- Be sure you have the right cartridge
Enter your printer’s model number into our Ink and Toner Finder to find compatible cartridges. Get started › - Ensure optimal performance with Brother Genuine Ink
Choose LC401 Standard or LC401XL High-Yield replacement cartridges. And with Refresh Subscription Service, you’ll never worry about running out and you’ll enjoy savings up to 50%(7) on Brother Genuine Ink. Get started with a Free Trial(8). - Delivering full functionality in a small space
There’s no sacrificing features with this sleek, compact design. A welcome addition to any home, home office or small office space – perfect where space is at a premium. - Page Gauge empowers worry-free printing
Eliminate the guesswork of ink replacement when you use access Page Gauge that uses intelligent printer technology so you know the amount of ink you’ve used and the amount of ink you have remaining(6). - The Brother Mobile Connect App puts the power of printing at your fingertips
Go mobile with the simple to use Brother Mobile Connect(5) App that delivers easy onscreen menu navigation for printing, copying, scanning, and device management from your mobile device. - Print more and wait less with fast inkjet print speeds
The MFC-J1170DW prints up to 17 ppm for black and 16.5 ppm for color. (3) - Versatile connection options let you connect your way
Multiple connection options include built-in wireless (2), Wi-Fi Direct®, Ethernet or connect locally to a single computer via USB interface. Works with Alexa. - Get true mobility with wireless printing and scanning capabilities
Experience printing as mobile as you are. Print and scan wirelessly from your desktop, laptop, smartphone and tablet.(2) - Ease of operation with intuitive Cloud connection through an easy-to-use 2.7” color touchscreen
Easily navigate on screen menus that include powerful features. Print-from and scan-to popular Cloud services including Google Drive™, Dropbox, Box, One Drive and more(4) directly from the printer. - Near Field Communications (NFC) one “touch to connect” print capabilities
There’s no network setup needed for NFC one “touch to connect” printing from a cell phone or other mobile device for true ease-of-use.(1) - Versatile paper handling options for all your printing needs
Use the 20-page capacity automatic document feeder for quick copying and scanning. The generous 150-sheet capacity paper tray adjusts for letter or legal-size paper. Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing helps save paper. - Featuring Brother At Your Side support
Comes with a 1-Year Limited Warranty and At Your Side support for the life of your product including online, live chat or phone support. - Print speeds vary with use. See manufacturer for info on print speeds.
- (1) The mobile device must have NFC capability and run Android OS 4.4 or later. (2) Requires connection to a wireless network. (3) Based on ISO/IEC 24734 (after first set of ISO test pages). For inkjet print speed methodology, please visit manufacturer’s website.
- (4) Requires an Internet connection and an account with desired service.
- (5) Requires connection to a wireless network. Brother Mobile Connect free app download is not available in all countries.
- (6) Page Gauge is an estimate for informational purposes only. For actual cartridge yield information refer to manufacturer’s website.
- (7) Based on monthly subscription cost in U.S. for Mono Laser Power Plan vs. average cost per page of eligible like standard capacity cartridges. Savings will vary based on Refresh EZ Print Subscription plan selected.
- (8) Requires enrollment in monthly billed Brother Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service plan based on monthly printed page allotments. Unused pages roll over, limitations apply.
- Additional page set charges and taxes apply during trial. Plan, options offer and pricing subject to change. Open to new subscribers located in the contiguous United States only.
- After the free trial period your credit card will be charged on a monthly basis for the Plan Fee, Overages, and Taxes in accordance with the Terms of Service. Your service will continue on a month-to-month basis until you cancel it.
- May be canceled at any time. Upon cancellation, cartridge will be deactivated and must be replaced at users’ expense in order to continue printing.
