Brother MFC-J1205W / MFC-J1215W Quick Setup Guide
Read the Product Safety Guide first, then read this guide for the correct installation procedure. Brother recommends keeping this guide next to your Brother machine for quick reference.
Document Version: D02LFD001-00 USA/CAN Version A
Available Languages: English (EN), French (FR)
Video setup instructions: support.brother.com/videos
Latest manuals: support.brother.com/manuals
Getting Started: Essential Steps
You must complete steps 1 through 5 to be able to use this machine.
Step 1: Unpack the machine and check the components
Remove any protective tape or film covering the machine and supplies. Use the inbox (starter) ink cartridges for the initial installation.
Note: Components may differ by country. Save all packing materials and the box for potential shipping. A correct interface cable is required; a USB 2.0 cable (Type A/B) up to 6 feet (2 meters) is recommended.
Information in Spanish for this model is available at support.brother.com.
Step 2: Load plain Letter paper in the paper tray
Pull the paper tray completely out of the machine and open the output paper tray cover. Fan the paper well and load it into the tray, adjusting the paper guides. Close the output paper tray cover, then slowly push the paper tray completely back into the machine. Pull out the paper support and unfold its flap to catch printed pages.
For more information on paper handling and sizes, refer to the Online User's Guide at support.brother.com/manuals.
Step 3: Connect the power cord and install the inbox (starter) ink cartridges
Connect the power cord. Open the ink cartridge cover, unpack, and install the starter ink cartridges. Close the ink cartridge cover. The machine will prepare the ink tube system for printing, a process that takes about six minutes. The machine may be silent during the first two minutes as it fills the ink tanks.
IMPORTANT: Do not power off the machine during this process. Allow setup to continue until the Print Quality Check Sheet (Step 4) is printed. The first ink cartridge installation uses extra ink to fill the delivery tubes, a one-time process for high-quality printing.
Step 4: Check the print quality
The machine will print a Print Quality Check Sheet. Examine the quality of the four color blocks on the sheet. If any color block appears "Poor" (refer to the visual example), it is strongly recommended to clean the print head to improve print quality. Refer to the "Improve Print Quality" section in this guide.
Note: To change the language of the check sheet, consult the Online User's Guide at support.brother.com/manuals.
Step 5: Connect your computer or mobile device to your machine
Brother recommends using your computer for this step, though mobile device connection is possible.
Visit setup.brother.com to download and install Brother software. Follow the on-screen instructions.
For USB Connection, locate the USB port inside the machine.
If you do not have a computer, visit setup.brother.com from your mobile device.
Setup Finished
You can now print and scan using your machine.
Download and install the free Brother Mobile Connect app for mobile device usage. Direct printing is also available via AirPrint or Mopria™ Print Service. More information is in the Online User's Guide.
Important Notice for Network Security: The default password for managing machine settings is located on the back of the machine, marked "[password-label]". It is recommended to change this password immediately to prevent unauthorized access. Check for the latest firmware at support.brother.com/up7.
Can't Connect?
If wireless setup fails, try manual connection. Visit support.brother.com/g/d/a5fx for FAQs and troubleshooting tips.
Reference and Troubleshooting
For detailed machine information and product specifications, see the Online User's Guide at support.brother.com/manuals.
Basic Operations
Change the paper settings from the control panel
Paper settings can be adjusted using the Paper button and observing LED indications:
- Default: Paper type: Plain, Paper size: Letter (for standard documents).
- x 1: Paper type: Other glossy, Paper size: 4" x 6" (for photos).
- x 2: Custom settings can be accessed via Web Based Management using the Brother Mobile Connect app or the Brother iPrint&Scan app. Refer to the Online User's Guide for details.
Open your application's print dialog, select the machine, and click Print. For advanced settings like 2-sided printing, use the printing properties or preferences button.
Copy
Load your document. Press the Mono Copy or Color Copy button once for a single copy. Press repeatedly for multiple copies.
Scan
Load your document. Press the Mono Copy and Color Copy buttons simultaneously for a single-page scan. For multi-page scanning or other features, use your preferred scanning software/application. Consult the Online User's Guide for details.
Control Panel Overview
The control panel features the following buttons and indicators:
- a Paper button
- b LTR (Letter) LED
- c 4" x 6" LED
- d Wi-Fi LED
- e Power LED
- f Mono Copy button
- g Color Copy button
- h Ink LED
- i Warning LED
- j Power/Stop button
- k Wi-Fi button [note-symbol] Use for wireless network setup; refer to the Online User's Guide.
Visual Description: A diagram shows the layout of the control panel buttons labeled 'a' through 'k'.
LED Indications
Understanding the machine's status through its LEDs:
| Machine Status | Wi-Fi® Status | Error Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ready [status-ready] | Connecting [status-connecting] | No Paper: Refill tray, then press MONO COPY or COLOR COPY. |
| Busy [status-busy] | Connected [status-connected] | Wrong Paper Size: Ensure selected paper settings match tray contents. Press MONO COPY or COLOR COPY. |
| Sleep [status-sleep] | Disconnected [status-disconnected] | Ink Cover Open: Firmly close the ink cartridge cover until it locks. |
| Off [status-off] | No Ink Cartridge / Cannot Detect / Monochrome Print Only: Reinstall cartridge firmly or replace it. One or more color cartridges may need replacement. | |
| (Blinking slowly) [status-blinking-slowly] | Ink Low: Prepare to replace ink cartridges. | |
| Paper Jam: Refer to the "Remove Jammed Paper" section. | ||
| Memory Full: Cancel operations and try again. |
Visual Description: A table illustrates various machine, Wi-Fi, and error statuses indicated by different LED light patterns (Lit, Blinking, Blinking slowly and faintly, Off).
Improve Print Quality
If print quality is poor:
- Press the Power/Stop button [power-stop-button] and the Ink LED [ink-led] simultaneously. The Ink LED will blink.
- Choose one of the following:
- For cleaning only black ink, press the MONO COPY button [mono-copy-button].
- For cleaning all colors, press the COLOR COPY button [color-copy-button].
The machine will clean the print head and print a Print Quality Check Sheet. Check the quality again.
Special Cleaning: If print quality remains poor after multiple attempts, perform a special cleaning:
- Press and release the Power/Stop button [power-stop-button] and the Wi-Fi button [wi-fi-button] simultaneously.
- Press and hold both the MONO COPY [mono-copy-button] and COLOR COPY [color-copy-button] buttons simultaneously for five seconds.
Remove Jammed Paper
Follow these steps to clear a paper jam:
- Pull the paper tray completely out of the machine.
- Slowly pull the jammed paper out of the machine.
- Open the Jam Clear Cover at the back of the machine.
- Slowly pull the jammed paper out of the machine from this opening.
- Close the Jam Clear Cover.
- Push the paper tray firmly back into the machine.
- Press the Power/Stop button [power-stop-button] to clear the Paper Jam error. If the job was interrupted, try again.
Note: If ink gets on skin or clothing, wash it off immediately with soap or detergent.
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