Solved Can't connect to WiFi printer

I'm in the process of setting up a new Win 11 computer (an upgrade from Win 10). Sorry, I haven't listed my specs yet because the computer isn't fully set up. I'm using Win 11 home on a Dell computer (i9 CPU).

I have two Brother Wifi connected printers (on beside the Win 11 machine, the other beside a Win 7 machine in a different room. I have successfully installed the printer beside the Win 11 machine. However, when I attempt to install the other printer it fails:

• When I search for the printer, it fails to find it.
• I select "add manually) and the printer is identified on the Win 7 machine. However, when I try to install it, I get the following message:
• 
• I've found suggestions on the web that recommend the printer troubleshooter but it didn't work.

Can anyone suggest a solution?

I am wondering if it might be a firewall problem? Just a shot in the dark there, but it's all I've got at the moment...

dsscottage said:

I'm in the process of setting up a new Win 11 computer (an upgrade from Win 10). Sorry, I haven't listed my specs yet because the computer isn't fully set up. I'm using Win 11 home on a Dell computer (i9 CPU).

I have two Brother Wifi connected printers (on beside the Win 11 machine, the other beside a Win 7 machine in a different room. I have successfully installed the printer beside the Win 11 machine. However, when I attempt to install the other printer it fails:

• When I search for the printer, it fails to find it.
• I select "add manually) and the printer is identified on the Win 7 machine. However, when I try to install it, I get the following message:
• View attachment 82694
• I've found suggestions on the web that recommend the printer troubleshooter but it didn't work.

Can anyone suggest a solution?

Click to expand...

One of the articles I found suggests the problem may be a missing Windows update. Have you installed all available updates?

Catnip said:

I am wondering if it might be a firewall problem? Just a shot in the dark there, but it's all I've got at the moment...

Click to expand...

I can access the Win 7 computer files and printer from File Explorer so I don't believe that the firewall is blocking access.

Sir_George said:

One of the articles I found suggests the problem may be a missing Windows update. Have you installed all available updates?

Click to expand...

Yes. Win 11 is up to date.

dsscottage said:

I can access the Win 7 computer files and printer from File Explorer so I don't believe that the firewall is blocking access.

Click to expand...

Just in case, I turned off the firewall but the problem persists.

dsscottage said:

I'm in the process of setting up a new Win 11 computer (an upgrade from Win 10). Sorry, I haven't listed my specs yet because the computer isn't fully set up. I'm using Win 11 home on a Dell computer (i9 CPU).

I have two Brother Wifi connected printers (on beside the Win 11 machine, the other beside a Win 7 machine in a different room. I have successfully installed the printer beside the Win 11 machine. However, when I attempt to install the other printer it fails:

• When I search for the printer, it fails to find it.
• I select "add manually) and the printer is identified on the Win 7 machine. However, when I try to install it, I get the following message:
• View attachment 82694
• I've found suggestions on the web that recommend the printer troubleshooter but it didn't work.

Can anyone suggest a solution?

Click to expand...

Try the link below for some possible solutions. I realize the information is for an HP printer, but it may be applicable to your problem. Look at the last reply in the list.

Here's a MS solution that says it applies to Windows 10 that mentions that error.It should apply to 11 as well. See if it's of any help.

glasskuter said:

Here's a MS solution that says it applies to Windows 10 that mentions that error.It should apply to 11 as well. See if it's of any help.

Error when you try to install a shared network printer - Windows Server

Describes an issue in which you can't install a shared network printer locally on a Windows Server 2003-based or a Windows XP SP1-based computer.

learn.microsoft.com

Click to expand...

It looks like that article refers to Win XP. The suggested solution starts with "Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers."

Win 11 doesn't have that option. (or I can't find it)

Try Get Help and then the printing troubleshooters, to wit:

That should get you going in the right direction, with any luck. I'd try "fix printer connection" first and foremost.
HTH,
--Ed--

Ed Tittel said:

Try Get Help and then the printing troubleshooters, to wit:
View attachment 83536
That should get you going in the right direction, with any luck. I'd try "fix printer connection" first and foremost.
HTH,
--Ed--

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion but that is one of the first things that I tied and it didn't work.