-36%
Brother – MFC-J1170DW Wireless Color All-in-One Refresh Subscription Eligible Inkjet Printer – Black
$77.00 Save:$42.00(36%)
Available in stock
Description
Additional information
| Weight | 16.4 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.5 × 13.5 × 15.7 in |
| Maximum Document Length | 8.5 inches |
| Paper Handling | 150 Sheets |
| Photo Printing | Yes |
| Product Width | 13.5 inches |
| Number of Color Cartridges Included | 3 |
| Printer Resolution (Black) | Up to 6000 x 1200 |
| Automatic Document Feeder Capacity | 20 sheets |
| Printer Connectivity | Apple AirPrint |
| Color Category | Black |
| Automatic Document Feeder | Yes |
| Display Screen Size | 2.7 inches |
| Scanner Type | Flatbed |
| Duty Cycle | Up to 2,500 |
| Automatic Reduction/Enlargement | Yes |
| Product Depth | 13.5 inches |
| Duplex Scan Function | No |
| Works With | Amazon Alexa |
| Manufacturer's Warranty - Parts | 1 year limited |
| Mobile Device Printing | Yes |
| ENERGY STAR Certified | Yes |
| ISO Color Print Speed | 16.5 pages per minute |
| EPEAT Qualified | No |
| ISO Mono Print Speed | 17 pages per minute |
| Voice Assistant Built-in | No |
| Ink Subscription Service Available | Yes |
| Display Screen | Yes |
| Scanner Resolution | Up to 1200 x 2400 |
| Number Of Cartridges Required | 4 |
| Maximum Document Width | 14 inches |
| Tray Capacity | 150 |
| Color | Black |
| Printer Type | All In One |
| Portable | No |
| Touch Screen | Yes |
| Internal Memory | Yes |
| Integrated Fax | Yes |
| Compatible Media Types | Letter, Envelope, Legal, Executive, A4, A6, Envelope (C5), Envelope (DL), Envelope (Monarch), Photo (3.5" x 5"), Photo (4" x 6"), Photo (5" x 7"), Photo (5" x 8"), Photo (8" x 10") |
| Model Number | MFCJ1170DW |
| Number of Ink Bottles/Tanks Included | 0 |
| Supported Paper Sizes | Up to 8.5" x 11.7" (Letter size) |
| Compatible Cartridges | LC401BK |
| Copier Resolution (Color) | Up to 1200 x 1200 |
| Networking | Wireless |
| TWAIN Compliant | Yes |
| Product Name | MFC-J1170DW Wireless Color All-in-One Refresh Subscription Eligible Inkjet Printer |
| Memory Card Slot | No |
| Monochromatic/Color | Color |
| Manufacturer's Warranty - Labor | 1 year limited |
| Number of Black Cartridges Included | 1 |
| Number of Ink Bottles/Tanks Required | 0 |
| Product Weight | 16.4 pounds |
| Brand | Brother |
| Automatic Two-Sided Printing | Yes |
| Copier Resolution (Black) | Up to 1200 x 1200 |
| Product Height | 15.7 inches |
| Minimum System Requirements | PC: Windows 7 SP1 / 8.1 / 10 Home / 10 Pro / 10 Education / 10 Enterprise Windows 2008 R2 / 2012 / 2012 R2 / 2016 / 2019 Windows Server 2008; MAC®: OS v10.14.6, 10.15.x, 11 |
| Paper Feeder | Cassette tray |
| Printer Resolution (Color) | Up to 6000 x 1200 |
| UPC | 012502663966 |
Reviews (50)
No products in the cart. 
Nate34 –
This is my first Brother printer and I have to say I am very pleased. In a small affordable package it does all my printing needs and more!
In the box you of course get the printer, line cord, starter ink cartridges, the quick guide and some other papers. The printer itself is fairly compact and light and fits in with my other electronics and PC components. The initial set up is fast and simple with well done instructions. You can be up and printing in minutes. It has multiple options for connecting and printing. You can use Ethernet, Wi-Fi direct, or the good old fashioned USB. For me it of course depends on what and where I need to print from. More on that later.
The printer has a very nice color touchscreen that makes it very easy to get to all your settings and what you need done. Printing, scanning, copying, faxing and my favorite wireless printing. Before this the process of getting something from my phone printing was a hassle. Printing directly from my phone is so easy with this printer. Just sent it directly to the printer and its done in seconds. My other printer use to take forever making all kinds of noises before it would print. What was it doing? Anyway one click and the Brother has my printed page out and ready in seconds. Love it.
Changing cartridges is really easy as well. But ink is still too expensive it you ask me. I mean to get all your ink replaced you can pay up to half or more of the cost of the printer. But thats not the printers fault. Its that way across the board when it comes to ink replacement.
For the price you get a great printer that does pretty much all your standard household would need. Its so easy to set to and use, and prints really fast. I have 2 old printers Ill be throwing out now. Now I just need to find the cheapest ink I can get when I need more. But for now I am very happy with the Brother all in one. Like the name says it does it all. Recommended.
ebk02 –
Arrived packed excellently. And when opening, had printed basic instructions on box flaps for sliding out, and re-packing. The first part of setup was straightforward – probably the easiest printer I have setup, and went smoothly. Load paper in tray, put tray in machine, and install ink cartridges. There is an orange protector that must be removed – don’t throw away, it needs to be put back if cartridges are removed and printer is shipped.
Then set date and time. Now the printer went through a print quality and alignment check. If you are going to use as a fax, you must connect phone line and setup for fax.
Download the Brother setup software, and once installed, it will walk you through the rest of setup. It took a couple tries, and checking a few modem settings to get the wi-fi going, but it did connect and works well.
Now to the printer. It has a nice color display that can tilt for best visibility. The paper tray is simple to load and insert. There is an automatic document feeder in the top of the machine. The cartridges “snap” in place easily. There is a removable “door” in the back of the printer for easy jam removal. I do like that the cartridges are just ink and not the complete print head found in many printers. Should make ink replacement less expensive.
Next I did some printing. The printer is quite fast on the wi-fi. Black printed text was sharp, print was dark and not washed out. I did color – on plain paper – and even that looked good. I would think this printer could do excellent photo printing with photo paper. Scanning was fairly quick, and gave a sharp image.
When I wasn’t using the printer, it went to sleep, but with any command, it was on and ready instantly.
This would be a good choice for home, student, or home office use. Simple to use, good print quality, and fairly speedy for multiple prints. One thing I cannot comment about would be the number of prints one can expect from the cartridges.
