Brother Printer Default Passwords Identification and Change
Anikethsol Brother Printer Default Passwords Identification and Change
Default credentials: Brother printers historically shipped with well-known default logins. On many models the administrator user is admin and the default password is access. Similarly, a lesser “user” account uses user/access. After recent firmware updates, Brother standardized on a single default password: usually “initpass” (8 characters) unless a unique code is printed on the device. In practice:
Legacy defaults: Usernames admin (administrator) and user (general) with password access. Often the login screen will accept username admin + password access.
Current defaults: Password initpass (no username needed on many models) or PWD:XXXX code on a label. Newer Brother machines often carry a sticker on the back or bottom marked “Pwd: X3A?LeQP” (example) – that 8-character code is the factory password【69†】. If no label is present, try initpass.
BRAdmin software: When using Brother’s BRAdmin Light/Professional tool to manage network devices, the default credentials may be one of several options: e.g. empty username with password initpass, or user admin with password access, or even a blank login (no username/password). In any case, always try “access” or “initpass” if prompted.
Many Brother printers have the default network password printed on a label marked “Pwd”. This factory code (highlighted above) should be entered at first login. If no label is present, use the known defaults (“access” or “initpass”).
Logging in to the Admin Interface: First, determine the printer’s IP (via DHCP table or by printing a status report). In a web browser, navigate to http://
Open a browser and go to http://
Login: At the login screen, enter the default password (access, initpass or the printed code) and click “Login”.
Change Password: Navigate to Administrator > Login Password (or simply Login Password in the menu). Type a new, strong password (up to 32 characters), re-enter it, and click Submit. Your new password is now in effect for all future logins.
Resetting a Forgotten Password: If an admin password has been changed and lost, the only recourse is a factory reset of network settings. (Brother cannot recover a forgotten password.) Depending on model, this is done via the printer’s panel or Brother’s software. For example, on many laser/MFP models:
On the device panel: Go to Menu (Settings) > All Settings > Network > Network Reset, and confirm Yes. The printer will reboot and clear all network configs (including the admin password).
Touchscreen models: Often under Menu > Initial Setup > Reset, then confirm Yes. (See images below.) After reset, reconnect the printer to the network (or Wi-Fi) using the default settings.
Via software: In BRAdmin or Web Based Management, there is often a “factory reset” or “initialize” option for the network card that similarly restores default password initpass or the printed code.
If the “Pwd” sticker is missing, you can print the Network Configuration Report from the printer menu to reveal the default password. For example, select Print Reports > Network Configuration on the control panel. The report will list the current password.
To reset the network password via the printer UI, go to Menu > Initial Setup (or Settings > All Settings > Network) and tap Reset.
Confirm the reset by selecting Yes when prompted. The device will restart with factory-default credentials (see text).
Model-Specific Notes: Most modern Brother HL, MFC, and DCP series behave similarly. For instance, earlier HL-2000/3000/5000 and MFC-7000/8000 models used “admin/access” by default. The current HL-L5000/L6200, DCP-L2500/DCP-L5500, and MFC-L5700/L6800 all use the “initpass or Pwd label” scheme. Specialty devices (label printers, scanners) also follow these rules. Always check your model’s manual: Brother’s FAQs and manuals (search “Default password” on support.brother.com) will confirm the method.
Why Change the Default Password: Leaving printers on default credentials is a serious vulnerability. Printers are networked endpoints that often accept inbound connections. As one security blog warns, “It is very easy to hack an unsecured printer… an unauthorized intruder on your network can take control of your printer and gradually work their way to any IT asset it’s connected to”. NIST guidance explicitly calls out default passwords as a threat to copiers/MFPs. In short: anyone who discovers the default password (trivial for an attacker) can reconfigure or exploit the device. To prevent this, always change the default password immediately after deployment. In fact, printer security experts note:
“Changing that default password to a unique, strong password is a critical step to help prevent security breaches.”
Treat this as mandatory: under ISO/IEC 27001 you would classify the default password as an “initial credential” that must be changed on first use, and NIST/SP800-53 controls would require disabling default accounts.
Best Practices for Printer Fleet Security: Manage printers just like servers. Key steps include:
Change and manage passwords: Ensure every device has a unique administrator password (and do not use the same password on multiple machines). Use a secure password manager or inventory record. Rotate passwords if compliance requires.