I don't know how you're trying to connect to your printers but when I setup a new printer and it gives me the option I always connect them to the router. In the printer setup menu I let the printers find the SSID of my router then enter the passphrase. I find it not only easier but it allows them to be accessed from all of my devices.

glasskuter said:

Here's a MS solution that says it applies to Windows 10 that mentions that error.It should apply to 11 as well. See if it's of any help.

Error when you try to install a shared network printer - Windows Server

Describes an issue in which you can't install a shared network printer locally on a Windows Server 2003-based or a Windows XP SP1-based computer.

learn.microsoft.com

Click to expand...

My Win 11 Home didn't have the Group Policy Editor so I upgraded to Win 11 Pro and followed the instructions in the above link. It didn't work. I still get the same error message.

Hey, @dsscottage! You're getting in the habit of attracting solutions that don't work when you try them.

Now here's my suggestion, based on my experience with a string of several Brother printers. First, I have had trouble getting connected to a couple of my brother printers by wi-fi, and their manuals have helped by suggesting that I connect the new printer to the computer first with a USB-to-printer cable and then follow the manual's directions. After that runs, you can pull the cable, and (for me, at least) the connection remains over wi-fi.

I remember this because I've lost the connection a couple of times for reasons I don't remember, but I've gotten it back with the wired connection method, and then I've kept the wire in a closet. Just in case.

Here's a link to the manual source. Unfortunately, I can't send you a wire to connect your PC and your printer, but if you don't have one, you can get one fairly cheaply. Or borrow one temporarily from a friend.

BTW, if you have a printer cable, but it's too short, you might try moving the printer to within reach of the cable, then following the instructions, and then, once the connection is made, moving the printer back to the other room (where, we assume, your wi-fi reaches).

The solution is to follow the manufacturers installation instructions, not the Windows Add Printer dialogues.
It maybe Web installation or Downloading the drivers then installing.

You have not said what connection method is desired. WiFi Direct or Networked.
In your situation I would choose Wireless Network so that you can access both Printers from both PCs.

Obviously you will have to go thru this procedure 4 times in all.

The temporary USB connection is merely to send the network Passphrase and details to printers with no means of entering that data directly.

It is easier said than done. It took me on and off a whole day to install my network printer. At the peak were 3 installations, only one of which worked, so removed all of them and then started again, boom worked, one instance.

It took a mere 5 mins on the new second Laptop on Windows 11 same printer.

Helmut said:

In your situation I would choose Wireless Network so that you can access both Printers from both PCs.

Click to expand...

That's why I always connect my printers to the Wi-Fi on my router. Provided they have the option. Once done I can connect to the printers from any device that is connected to my network.

I'm still fiddling with the printer setup. Out of interest, my old Win 10 computer is temporarily in the same location as my new Win 11 machine. The networked printer was connected the the Win 10 machine a few years ago and has always worked perfectly. I deleted the printer from the Win 10 machine and attempted to reinstall it. Surprisingly, I get the same error message and it will not install. My memory may not be perfect but I'm pretty sure that it was connected via WiFi previously. However, it isn't being detected in the WiFi scan now. The printer isn't that far away (in another room, about 25 feet away with 2 wood/sheetrock walls between).

My next troubleshooting step is to temporarily move the printer to the same room as the Win 11 machine and try to connect it. Given the location of the printer and Win 11 machine, that's not as easy as it sounds. Therefore, I'm going to put this on "the back burner" until I have the Win 11 machine totally set up with all my software.

In the meantime, thank you everyone for the suggestions, I'm not ignoring them. I'll restart work on this problem in a few days.

dsscottage said:

My next troubleshooting step is to temporarily move the printer to the same room as the Win 11 machine and try to connect it.

Click to expand...

We wish you the best of luck. I think that will be the step you need. Hope you can get a USB printer cable for the operation.

1.What printers are trying to install?
2. Are you trying to connect the computers to the Wi-Fi on the printers?
3. If trying to connect to the Wi-Fi on the printers, have you tried connecting the printers to your routers Wi-Fi network?
4. Have you tried using USB to setup the printers to the computers?