I would recommend.
Tatumcakez –
The Brother Wireless Color All-In-One Inkjet Printer is wonderful for a home office space or just daily use. Being wireless, makes for a wonderful aspect as you can easily print from a laptop nearby without having to go and plug in the printer. There is an ethernet option still available (the first question my father asked when he saw the “wireless” option). The size of the printer is manageable, making the printer able to be moved between spaces if necessary while taking up a low profile wherever it finds home. The printer seems to print a page in about 5 seconds, making for quick and efficient at home printing. There is the option for two-sided printing, if one prefers this. There is copying, faxing, and scanning available in the model. For being a printer, Brother lives up to their name with easy set up. The printer supports media including envelopes, plain paper, legal, and multiple size photo paper.
The software is easy to use. Drivers are easily available using online link. One of the coolest aspects to this printer is prediction of remaining page level, so one can think ahead in needing to order more ink. Having colors divided (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) allows for one to buy what is needed, instead of a broad cartridge – there is a reason this seems to be becoming standard. The cartridges have the option for XL option also.
I must note that the printer is a tad noisy while printing, which is not a deal breaker. Infact, my cat actually enjoys the noise.. She can hear it from a room away and come rushing in to see the printer at work (it’s the little things in life isn’t it).
I am very pleased with this new addition to my home office. I expect to use this printer for many years, as I have had previous good fortune with Brother products. I am glad we have left the age of printers magically failing and needing a new one every few months.
APFLORES413 –
This Brother MFC-J1170DW is the ideal color inkjet all-in-one printer for my home office, school and basic computer needs. Out of the box I was greeted by this nice beautiful printer, all in black. Set up was really easy with little manufacturing tape to remove. Connecting to my home wifi was simple and I love just how compact it is to fit in the corner of our office. After a few weeks of using it here are my thoughts.
This offers two-sided printing which helps save paper is a dream to have, as I do home business and with kids starting school. The printed pages are of high-quality output and print speeds – up to 17 ppm black and white and 16.5 ppm color was amazing to experience. As I (and the kids) print large papers this is a nice added feature. The MFC-J1170DW has a very clear 2.7” color touchscreen that is really responsive and makes it easy to navigate compared to previous Brother color printers. As with most of the newer printers out there, you can access printing through the Brother Mobile App where you can print anywhere. You are able to preview the remaining page levels so you can order new ink. Printing speeds are great: up to 17 ppm for black and white and 16.5 ppm for color. Print quality itself is very clear and crisp.
The only issue that I encountered is that the paper tray has a smaller capacity than my previous Brother printer. It holds 150 sheets, slightly smaller than what I had before but it’s a welcome one since I use 24lb paper in order to have better printing quality on a “denser” paper.
Overall, this is a great printer to have in your home office and for school usage. I am really enjoying the touch screen!
veritech13 –
The setup process is pretty simple, i didnt have any issues connecting to my laptop chromebook. Its meant to be a compact printer for your light use, i wouldnt recommend it of you are doing heavy duty printing becauase of the document feeder capacity and the slower speeds of the printing and scanning. The quality is decent, its an inkjet so obviously not laser quality but the ease of use and reliable print quality make this a good entry point for an all in one inkjet. Do not be a name-brand snob, Brother has come up with an affordable entry. I usually go with HP or samsung but the build quality seems to be comparable to every other printer i have purchased. The options are pretty much standard, i connected it to my router and now the network printer has worked well for all my network computers. Overall its a very nice machine with good print quality, scan quality, good build quality but a tad slow if your find yourself printing alot of sheets at once. A great machine for a small household or light-medium use.
BeingHonest –
Pro:
-Fast prints
-Texts are clean
-Multi page copy is fast
Con:
-Cartridges seems small
A solid printer for the home office with fast and clean prints, fast multi page copier, scanner, and fax (never used this feature). It has a good size touch screen for the three main functions along with maintenance and set ups. The print line quality is good, and the color accuracy can be close. Scanning and copying an image, however, resulted in muted and darker prints. The color cartridges are estimated to be able to print 200 pages each, but it does seem small.
Setting it up was straightforward. It had a bit of a snag trying to find the WiFi network and I had to manually set it up on the printer, but no issues beyond that. After setting up, I had to update the printer. Updating the printer requires a password which is a bit annoying. You can change the default password using the screen on the printer, but to change it again you have to use a browser and access the printer through its IP address. The USB and LAN ports are on the inside of the printer, which is different.
The printer can be linked to online storage accounts like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneNote for online printing. It can also be set up to print from the phone or the cloud using their app.
Documents overall look good. There’s a bit of a fuzz on the letters, but expected for an inkjet printer. Scanning and copying are fast with the top loader going through each page within seconds.
Pictures are a bit mixed. Printing from a file has mostly good color accuracy. When copying (scan and print) an image using plain paper and normal settings, the colors are less saturated with bright blues looking more like muted navy. However, using the best quality setting and premium paper will give more accurate colors but take much longer to print.
