Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve got an important document or photo on your iPad, and you desperately need a physical copy, but your printer seems to be in a different universe? Especially if you own a reliable workhorse like the Brother HL-2270DW? It's a common dilemma, and thankfully, it's far from insurmountable! Printing directly from your iPad to your Brother HL-2270DW might seem a bit tricky at first glance, given the printer's age and lack of direct Wi-Fi capability. But fear not, because with a few clever workarounds, you'll be printing in no time.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every single step to bridge the gap between your sleek iPad and your robust Brother HL-2270DW, ensuring you can print effortlessly whenever the need arises. Let's get started!
Step 1: Understanding the Challenge – Why Isn't It Direct?
First things first, let's understand why this isn't a simple "tap and print" scenario. The Brother HL-2270DW is a fantastic monochrome laser printer, known for its speed and reliability. However, it was released before AirPrint became a standard feature on most printers. This means it doesn't have the built-in software to directly communicate with your iPad over Wi-Fi for an AirPrint connection.
So, what's the workaround? We need a "middleman" – a device that can receive the print job from your iPad and then send it to your Brother HL-2270DW. This "middleman" will usually be a computer (Mac or Windows) that's connected to your printer.
Step 2: Connecting Your Brother HL-2270DW to a Computer
Before we even think about the iPad, your Brother HL-2270DW needs to be properly set up and connected to a computer that's on the same network as your iPad. This is crucial for seamless communication.
2.1: Physical Connection
- USB Connection: The simplest way to connect your Brother HL-2270DW to a computer is via a USB cable.
- Plug one end of the USB cable into the USB port on the back of your printer.
- Plug the other end into an available USB port on your computer (desktop or laptop).
- Network Connection (Ethernet): For a more robust and permanent setup, you can connect your printer directly to your router using an Ethernet cable. This allows multiple computers on your network to access the printer.
- Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on the back of your printer.
- Plug the other end into an available LAN port on your Wi-Fi router.
2.2: Installing Printer Drivers
Once physically connected, your computer needs the appropriate drivers to communicate with the printer.
- For Windows:
- If you connect via USB, Windows might automatically detect and install the drivers.
- If not, or if you're connecting via Ethernet, you'll need to download the drivers from the official Brother support website. Search for "Brother HL-2270DW drivers" and select your Windows version (e.g., Windows 10, Windows 11). Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
- For Mac:
- macOS often has built-in drivers for many printers, including the HL-2270DW. Connect the printer, go to System Settings (or System Preferences) > Printers & Scanners, and click the '+' button to add the printer.
- If it doesn't appear, visit the Brother support website and download the macOS drivers for your specific operating system version.
Step 3: Choosing Your "Middleman" Solution
Now that your printer is connected to a computer, it's time to choose the method that will allow your iPad to send print jobs to that computer. There are a few excellent options, each with its own advantages.
3.1: Option 1: Using a Third-Party Printing App (Recommended)
This is generally the most reliable and user-friendly method. These apps create a virtual printer server on your computer that your iPad can "see" and print to.
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Popular Apps:
- Printopia (for Mac): This is an incredibly popular and highly recommended solution for Mac users. It turns your Mac into an AirPrint server, making all printers connected to it (including your HL-2270DW) available to your iPad as if they were AirPrint-enabled.
- Installation: Download and install Printopia on your Mac.
- Setup: Once installed, Printopia runs in the background. It automatically detects connected printers. On your iPad, when you go to print, you'll see your Brother HL-2270DW listed as an AirPrint printer. It’s that simple! Printopia offers a free trial, and then it's a paid application.
- O'Print (for Windows): Similar to Printopia, O'Print allows Windows users to create an AirPrint server.
- Installation: Download and install O'Print on your Windows PC.
- Setup: Follow the on-screen instructions to configure O'Print. It will make your connected Brother HL-2270DW available to your iPad via AirPrint. O'Print also offers a free trial.
- Printopia (for Mac): This is an incredibly popular and highly recommended solution for Mac users. It turns your Mac into an AirPrint server, making all printers connected to it (including your HL-2270DW) available to your iPad as if they were AirPrint-enabled.
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Step-by-Step with a Third-Party App (General Example - using Printopia/O'Print concept):
- Install the chosen app (Printopia for Mac, O'Print for Windows) on the computer connected to your Brother HL-2270DW.
- Ensure the app is running on your computer. It usually starts automatically with your system.
- On your iPad:
- Open the document, photo, or webpage you want to print.
- Tap the Share button (usually a square with an arrow pointing upwards).
- Scroll down and tap Print.
- Tap Select Printer.
- Your Brother HL-2270DW should now appear in the list of available AirPrint printers. Select it!
- Choose your desired print options (number of copies, range, etc.).
- Tap Print in the top right corner.
- The print job will be sent to your computer, which will then forward it to your Brother HL-2270DW.
3.2: Option 2: Using the Brother iPrint&Scan App (Limited Functionality for HL-2270DW)
Brother does offer an app called iPrint&Scan. However, it's important to note that the HL-2270DW is generally NOT directly supported by the iPrint&Scan app for network printing due to its older architecture. The app primarily works with newer Brother printers that have built-in Wi-Fi and network capabilities.
