Setting up WiFi Direct on your Brother HL-L9310CDW high-speed color laser printer allows you to print directly from mobile devices without needing a traditional wireless network router. This business-class printer supports WiFi Direct for seamless mobile printing, but users often encounter connection drops, failed pairing, or devices that won't discover the printer. This comprehensive Brother HL-L9310CDW WiFi Direct setup guide walks you through proven troubleshooting steps to establish a stable direct wireless connection, with specific guidance for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.
Preparing Your Printer for WiFi Direct Connection
Before attempting device pairing, your HL-L9310CDW must have WiFi Direct properly enabled and visible. The printer ships with this feature disabled by default in some regions, requiring manual activation through the control panel.
1
Enable WiFi Direct on the Control Panel: Press the Settings button (gear icon) on the 2.7-inch color touchscreen. Navigate to Network > WLAN > WiFi Direct. Toggle the setting to On. When prompted, choose whether to use the default SSID (format: DIRECT-XX-Brother HL-L9310CDW) or create a custom name. Record the displayed password—you'll need it for device pairing.
2
Verify WiFi Direct Visibility and Signal: From the same menu, confirm that Group Owner is set to Auto and Visibility Status shows Available/Visible. If the status reads "Hidden," select Visibility Status and change it. Print a Network Configuration Report by pressing Settings > Machine Information > Print NetSetting to confirm WiFi Direct shows an active IP address (typically 192.168.223.1).
Connecting Your Devices to the Printer
3
Connect Android Devices Using Brother iPrint&Scan: Download the Brother iPrint&Scan app from Google Play. Tap Device Selection > WiFi Direct. The app will scan for DIRECT-XX-Brother HL-L9310CDW networks. Select your printer and enter the password from Step 1. If the app fails to detect the printer, manually connect through Android Settings: WiFi > Add Network, enter the SSID, set Security to WPA2-Personal, and input the password. Return to iPrint&Scan and select Device Selection > Local.
4
Connect iOS Devices via AirPrint and WiFi Direct: iPhones and iPads require a direct WiFi connection to the printer before AirPrint functions. Open Settings > WiFi on your iOS device, look for the Brother WiFi Direct SSID under "Networks," and connect with the password. Once connected, open any document, tap Share, select Print, and choose your HL-L9310CDW. Note: iOS will warn that this network has no internet access—tap "Keep Connected" to maintain the printer link.
5
Configure Windows 10/11 for WiFi Direct Printing: Click the WiFi icon in your system tray, select the Brother WiFi Direct network, and enter the password. Open Settings > Bluetooth & Other Devices > Printers & Scanners > Add Device. Windows should auto-detect the HL-L9310CDW. If not, select "The printer that I want isn't listed," choose "Add a printer using a TCP/IP address," and enter 192.168.223.1 with port 631 for IPP printing. Install the Brother Universal Printer Driver if Windows cannot locate built-in drivers.
6
Resolve Interference and Connection Drops: WiFi Direct operates on the 2.4 GHz band (channels 1, 6, or 11). If your office has dense wireless traffic, navigate to Network > WLAN > WiFi Direct > Advanced Settings > Channel and manually select a less congested channel. Additionally, disable the printer's standard WLAN connection temporarily if you only need WiFi Direct—dual-network operation can cause IP conflicts on the HL-L9310CDW firmware versions prior to 1.33.
⚠️ Important: Do not attempt to update the Brother HL-L9310CDW firmware over a WiFi Direct connection. Firmware updates require a stable wired Ethernet or standard wireless network connection to prevent corruption. A failed firmware update during WiFi Direct may require factory reset procedures or professional printer repair intervention to restore functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my device say "Connected, no internet" when using WiFi Direct?
This is normal behavior. WiFi Direct creates a peer-to-peer network between your device and the HL-L9310CDW without internet gateway functionality. Your device cannot access the internet while connected to WiFi Direct unless it has cellular data enabled. For simultaneous internet and printing, connect the printer to your main wireless network instead and use standard network printing.
Can I use WiFi Direct and regular wireless printing at the same time?
Yes, but with limitations. The HL-L9310CDW supports concurrent WLAN and WiFi Direct operation, though this requires firmware version 1.33 or later. With older firmware, enabling both modes can cause the printer to drop connections or assign conflicting IP addresses. Check your firmware version at Settings > Machine Information > Firmware Version and update via Brother's support website if needed.
How do I reset WiFi Direct to factory defaults if I forgot the password?
Access Settings > Network > Network Reset > WiFi Direct Only to clear custom SSID and password settings without affecting other network configurations. Alternatively, perform a full network reset at Settings > Initial Setup > Reset > Network, which restores all network settings including standard WLAN. After reset, WiFi Direct will use the default SSID format with a newly generated random password displayed on the control panel.
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