KansasMeddlingMom –
The Brother – MFC-J1170DW Wireless Color All-in-One inkjet printer in black is a nice, compact printer that is mostly easy to install. Since I am a CPA in public practice, I use all kinds of printers for all sorts of applications-mostly laserjet for fast numerous printing of lengthy tax returns, but all in one inkjets for billing and other miscellaneous printing jobs.
The only hiccup that I had was after I had officially set up the printer. So, on its LCD screen there was a message that a firmware update was available. I hit the arrow that takes you through a series of prompts to eventually have to enter a password. Well, silly me, I thought the password was the same one as my online Brother account and even changed that thinking I had it wrong when the message on the machine’s screen kept telling me that I had the incorrect password. Little did I realize that on the back of the machine there is a little stamped area that not only has the machine’s serial number, but also has a PWD and I believe 7 combo of letters, caps and lower case, numbers, and special characters. The easiest way for me to enter and read was to use my
phone’s camera to take a picture and read and enter it into the machine. I did wind up calling Brother’s toll free number, speak with someone off shore, I believe from their accent, which I do not like. However, after almost pulling my hair out over this password thing, all was done. I already had the Brother set-up program and its utility type programs so downloading the necessary software to my older desktop was easy. I have a newer Dell 2 in 1 on a different floor and that connected to this new Brother machine quite easily, too.
Pros-small enough to set on an ottoman, see attached picture, or on any desk surface area. Quick 1st paper out, quality of print, and speed. This is good for smaller office type jobs or smaller home type jobs. I also had the Brother Mobile Connect app already downloaded to my smartphone and I love using that to print necessary items right from my phone. The literature states that ISO print speeds are up to 17ppm for black print and up to 16.5 ppm for color print. I used wireless connectivity, but there is ethernet available, automatic duplex (2 sided) printing, and many things , like the Cloud, Dropbox, etc., can be reached directly from the machine itself, and a 20 page auto doc feeder.
Con-Does not state on the box that it is compatible with the recently release Windows 11, so I would call the toll free Brother number and get an opinion on that if you have that operating system. I have not priced replacement Brother brand ink for this machine-there is a “Refresh” Brother program found at http://www.RefreshmentEZPrint.com that is similar to that of HP’s instant ink program where the machine communicates with them seamlessly and for a monthly fee, based on projected number of pages to be printed on a monthly basis, you will receive ink without even having to request it by mail or some other delivery service of their choosing. This machine comes with only starter cartridges for Bk/C/M/Y. The standard ones per Brother will print around 200 pages where the high yield print up to 500 ;ages. I will be looking into the best ink pricing to see what is the most economical way to buy ink because unfortunately, that can be more in the long run than the machine itself.
Stylian –
I’ve had brother printers before and they always worked well.
I have to say my experience with this Brother -MFC-J1170DW has been the best and easiest and also most useful for what I need now then ever before.
First off I don’t use a pc as much as I used to. I am always on my phone. I LOVE Brothers mobile connect App!!!! I set the printer up with my phone and can remotely print now and do everything and I mean everything through my phone. No need anymore for hooking up to my PC.
Also it was so easy to do. I scanned the code on the top with my camera, set up a new account and then it went through some basic firmware updates and 4 minutes of making sure the initial ink is good etc etc. it didn’t ask me any weird confusing stuff just add the password to my network at home and it was pretty much done.
Well done brother! The printer is nice not too big, the app is amazing! And the way you made it all work together is appreciated.
It’s funny you don’t think you need a printer till you don’t have one. Anyway very much recommended.
erinb16 –
Pros:
* Wireless
* Multi-functional
* Easy to set up
* Small footprint
Cons:
* Uses ink cartridges (vs refillable tanks)
* Touch screen is hard to use
* Can only print files (other than Word docs) through their proprietary program
Keep in mind, I’m reviewing this compared to my experience with a variety of multi-function printers from different brands (including Brother), both wired and wireless. Also, I’m running Windows 11, as an FYI.
Personally, I prefer the tank printers over the cartridges. I don’t print that often, so the ink frequently just sits there, and after using for the first time after a couple of weeks of rest, I tend to get better performance with the tank printers than I do with cartridge printers. Plus, there’s the environmentally friendly part of using the tanks, as well.
The touch screen is difficult to use – the buttons are entirely too small, and even with my smallest fingertip my touches weren’t getting registered correctly (i.e., I pressed 8 and it registered a 5, and this happened multiple times).
Red flag and star loss for me: I can’t seem to get any PDFs or pictures (JPGs and PNGs) to print unless I use their proprietary program to open and then print the file, which is a pain! I’ve never run into this issue with any other printer (wired or wireless), so I’m not sure if it is a Brother thing or something else. I was able to print a Word doc from Word without a problem, however!
That all being said…it was easy enough to set up and get connected wirelessly to my computer and network, but with the requirement of going through their proprietary app to print anything, I personally would pass on this printer. That extra hassle just isn’t worth it when other printers don’t have this restriction.
Steven –
This Brother MFC-J1170DW is a really nice all-in-one color printer with a small footprint.
