Brother iPrint and Scan Download and Setup Guide
Desktop print and scan front end that replaces ControlCenter4 on newer Brother models
Representative photo — TaurusEmerald CC BY-SA 4.0
Brother iPrint and Scan exists in two forms that are easy to confuse. The desktop version for Windows and macOS is Brother's current front end for scanning, workflow buttons, machine status and supplies, and it is what replaced the old ControlCenter4 suite on newer models. The mobile version is the older phone app, which Brother has largely replaced with Mobile Connect. If you are on a computer and looking for the scan software that came with a modern Brother machine, the desktop iPrint and Scan is the right download.
Version and licence: Free. The desktop version is current and is the replacement for ControlCenter4 on newer models, at Windows version 15.1.0.46. Desktop compatibility runs from Windows 7 to Windows 11 and macOS 10.11 to macOS 14. The mobile version has largely been superseded by Brother Mobile Connect.
Download Brother iPrint and Scan
What it does
- Scan to file, email, OCR or an application from the computer
- Machine status panel showing toner or ink levels and errors
- Workflow buttons that save repeated scan settings
- Creates searchable PDFs on supported models
- Prints documents and images without opening another application
- Handles the document feeder including duplex scanning where fitted
- Replaces ControlCenter4 on current Windows and macOS releases
How to install it
Step 1
Install the printer itself first, either through the Full Driver and Software Package or by adding it in the operating system.
Step 2
Download the Brother iPrint and Scan desktop installer for Windows, or install it from the Mac App Store on macOS.
Step 3
Run the installer and accept the licence.
Step 4
Open the application and let it search for your machine, or choose Select your Machine and pick it from the list.
Step 5
If the machine is on the network but not listed, add it by IP address using the option in the machine selection screen.
Step 6
Set your default scan destination, file type and resolution under the scan settings.
Step 7
Run one test scan from the glass and one from the feeder to confirm both paths work.
Which printers it supports
Current Brother inkjet and laser printers and all-in-ones on Windows 7 through 11 and macOS 10.11 through 14, covering the DCP, MFC and HL ranges. Older machines that shipped with ControlCenter4 may not be fully supported.
When Brother iPrint and Scan will not work
Confirm the printer is on the same subnet and print a Network Configuration report to get its IP address. Then use the add by IP address option in the machine selection screen, which bypasses discovery entirely.
Brother scanning uses its own network protocol which firewalls often block. Allow the Brother applications through Windows Defender Firewall on both private and public profiles, and check that the printer's IP has not changed since installation.
ControlCenter4 is legacy and is not offered for newer models, and it is not supported on macOS 11 or later. Most of its functions are in iPrint and Scan as workflow buttons; the rest are in the printer's own web interface.
Scan at 300 dpi in greyscale or black and white for text documents, keep originals square in the feeder, and set the correct OCR language. Colour scans of text at 150 dpi will always OCR badly.
Guides may be describing Brother Mobile Connect, which replaced the mobile version of iPrint and Scan. Install Mobile Connect on the phone and keep iPrint and Scan for the computer.
Printers that use Brother iPrint and Scan
Frequently asked questions
Is the desktop version still current?
Yes. The desktop version is Brother's current scanning front end and replaces ControlCenter4 on newer models.
Should I use the mobile version?
Brother has moved mobile users to Mobile Connect, so install that on a phone unless your printer is only supported by the older app.
Do I still need the full driver package?
For printing yes, on Windows. iPrint and Scan is the scanning and status front end, not the print driver.
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