivers are installed, it is recognized by CUPS.
2: Brother iPrint&Scan mobile app
The Brother iPrint&Scan application isn’t limited only to setup but rather provides extensive features essential for printing and scanning directly from mobile. Some of those key functions include:
Print Directly from Cloud Services: The app allows users to directly print documents and images stored on cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
Scan to Mobile Device: If your Brother printer has a scanner, you can use the app to scan documents and save them directly to your mobile device or cloud storage.
Monitor Ink and Toner Levels: The app will let you check the ink or toner levels in your printer so that you know when it is time to change them out.
3. Secure Printing:
For those who are somehow concerned about their printer being accessed by others, the Brother HL-2360DW actually has some secure printing features that can be enabled for the protection of your documents:
Secure Printing: This feature lets you create a password for sensitive print jobs. The document will be printed only when the correct code is fed through the printer’s control panel.
Secure Function Lock: You can restrict access to certain printer functions (e.g. copying, scanning or faxing) on a user profile basis; this is particularly useful in offices.
Otherwise consider WPA2-PSK (AES) encryption, since that is the most secure form of Wi-Fi encryption. However, make sure your network is using this standard to stop unauthorized people from gaining access.
4. Firmware Updates
It is important that you keep your printer’s firmware updated for security and performance. Brother frequently releases firmware updates that solve bugs, provide additional features, and improve performance. The following is a description of how to update firmware:
Go to the Brother support website for downloading the latest firmware update utility for your printer model. Run the firmware update utility on your personal computer. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to accomplish the update procedure. It’s a good practice to check for firmware updates every couple of months or whenever you face any issues.
Common Printing Scenarios and Tips
The Brother HL-2360DW is, of course, going to be one of the most versatile printers. Here are some tips along with scenarios that you might bump into:
1. Printer Both Sides (Duplex Printing)
Then again, while duplicating prints, it makes paper printouts on either side with a specific duplex function: The most dependent and environment-friendly option is where you can print on both sides of paper, hence limiting the consumption of paper through. Here’s how to activate that:
Windows: In the print dialog box, select the Brother printer HL-2360DW. After that, click on either printer properties or preferences. Under the basic tab, check the duplex option or print on both sides.
macOS: In the print dialog box, select the Brother printer HL-2360DW, go to “Layout” and you can then select “Two-Sided”.
Linux: In most of the distributions of Linux, the duplex option will be found in the print dialog under either ‘Job Options’ or ‘Page Setup’.
2. Printing Envelopes
To print envelopes with the Brother HL-2360DW, you will need to first change the setting for the pages. Open the manual feed slot cover at the front of the printer. Slide the paper guides to fit the size of the envelope. Flex the whole envelope face up with the top edge first. Set the paper size in your document to match it with the envelope and select in the paper source option, the manual feed slot.
Now print the envelope.
Always test the prints on one envelope first before printing on a number of envelopes to assure the right alignment of the print out.
3. High-quality Prints of Professional Specimens
Resumes or presentations might be classified as professional documents, where print quality becomes all-important, thus you might want to consider changing some setting of the printer:
Print Resolution: Set print resolution to 1200 x 1200 dpi for increasing clarity of text and images. You can change the resolution under “Advanced” in the printer properties dialog.
Paper Type: Use high-quality paper specially designed for laser printers but also match it with the type of paper set on the printer settings (e.g. “Thick Paper” or “High Quality Paper”).
Save Toner Mode: Even though the Brother HL-2360DW has a Toner Save Mode, which could reduce the consumption of toner, it would be better to turn off this feature during times when high-quality prints are needed.
4. To Handle Big Print Jobs
If it comes to printing large documents or numerous copies of the same thing, the Brother HL-2360DW easily meets your needs as it comes with a 250-sheet paper tray and optional high-yield toner cartridges. That makes sure that printing is:
Load the Paper Tray Properly: Make sure paper is loaded correctly and snug against the paper stack with the paper guides to avoid jams.
High-Yield Toner: For those requiring high-volume printing, using Brother’s high-yield toner cartridges would be best as they print more pages per cartridge and thus require fewer replacements.
Watch Print Jobs: If printing a large document, periodically check the printer to ensure it runs smoothly and has no error messages.
Environmental and Cost Considerations
The Brother HL-2360DW is an environmental sustainability and cost efficiency oriented printer. Here are some considerations:
1. Energy Efficiency
The Brother HL-2360DW meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since it is certified and ENERGY STAR®. The printer has many features for reduced energy usage:
Sleep Mode: The printer more power consumption, when no one is around using it, it goes to off sleep mode by itself. You can set the parameters of the sleep timer via the control panel.
Deep Sleep Mode: After a long time without using the printer, the printer will enter deep sleep mode; thus it uses even less power.
Auto Off Mode: You can set the printer to simply set itself to shut off after a specified inactivity time, even saving more energy.
2. Estimation of Cost of Recycling
Brother also offers a toner recycled program whereby one can send back used toner cartridges for recycling free of charge. By using this service, you have reduced waste and will make a great contribution to environmental sustainability. You can learn more and obtain a recycling label from the Brother website.
3. Printing Economically
Brother HL-2360DW cost-effective printing is extremely well known. Here are some things to remember in order to help you maximize these savings:
Toner Save Mode: For less important prints such as drafts or internal documents, use Toner Save Mode to ensure a longer lifespan for your toner cartridge.
High-Yield Toner Cartridges: As stated previously, high-yield toner cartridges are more cost-effective to the users who print very frequently.
Duplex Printing: Automatic duplex printing saves paper leading to reduced overall printing costs.
Paper Handling: Use the right paper type and size, so you do not have to pay for unnecessary paper jams or waste associated with it.
Ending
The Brother HL-2360DW is a monochrome laser printer and incredibly capable of doing reliable performance as well as greets with impressive print quality – all for home use as well as in the office. It’s an easy wireless setup, making it connect with a network and print via a variety of devices.
Features of automatic duplex printing and high yield toner cartridges, the HL-2360DW is compatible and cost-efficient with Brother iPrint&Scan. Proper setting, maintenance, and troubleshooting ensure that most things are achieved with the printer, and printing becomes convenient.
Printing documents, envelopes, or high-quality reports becomes much easier with this comprehensive and multi-functional choice. Because of this methodology and guidance on how-best to maintain it, this machine can serve up to many years of continuous use to meet its printing needs.