Scanner/copier function is works great for quick copies and backups. The auto doc feeder on top and auto duplex printing are both big pluses for me – I really appreciate these features in a printer but rarely see them on printers this small so they are really nice functions to have.
Printing is quick first page out and speedy continuous printing. Manufacturer claims 16.5 ppm color and 17 ppm black/white which seems right in line with what I’m getting.
Setup and connection are very easy. Honestly quite a bit simpler and quicker to get up and going than multiple other printers I’ve had recently. It auto updated all the software including firmware as it was setting up which was nice. Wi-Fi connection was seamless, easy to input password with the large touchscreen display. None of the confusion of various networks, just enter your current Wi-Fi password and then the computer found the printer and setup everything automatically. Obviously has the Wi-Fi which is all I’ve used but nice to know that this can also be used with Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet or wired connection using a standard USB interface. I’ve used this wirelessly with my laptop, phone, and tablets with no problems whatsoever.
Love that this unit can scan directly to my OneDrive and drop box without suing a computer.
Software suite is solid and all user friendly, very intuitive. Brother Mobile Connect App and page gauge are right on point and simple to use.
Tstall –
The Brother MFC J1170DW printer is an excellent choice for business or at home. Packed with features that work when you need them. I have used this printer for multiple uses and it has out performed itself each time. My favorite feature is the glass scanner as it scans to perfection.
Scanner: Since the scanner is my favorite feature I decided to start off with it. I had a large photo scanning project that needed to be done. So I scanned about 80 pictures in one day between this brother MFC and another major brand printer. I have to say the brother printer scanned beautifully and outperformed the printer which I though it could beat and was way more expensive. I did notice scanning at 1200 dpi the brother was much much slower but it produced a much better high quality image than the other brand at the same dpi. I was scanning at 600 dpi then which the brother moved much quicker and it produced yet again a high quality image. The document feeder works well and holds 20 pages. The only dislike I have is that the document feeder is single sided scan only. This should be duplex as I will need this.
Software: The Brother Iprint&Scan i think is the best on the market. There are no gimmicks here. The software was able to automatically detect corners and images that I scanned and crop them precisely on the edge. At the same time, I tested my other brand printer scanning images and it messed up every single photo and could not detect the correct edge or corners in fact in couldn’t even get out the white background (it would leave a thin white border). Brother just has it down right. My own thoughts when using their program is that it is clear, concise, and works professionally as it should.
Printing: Fast, quiet, precise and accurate. Just the way I like my printer. It holds 150 blanks in the tray and also prints duplex. I like when my ink is separated and not just two cartridges meaning it has a cyan, magenta, yellow, black cartridge. What I like about having the 4 cartridges rather than 2 (one black and the other holding the three colors combined) is that it last so much longer and I feel as though its so much cheaper. In addition, the black ink cartridge in this series is larger so it just lasts. I feel as though buying all 4 cartridges doesn’t cost me anymore than systems with 2. In my opinion Brother really has a good price for their ink compared to all the other brands.
Setup/wireless: Setting up the MFC J1170DW was a breeze. The wireless printing works great and once the printer was connected to my wifi all of my devices connected via wireless or network cable had access to the printer and I could just click print. As simple as that.
zaxdad –
I have a couple printers in my home since everyone needs one for something whether it’s work or school. Yes, we could consolidate but we haven’t…
This is my first “Brother” brand printer. I will start by saying the setup was not as smooth as some of the other devices I have used from other manufactures. This one required a bit more manual intervention to get it setup and going but once there, the quality was very good.
Once connected, it looked for firmware updates right away and once the password was in, this only took a few minutes. After the printer restarted, I was able to review options and applications such as printing pages for mazes, organizers, etc. Good feature but also something very common.
The print quality is good but not for photos (not advertised that way so all good). At roughly 17 pages per minute black and white, it is definitely dedicated to making sure those types of documents look their best. Add in some graphics and it’s still close to that speed and just slightly slower. The double sided option is something that is expected these days and also works very well.
The mobile app worked great once connected and I was able to print from within it. It also helps to keep track of ink, status and other features which is very helpful.
Overall, I am happy with this printer and feel that it could be a workhorse for a very small office setting or home with members of the family that are working on school and work projects.
Would I recommend, yes, but know there are better at the same price point.
Tuckman –
My new brothers printer or any new printer for that matter comes with the challenge of connecting to WiFi and then if you work from home connecting to your companies network. This process was simple and worked the first time without issue. The first unit we received was left uncovered during a monsoon by the delivery driver and I was a little worried that Best Buy / brothers wouldn’t replace it but they immediately shipped me another unit which I received two days after the first. Build quality.. I’m not expecting this printer to last more than a few years and it is poorly built. All printers in this price range are built poorly though. The paper drawer feels like it’s going to break off when opening and closing it. This is and inkjet printer and the cartridges are easy to install and remove which I appreciate. The scanner works great but doesn’t scan double sided automatically. The printer quality is what I really enjoyed on this unit. One of the big perks on getting a brothers printer is the yield on the cartridge I am expecting about 1000 pages on the black. Very high page yield. Printing speed.. very fast. Much faster than other ink jet printers we’ve owned in the past. Photos… average and you need to print with high quality to avoid grainy pictures. The color is great. Overall this is a decent ink jet printer. For the price, you get a high yield cartridge that last. This is perfect for a daily printer or a work from home printer. I would recommend to a friend.
