Introduction
The Brother MFC-J1010DW is an all-in-one color inkjet printer that was released in 2018. It is a popular home office printer with print, copy, scan and fax capabilities. One common question asked about this printer is whether it supports AirPrint.
AirPrint is an Apple technology that allows you to print directly from Apple devices like iPhones, iPads and Mac computers without installing printer software drivers. So is the Brother MFC-J1010DW AirPrint compatible?
What is AirPrint?
AirPrint is a printing technology developed by Apple that allows you to print documents, photos, emails and web pages directly from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to an AirPrint compatible printer without needing to install drivers or download software.
With AirPrint, the Apple device and AirPrint enabled printer connect directly via a WiFi network. No cables or connectors are required. You don’t even need a Mac computer for AirPrint to work. As long as the Apple device and AirPrint printer are connected to the same WiFi network, you can print.
Some key advantages of AirPrint:
– Easy wireless printing from iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
– No printer drivers to install.
– Print from apps and websites.
– Print photos, documents, emails, web pages and more.
AirPrint started with iOS 4.2 in 2010 and is now a standard feature on all iOS devices and Mac computers running OS X 10.7 Lion or later. Any printer that supports AirPrint does not require additional drivers or software on your Apple device.
Is Brother MFC-J1010DW AirPrint Compatible?
The short answer is no, the Brother MFC-J1010DW printer does not support AirPrint out of the box.
Brother has stated that none of their consumer inkjet printers like the MFC-J1010DW include built-in support for Apple AirPrint. So you cannot directly print from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to the MFC-J1010DW printer using the standard AirPrint feature.
The MFC-J1010DW runs on Brother’s own printing protocols instead of AirPrint. It requires you to install Brother printer drivers on any computer you want to print from.
Without additional configuration, the Brother MFC-J1010DW printer will not show up in the list of AirPrint printers when you try to print from an iOS device or Mac computer.
Workarounds to Enable AirPrint
Even though the Brother MFC-J1010DW does not have native AirPrint support, there are some workarounds you can use to enable AirPrint functionality:
Use an AirPrint Activator
Third party apps like Printopia and AirPrint Activator can add AirPrint capability to the Brother MFC-J1010DW or any other printer.
These activator software solutions work by intercepting the AirPrint data on your network and then converting it to a format the printer can understand. They act as a bridge between your devices and the printer.
To use an AirPrint activator:
1. Download and install the activator software on a Mac or Windows computer on your network.
2. Connect the printer to the network.
3. Start the activator app. It will now see the Brother printer and be able to convert AirPrint jobs to it.
4. Print from your iPhone, iPad or Mac – the print jobs will now be rerouted through the activator and sent to the Brother printer.
The downside of using an activator is that you need a computer running the app to stay on to enable AirPrint. But this is the easiest way to get AirPrint support on unsupported printers like the Brother MFC-J1010DW.
Connect Through a Raspberry Pi
Another way is to set up a Raspberry Pi as an AirPrint server for the Brother printer.
You can install an open source software like RaspAP on the Raspberry Pi. Connect the Pi via Ethernet to the printer and via WiFi to your network.
The Raspberry Pi will now act as a bridge between the WiFi network and printer. Enable AirPrint service on the RaspAP server, and the Brother printer will now show up as an AirPrint device on your Apple gadgets.
This does not require keeping a Mac/PC powered on. But it is a more complex setup and requires programming skills to configure.
Use an AirPrint Cable
Cables like the XPrintServer Plus can also add AirPrint capability to traditional printers.
This plugs into your printer’s USB port and connects to your WiFi network. You install their app on an iPhone or iPad, select the printer, and can now print over the network.
The downside is that it only works when your iOS device is on the same network as the printer server.
Pros and Cons of Enabling AirPrint on Brother MFC-J1010DW
Here are some key benefits and drawbacks if you get the Brother MFC-J1010DW to work with AirPrint:
Pros:
– Print directly from your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
– No need for printer drivers on your Apple devices.
– Support for printing photos, web pages, emails and documents.
Cons:
– Additional cost for activators, cables or Raspberry Pi setup.
– Extra setup steps required compared to natively AirPrint capable printers.
– Need an intermediate computer/server on to enable AirPrint.
– Limited paper handling and print quality from an inkjet like Brother compared to more expensive laser printers.
Recommendation
The Brother MFC-J1010DW offers excellent print quality for the price. But it lacks some conveniences like automatic two-sided printing and native AirPrint support.
If you need to print mainly from Apple devices, it may be worth investing in a printer with built-in AirPrint such as:
HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e All-in-One – inkjet with lower cost per page
Canon MAXIFY iB4150 – inkjet with lower running costs
Brother HL-L2350DW – laser printer for text documents
Epson EcoTank ET-4760 – supertank printer with ultra low ink costs
However, if you print predominantly from Windows computers, don’t mind the extra setup for AirPrint, and want to take advantage of the low upfront cost of the Brother MFC-J1010DW, then go for it. You can add AirPrint capability via one of the workarounds discussed earlier.
Conclusion
To summarize:
– The Brother MFC-J1010DW does not natively support AirPrint.
– You need to use a software activator, Raspberry Pi or a wireless print server to add AirPrint functionality.
– Consider a printer with built-in AirPrint if you will be printing mostly from Apple devices.
– With some extra configuration, the Brother MFC-J1010DW can still be a great budget printer for mixed Windows and Apple setups.
I hope this detailed overview helps explain whether the Brother MFC-J1010DW is AirPrint compatible and the various options to enable printing from Apple devices! Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions.