Centralized management: Use tools like BRAdmin Professional or a Managed Print Services (MPS) platform to push settings and monitor devices. Central MPS solutions can enforce password policies and deploy firmware updates across your fleet.
Firmware updates: Keep the printer firmware current. Brother and other vendors regularly release updates that patch security holes. Automate update checks or schedule them quarterly.
Network segmentation: Put printers on a dedicated VLAN or subnet separate from critical systems. Restrict access so only authorized IT staff or print servers can reach the management interface.
Secure protocols: Disable insecure services (e.g. Telnet, HTTP, SMBv1) on the printer. Use HTTPS/IPP for administration and printing, SNMPv3 for monitoring, and enable any onboard encryption features. Treat the printer’s web interface as an HTTPS server.
Access controls: Limit who can change settings. If available, use the printer’s PIN or badge-release features for print jobs, and ensure the admin account itself has a strong password. Disable unused interfaces (USB host, wireless) if not needed.
Audit logging: Enable and collect printer logs. Many MFPs can send logs to a syslog server or SNMP trap. Regularly review logs for failed login attempts or configuration changes. Logging supports NIST/ISO control requirements (audit records) and helps detect compromise.
Inventory and audits: Document all printer admin credentials and keep them in a secure repository. Periodically verify each printer’s settings against policy (e.g. confirm firmware version and password status). Treat printers in your vulnerability scans.
These steps align with cybersecurity frameworks: for example, ISO 27001 Annex A calls for secure credential management and least-privilege (A.9.2/A.9.3), and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework’s Protect functions (PR.AC: access control, PR.IP: protective technologies) explicitly cover disabling defaults and patching devices. In practice, printer fleets benefit from a “zero trust” mindset: never assume the default state is secure, always authenticate, and continuously monitor activity.
Summary of Key Points:
Brother’s default admin password is usually access (old models) or initpass (new ones), unless a unique “Pwd” label is present.
Log in via the printer’s web admin (http/https to its IP) or BRAdmin tool, using the default password, then immediately go to Administrator > Login Password to set a new one.
If the password is lost, perform a factory network reset from the printer panel (e.g. Menu > Network Reset, or Initial Setup > Reset > Yes) to restore the default.
Default passwords are a security risk – attackers know them. Change passwords, keep firmware up-to-date, segment networks, and log activity to comply with NIST/ISO standards.
FAQ
Q: What is the default Brother printer admin password?A: It depends on model and firmware. Many older Brother printers use user = admin and password = access. On newer models (updated firmware) the default is usually initpass. Some units have a unique password printed on a “Pwd:” label on the back. Always consult your model’s manual or the network configuration page for the exact default.
Q: How do I reset a Brother printer password if I forgot it?A: You must reset the device’s network settings to factory defaults. On the printer’s control panel, go to Settings > All Settings > Network > Network Reset (or Initial Setup > Reset) and confirm Yes. The printer will reboot and revert to the default password (initpass or the printed Pwd code). Then log in and set a new password.
Q: Can I use BRAdmin or BRAdmin Professional to change the password?A: Yes. BRAdmin can connect to the printer’s network interface. Use the same default credentials (access/initpass etc.) to log in. In BRAdmin you can then configure the TCP/IP parameters and send a new login password to the device. This method also requires resetting if the password was lost, as BRAdmin can’t retrieve a forgotten password.
Q: Why is it important to change the default password?A: Default passwords are publicly documented, so anyone could use them to access your printer’s settings. Leaving them unchanged makes the printer an easy entry point for attackers. Changing the password closes that loophole. Industry experts stress that neglecting to change default credentials is “bad security hygiene” and significantly increases breach risk.
Q: How should I manage passwords for many printers in a network?A: Use centralized management and good password policies. Document each printer’s credentials in a secure inventory, use a password manager or encrypted spreadsheet, and change default passwords during setup. For large fleets, consider managed print solutions that enforce security policies across all devices. Enable auditing (Syslog/SNMP) so you can track changes. This meets NIST/ISO access-control requirements for strong, unique credentials.
Q: Are there any Brother-specific tools for secure password management?A: Brother’s BRAdmin Professional 4 lets you discover printers on the network, change settings en masse, and update firmware. It uses the same credentials and allows sending new passwords. There’s also Remote Setup Tool and the web admin pages. Regardless of tool, the core advice is the same: disable or change defaults, and use secure connections.
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