DAHinAZ –
The Brother MFC-J1170DW Wireless Color All-in-One Inkjet printer is a nice compact size. Everything you need in one compact printer product.
Unpacking the BROTHER was easy … unlike other printing products that I recently acquired, this one had minimal packing and a lot less tape securing the printer inside the box with all of its styrofoam.
Setup was easy. Instructions were easy to read and understand. However, I really hate where the USB and ETHERNET cables connect …. inside the printer, under the scanning area, and the cable snake around inside the printer, before they exit out the back. Why didn’t Brother just have connectors on the back or side of the printer instead of this elaborate, inconvenient, “inside the printer” connection. I ended up using wireless which is ok.
Downloading the Brother software from their “setup” site was easy, but it didn’t work. Even though the correct printer model was selectable in the software, it never found it during setup. I ended up downloading this printer’s software from Brother’s usual site and it worked just fine, but I had already wasted about 20 minutes of my time using the nonfunctional software from their “setup” site, that was noted in their Setup Instructions inside the box.
After getting past the initial software issues, the printer seems to work real well wirelessly. Quick response between the laptop and printer. Quality is good, BUT I wish they had more settings on the “print quality”, like an economic setting that most printers have nowadays. I didn’t try the faxing capability due to no landline.
Overall, the BROTHER MFC J1170DW is a nice, inexpensive wireless printer. It will be interesting to see how long the printing cartridges last since there was no data on their or their “test” packaging.
z4teen –
Although so much of what we do these days is fully-digital, the need to print physical documents still crops up from time to time — and when it does, not having a (reliable) printer around is painful. As an adult working in an office environment I have for many years relied on my office printer when the need arises … but with a new hybrid schedule post-pandemic I’ve found myself wishing I had a home printer more and more.
With this in mind I added this Brother MFC-J1170DW machine to my home office. I chose to go with a Brother printer because of years of positive experiences at work with Brother machines, which I’ve found to be straightforward, reliable workhorses that rarely need much, if any, intervention. While I’m a big fan of laser printers for their speed and cost-effectiveness, for occasional use at home I elected to go with an inkjet printer to both save physical space and enable color printing when needed. While color laser printers do exist, they’re both expensive and bulky, and I knew that level of printing would be lost in my modest home office.
Having not researched home printers in a number of years I was pleased to find Brother offered not only a wide selection of models but also multifunctional machines like this J1170DW. I find myself needing to scan documents to the “cloud” more than I need to print them and I quickly realized scanning capabilities at home would be nice to have. With these needs in mind I settled on the Brother MFC-J1170DW.
Upon unboxing I was pleasantly surprised at how compact this machine is: it fits perfectly on the bottom shelf of my bookcase, which is exactly where I hoped to place it. I wager Brother did careful research when designing the J1170DW because it seems expressly designed to fit in tight spaces. The paper tray is internal and the entire package needs minimal clearance on the sides and back, making placement on a shelf a no-brainer. Everything folds up in a tidy package when not in use, giving a very sleek appearance.
The first hurdle for any printer is initial setup, and I have to say, Brother did a good job here, too. Setup can be largely accomplished using the integrated touchscreen in combination with a smart phone or laptop, assuming you’re planning to use this printer via wired/wireless networking. Simply plug in the machine, boot it up, download the Brother app to your phone and follow the step-by-step instructions. I had the printer up and running in a few minutes, with all basic functions enabled.
The Brother mobile app isn’t the sleekest, but it gets the job done easily and efficiently. After setup you’re able to print documents from your phone and — this is neat — scan documents directly to your phone, a feature I’ve already used more than once. You really can use this printer without involving a traditional computer, something I was not expecting.
For deeper setup, you’ll need to page through the lengthy options menus on the printer’s touchscreen, which is thankfully clear and easy to read. In addition to printing/scanning to and from your mobile phone you can link the J1170DW with some of the most popular cloud storage services (Dropbox, OneDrive, Box and more) to print and scan directly from your cloud storage library. As a frequent user of both Dropbox and OneDrive I immediately linked my accounts and found myself able to scan documents directly to the cloud easily. You can also use the touchscreen to scroll through your cloud files and print them, but with the small size of the screen it’s generally more efficient to do this on your computer or mobile device and send them to the printer as you might normally.
Speaking of computers, I followed Brother’s suggestion and downloaded their software and driver package to my Windows 11 laptop. Installation was a breeze and I was pleased to find the full package didn’t clog my computer with lots of bloatware. In addition to the official Brother driver package I chose to install the iPrint & Scan application, the printer status monitor and the software update notifier.
I didn’t think I’d find much use for iPrint & Scan, but I was wrong. The application, like Brother’s mobile app, is simple but effective, allowing you to tweak various scan and print options before you input or output your documents. I highly recommend it for scanning, as it lets you set parameters the way you like, and like the printer itself you can link your cloud storage accounts and have your scans save directly to them.