- When might it work? If you have a computer that has shared the HL-2270DW as a network printer, and if the iPrint&Scan app on your iPad can discover shared printers on your network, there's a slim chance it might work. This is more of an edge case and not the recommended primary solution.
- How to try (if you want to experiment):
- Share the printer on your computer:
- Windows: Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers. Right-click on your Brother HL-2270DW, select Printer properties, go to the Sharing tab, and check "Share this printer." Give it a share name.
- Mac: Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Select your Brother HL-2270DW, click Options & Supplies, then Share Printer.
- Install Brother iPrint&Scan on your iPad from the App Store.
- Open the app and try to search for available printers. See if it discovers your shared HL-2270DW. If it does, you can try printing.
- Share the printer on your computer:
This method is less reliable for the HL-2270DW compared to using a dedicated AirPrint server app.
3.3: Option 3: Cloud Printing Services (More Complex Setup)
Cloud printing services like Google Cloud Print used to be a viable option, but Google Cloud Print has been discontinued. Other services exist, but they often involve more complex setup and ongoing management, and are generally overkill for a simple home setup with a Brother HL-2270DW. Stick to the third-party app option for simplicity.
Step 4: Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with the best guides, sometimes things don't go perfectly. Here are some common issues and their solutions:
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"No AirPrint Printers Found":
- Are your iPad and the computer on the same Wi-Fi network? This is the most common reason for not finding the printer. Double-check that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi SSID (network name).
- Is the third-party AirPrint server app running on your computer? (Printopia/O'Print). Make sure it's active and not closed.
- Is the printer properly connected to the computer? (USB or Ethernet) and are the drivers installed correctly?
- Restart everything: Your iPad, your computer, your printer, and even your Wi-Fi router. A fresh start can often resolve connectivity glitches.
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Print Job Sent But Nothing Happens:
- Check the printer's status on your computer: Is it online? Are there any error messages? Is it out of paper or toner?
- Check the print queue on your computer: Sometimes jobs get stuck. On Windows, go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click your printer, and select "See what's printing." On Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click "Open Print Queue." Clear any stuck jobs.
- Firewall issues: Your computer's firewall might be blocking the AirPrint server app. Ensure that the app is allowed through your firewall.
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Poor Print Quality:
- This is usually a printer issue, not an iPad printing issue.
- Check your toner cartridge level.
- Perform a drum cleaning or self-test print from your printer's control panel or through the printer utility on your computer.
- Refer to your Brother HL-2270DW manual for maintenance tips.
Step 5: Enjoying Wireless Freedom!
Once you've successfully set up your chosen method, printing from your iPad to your Brother HL-2270DW will become second nature. You'll no longer be tethered to your computer to get a hard copy. Whether it's lecture notes, a recipe from a website, or a photo from your camera roll, the power to print is now right in your hands, on your iPad!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to connect Brother HL-2270DW to a computer for the first time?
Quick Answer: Connect the printer to your computer using a USB cable or an Ethernet cable to your router, then install the printer drivers from the official Brother support website.
How to share a Brother HL-2270DW on a Windows network?
Quick Answer: Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click the printer, select Printer properties, go to the Sharing tab, and check "Share this printer."
How to make a non-AirPrint printer compatible with iPad?
Quick Answer: Use a third-party AirPrint server application (like Printopia for Mac or O'Print for Windows) installed on a computer connected to the printer.
How to find the Share button on an iPad for printing?
Quick Answer: The Share button on an iPad is typically a square icon with an arrow pointing upwards, usually found within an app (e.g., Photos, Safari, Mail).
How to fix "No AirPrint Printers Found" on iPad?
Quick Answer: Ensure your iPad and the computer running the AirPrint server app are on the same Wi-Fi network, the app is running, and the printer is properly connected to the computer. Restart devices if needed.
How to check if my Brother HL-2270DW drivers are installed correctly?
Quick Answer: On Windows, go to Device Manager and look under "Printers" or "Print queues." On Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners and ensure the printer is listed and its status is "Idle" or "Ready."
How to clear a print queue on a computer?
Quick Answer: On Windows, go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click the printer, and select "See what's printing." On Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer, and click "Open Print Queue." Then, cancel or delete stuck jobs.
How to troubleshoot a firewall blocking an AirPrint connection?
Quick Answer: Temporarily disable your computer's firewall to test. If printing works, add an exception for the AirPrint server application (e.g., Printopia/O'Print) in your firewall settings.
How to print a web page from iPad to Brother HL-2270DW?
Quick Answer: Open the web page in Safari (or another browser), tap the Share button, select "Print," choose your Brother HL-2270DW (made available via an AirPrint server app), and tap Print.
How to know if my Brother HL-2270DW needs a new toner cartridge?
Quick Answer: Your printer will usually display a "Toner Low" or "Toner Empty" error light or message. You can also check the toner level through the printer's utility software on your computer.
