The Brother HL 3170CDW driver connects your Windows computer to this color printer, allowing applications to send print jobs with the correct settings. Installing the appropriate Brother driver helps you access options such as automatic two-sided printing, paper selection, and color output rather than relying on basic printing defaults.

Key Features

• Color and monochrome print settings: Choose color output for presentations and graphics, or black-and-white printing for everyday documents.
• Automatic duplex controls: Set up two-sided printing from the printer preferences to reduce paper use and keep longer documents manageable.
• Paper and layout options: Adjust paper size, media type, orientation, and page layout to suit the document you are printing.
• USB and network printing support: Configure the printer for a direct USB connection or use it over a wired or wireless network, depending on your setup and the driver package selected.

How to Install

1. Check your Windows version. Select a Brother HL 3170CDW driver package that matches Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7, as applicable. Confirm whether your system requires a 32-bit or 64-bit package, and check the package’s compatibility information before downloading.
2. Prepare the printer. Turn it on and load paper. For network installation, make sure the printer and computer are connected to the same local network. If using USB, wait to connect the cable until the installer requests it.
3. Run the downloaded installer. Open the setup file, approve any Windows permission prompt, and follow the instructions. Administrator access may be required to complete installation.
4. Choose your connection method. Select USB, wired network, or wireless network when offered. For a network connection, choose your printer from the detected devices; if it is not listed, check its connection and try searching again.
5. Confirm printing works. Finish setup, then open the printer’s properties in Windows and print a test page. Review the printing preferences to set your preferred paper size, color mode, and duplex options.

If installation fails, verify that the selected package supports your exact Windows version before trying again. A printer that is missing from the network search may need its network connection corrected rather than its driver reinstalled.

Common Issues and Fixes

• Installer fails or stalls: Remove any previous Brother HL-3170CDW driver and printer port using Brother’s deinstallation tool, reboot, temporarily disable antivirus, then run the full driver package as administrator. Connect USB directly, not through a hub.
• Device not detected: Confirm the printer is awake and on the same network/subnet, or try a different USB cable/port. For network use, assign a stable IP and ping it before reinstalling; for USB, avoid virtual USB ports.
• Driver/version conflicts: Delete duplicate HL-3170CDW queues and avoid mixed Windows generic/WSD and Brother drivers. Install the latest Brother full package for this model and set it as the default; do not rely on Windows Update’s generic driver if color or advanced features fail.