Digging into more advanced settings requires accessing the printer’s web interface and/or using the touchscreen to change things like wake/sleep time, default behaviors and more. Depending on your level of comfort with these types of systems you may run into some difficulty, but Brother’s extensive online support site should help you if you get stuck. For anyone that’s used to managing printer settings from a webpage in an office environment you’ll find the J1170DW very straightforward and easy to use.
Beyond setup and use, I’m pleased with the reliability of the printer and the quality of prints it produces. Colors and text are more than adequate for office documents and general mixed use. If you’re looking for high-quality photo printing I’m not sure this printer is what you’re looking for, but for moderate home office use it’s absolutely capable.
This brings me to the ink situation, which is often the make-or-break element of inkjet printers. This Brother uses a newer-style cartridge/tank hybrid system of sorts, wherein you insert four separate ink cartridges (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) into slots at the front of the machine, from which the printer pulls ink and mixes it internally. This is opposed to the traditional inkjet setup where cartridges are also the dispensing mechanism and are installed directly on the moving printhead. The advantages here are a compact footprint, printhead accuracy, and ink volume (you can purchase regular or XL cartridges and replace them individually as they run out). That being said, this is not a true ink “tank” style printer, and the cartridges are not exactly cheap — if you do lots of printing, you’ll notice the cost.
To that end, this machine is eligible for Brother’s subscription service, which I would recommend looking into. Brother’s “Refresh EZ Print” subscription service offers a few different subscription tiers, all based on the number of pages you anticipate printing per month. Once you’ve selected a tier and enrolled your machine, you just go about your printing, with the machine monitoring ink levels in the background and automatically ordering new cartridges as needed, all for a flat monthly fee. You can rollover a certain number of unused pages per month, while going over the monthly page limit costs you a set price per page. Depending on your printing habits the Refresh EZ Print service can be a moderate or even major cost-saver, but your mileage may vary. Regardless, paying one set monthly fee and simply receiving cartridges as needed at no additional cost is appealing. Either way, it’s worth your time to check this out.
Overall, I’m very pleased with the Brother MFC-J1170DW. It prints, scans and copies reliably and at a quality and price perfect for home office or even light business use. The machine itself is compact and attractive, and about as easy to use as a printer can be. The ability to print and scan directly to/from cloud storage services and mobile devices is a huge bonus, and the availability of an affordable subscription program for ink refills is innovative and (possibly) cost-effective. Overall, I recommend this machine and the Brother brand, and advise giving the MFC-J1170DW a good looking-at if you’re in the market for a new all-in-one machine.
MASLOW –
I really like this printer. I had a Brother that stopped working and replaced it with this one, which I like much better. It is much more user friendly and easy to operate than the old one.
Ebonovic –
So this is our first inkjet printer in probably 10 years. I have been doing color laser for well over a decade, because ink jets were just not reliable. Well.. with the changing market, we decided to give this one a go, when our one printer died.
So far.. so good… almost too good.
So let’s get this out of the way: This comes with a fax port, and wire, and connection… that I have ZERO way to test or even try to use. I was actually really laughing when opening the box and there was a phone cord in there for the fax. So I don’t have a review on that other then… yes, it is there.
For setup… this was super easy. Very quick connection to the wireless network. Normally I do wired, but we want this one in the kitchen, and we don’t have a network jack there. But it was quickly added to our mesh wifi network, and so far: 100% reliable. It is seen by our iPhones, it was seen by our Mac and Windows computer with no funny business… and I haven’t had to do any “tweaks” to keep it reliably connected.
Now for Print speed: it has been great. From the iPhone, the print out maybe starts in about 15seconds. Computer, depends on what it is.. .but it is almost as fast. And I have NEVER seen an inkjet print at this speed. It is faster then the laser printers. And this is my only nit pick on the printer. It prints so fast, it ejects the paper sometimes too much and it is on the floor.
Printer quality is great. I wouldn’t say photo realistic quality but for a general color print… it is really good.
The printer is a little on the noisy side, doesn’t bother us.. but if you have light sleepers or pets, you may want to factor that in.
it is very light weight, so in wireless mode, you can relocated this to your work space and have it right next to you.
Costi42 –
This is the text of my message to TIN regarding the Brother MFC-J1170DW printer:
“re: Brother – MFC-J1170DW Wireless Color All-in-One Inkjet Printer – White/Gray After repeated attempts (>5 and counting) I am unable to connect the printer to my home network. The printer finds my network, allows me to enter my connection information and then — no matter what steps I next take — it will not connect. I have not had this problem at any time with the HP printers I have installed in the past. And I have neither desire to, interest in nor plan to continue my efforts. I do have a Best Buy near my home and I would be happy to take it to their returns department. Please advise.”
Note: Brother offer 3 methods by which to connect the printer to my Wi-Fi but I have no success with any of the three. I did not buy this to connect to a single desktop but support desktops and multiple laptops and tablets. Because the TIN requires a minimum length to submit a review I have had to pad this a bit. Sorry.
Techy –
Very pleased with this model. Easy setup for Wi-Fi. I had an older Brother model so this one seems so much faster. Good quality for what I do. If you are printing photos you probably need a better printer. I like the ADF. I am not a fan of how to use legal size paper. It’s got an awkward paper tray. And lastly….Brother ink is very expensive. Haven’t tried any other brand yet. My sister has an Epson
and it would only use Epson ink. Don’t know if Brother will have the same problem.
LynM –
This is a terrific home multi-function printer. It does everything I need it to do. I am not very tech savvy and I found the setup to be very easy.
jbarsm –
So far the printer isn’t loud and works fine, however, in order to get a decent print out you’ll need to change the print quality setting. If you don’t change the print quality, your document will look like it’s missing ink. We use the standard print quality for printing return labels, etc., and switch the quality for more important documents. It did take a while to set up the wireless printing onto the laptop, however, it wasn’t too difficult.
Milt86 –
I was able to set it up quickly and connect it to my macbook, iphone and ipad.
Paragon –
Worked fine for the first print, keeps paper jamming.
Chuck –
So far so good. I’ve been a Canon user for decades but bought this Brother printer since the Canon’s either wear out or, more recently, won’t connect to the wifi. The plastic and the mechanism on this machine are not as precise as the Canon’s but the print is much faster and it’s immediate. The Canon tended to wait a few seconds before printing. The print quality is ever so slightly worse than the Canon but certainly acceptable. The ink for this machine is in short supply however – either on line or in store. And of course, there’s no telling yet how long it’ll last.
KennethM –
Great value.. easy to setup and very compact. Definitely recommend.
esion –
This printer is absolutely great on ink, and provides vibrant prints at a decent speed and reliability that surpasses the competition.
Dennis –
Don’t buy this printer. Brother is throttling the black ink cartridge availability and Best Buy I’m sure knew this when marking it down for sale. Black ink cartridges appear to be available in Canada but I cannot get them shipped to the US. There should be a class action suit against brother, as it seems the black cartridges are available thru their subscription ink service!
JohnR –
You sold me a printer for which there is no black ink available!! Granted not your fault but you must have known. At any rate, restore my faith in your company and stop selling all Brother printers until Brother makes black ink available.
JoeinSC –
I began using this product in early March 2023. Installation required a call to Brother. Once it was operational it has performed perfectly. I am very pleased.
Bobby1996 –
THE IS AN EXCELLENT PRINTER IT PRINTS GREAT AND ITS FAST.
user996975 –
Fast printing. Very good print quality. HORRIBLE with availability of black ink cartridges. The Subscription Eligibility for Brother ink is not practical for my purposes. Best Buy was not willing to give me an alternative brand of ink to use in this printer. Best Buy was unsympathetic with the problem of Brother not having black ink available for purchase.
ElaineB –
Great for the price. Printing photos better than expected.
MetalMegadeth –
do not buy this printer cause no one has ink for it at the moment its sold out I suggest get different brother printer
user181779 –
I am very pleased with the printer. Still learning about some of the things it can do.
Jake –
Very pleased with the quality of the printer and the ease that it comes out of sleep mode to print (vs my older hp model that had a sleep mode defect).
Printerupgradeuser –
Excellent value for quality and price. Excellent service for purchase and delivery.
repair –
Haven’t had this printer for long, but so far, it works great. I arranged for Geek Squad to install/set it up, but noticed that it took considerable time to do this. The printer is located in a room nearby when I do computer work, which may account for this, or it may be that it’s complicated.
Blesspeople –
I like that this size,just right does not take up too much space,fast to do the action.
JohnW –
Enjoying my new printer! Bought it online and I received good delivery time!
HoppyBunny –
Easy to set up and start printing via wifi right away. Compact and practical. Good value for the price.
DaleJ –
Prints fast and sharp. It says 28 characters remaining.
DJM7 –
great printer and easy to set up. really didn’t need the fax feature, bu stepping down in price for any brand drastically stepped down features and product sleek looks
Clay –
We recently purchased this Brother printer, So far we are pleased. We have yet to buy new cartridges. I have not tried printing with photo paper. Perhaps I will be able to give a better review after I have used it more.
Justme –
I have always loved every brother printer I’ve ever had. This is no different.
SaraL –
All in one printer is the best, I am so happy. To buy this item.
RichardG –
How come there is no book manual. I got one on my on my other brothers printer. I will not try to print out over 500 pages. A manual should come with every printer. Not very happy at all with this. To make me happy send me a manual.
Mike –
Everything so far has worked pretty seamlessly. Good quality for the price.
LGTV –
MFC-J1170DW. wireless connection to PC, cellphone and tablet good quality prints. I especially like individual color cartridges . A good model if you don’t need a printer with ink tanks for high volume printing. I have two of them.
StaceyJ –
It was fairly east to set up and i really like the ink program. They sent me a new set of ink. The prints are clear & love that it can duplex print.
VernP –
Good Printer, works O.K. Very competitive priced!!