Brother DCP-J1200W: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Brother DCP-J1200W right for you?

The DCP-J1200W is Brother's cheapest UK inkjet, a screenless print-copy-scan box driven almost entirely from the Brother Mobile Connect app. It uses the tiny LC421 cartridges, so ink runs out quickly unless you buy the XL set, and there is no automatic duplex. It is the printer people buy for occasional school forms. The EcoPro subscription variant is optional to activate.

Best for: Occasional UK home printing on the smallest budget

Setting up the Brother DCP-J1200W

Install Brother Mobile Connect first; it finds the printer's setup network and joins it to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, since there is no screen. Windows needs the Full Driver & Software Package for scanning; AirPrint covers Apple devices. Watch the LED codes in the manual if the printer stops responding.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Brother's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Brother DCP-J1200W uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• LC421BK black ink (200 pages)
• LC421C/M/Y color ink (200 pages each)
• LC421XL high-yield set (500 pages)

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications