How to Print Passport Photos on a Brother Printer

Exact settings for Brother printers: paper type, quality mode, and the one scaling setting that keeps your photo at a true 2×2 inches. Works from Windows, Mac, or the Brother Mobile Connect app on your phone.

Works with Brother inkjet & color laserFree 4×6 layout at 300 DPIUS State Department compliant~$0.05 per photo

Step 1 is making a compliant photo — upload yours and get a print-ready 4×6 sheet in seconds

The Short Answer

To print a passport size photo on a Brother printer: load 4×6 glossy photo paper, print your 4×6 passport layout at Actual Size (100% — never “Fit to Page”), paper type Brother BP71 Glossy / Other Glossy Paper, quality Best, borderless OFF. Then cut each photo to exactly 2×2 inches along the guide lines.

SettingCorrect valueWhere to find it
Paper size4×6 in (10×15 cm)Print dialog → Paper Size
Paper typeBrother BP71 Glossy / Other Glossy PaperPrinter Properties → Media/Quality
Print qualityBest / HighPrinter Properties → Quality
ScalingActual Size — 100%Print dialog → Scale / Fit
BorderlessOFFPrinter Properties → Layout
Color optionsStandard color — no enhancementPrinter Properties → Advanced → Color Enhancement → OFF

Step-by-Step: Passport Photos on a Brother Printer

From photo file to cut 2×2 prints in about 5 minutes.

  1. 1

    Create your 4×6 passport photo layout

    Upload a photo to our tool. It crops to exact 2×2 inches, fixes the background to plain white, verifies head size against US State Department rules, and gives you a 4×6 sheet with four photos and cut lines at 300 DPI.

  2. 2

    Load 4×6 photo paper into your Brother printer

    Place 4×6 glossy photo paper in the photo/rear tray with the guides snug against the paper, glossy side facing the print direction for your model.

  3. 3

    Open the file and choose print settings

    Open the 4×6 layout in Brother Mobile Connect app, Windows Photos, or macOS Preview and click Print. Select your Brother printer.

  4. 4

    Set paper size, type, and quality

    Paper size: 4×6 in (10×15 cm). Paper type: Brother BP71 Glossy / Other Glossy Paper. Quality: Best/High. Color: full color.

  5. 5

    Set scaling to Actual Size — not Fit or Fill

    Choose Actual Size / 100% scaling and turn OFF borderless. 'Fit to page,' 'Fill,' or borderless mode rescale the sheet and your photos will no longer measure 2×2 inches.

  6. 6

    Print, dry, and cut

    Print the sheet, let the ink dry for a minute, then cut along the printed guide lines with a ruler and craft knife. Verify each photo measures exactly 2×2 inches.

The #1 mistake: Fit to Page

Print dialogs default many photo prints to “Fill” or “Fit to Page.” Either one rescales the sheet, so your photos print at 1.9″ or 2.1″ instead of 2×2 — the most common reason home-printed passport photos get rejected. Always select Actual Size (100%).

Make Your Print-Ready Passport Photo First

Upload a photo — we crop to exact 2×2, fix the background to white, and give you a 4×6 sheet with cut lines, ready for your Brother printer.

Start Creating Your Photo

Free to try • Pay only for HD download

Settings by App: Brother Mobile Connect app, Windows, Mac, iPhone

Brother Mobile Connect (phone)

  1. 1Open the 4×6 layout file → tap Print
  2. 2Printer: select your Brother model
  3. 3Paper Size: 4×6 in · Media Type: Glossy Paper
  4. 4Quality: Best · turn OFF 'Fit to page'
  5. 5Print from the photo tray

Windows (Photos app)

  1. 1Right-click the file → Print
  2. 2Paper size: 4×6 · Quality: Best · Media: Brother BP71 Glossy
  3. 3Uncheck 'Fit picture to frame'
  4. 4In Printer Properties → Advanced, turn Color Enhancement OFF
  5. 5Print one test sheet first

macOS (Preview)

  1. 1Open file in Preview → File → Print
  2. 2Paper Size: 4×6 in (borderless OFF)
  3. 3Scale: 100% — do not 'Scale to Fit'
  4. 4Print Settings: Glossy Paper · Best Quality
  5. 5Print

iPhone AirPrint

  1. 1Open the layout in Photos → Share → Print
  2. 2Select your Brother printer
  3. 3Paper Size: 4×6 (auto-detected from tray)
  4. 4Turn off 'Scale to fit' if shown
  5. 5Print

Notes by Brother Printer Series

All color Brother printers can produce a compliant passport photo. A few model-specific quirks:

Series4×6 photo trayWhat to watch for
MFC-J1010DW / J1170DWPhoto paper traySlide the photo tray forward for 4×6; glossy side down
MFC-J4335DW / J4535DWMain traySet paper type manually — defaults to Plain Paper
MFC-J5855DW / J6540DWMP trayUse the rear multipurpose tray for photo paper
DCP series inkjetsPhoto tray or mainTurn off Color Enhancement in Advanced settings
HL-L3280CDW (color laser)Manual feed slotUse laser-compatible glossy paper only — inkjet photo paper melts
MFC-L3780CDW (color laser)Manual feed slotLaser output is matte-leaning; acceptable, but inkjet + glossy looks better

Turn off Color Enhancement (True2Life)

Brother drivers can apply automatic photo correction (Color Enhancement (True2Life)) by default. It shifts the white background toward gray or blue — a rejection risk. Disable it under Printer Properties → Advanced → Color Enhancement → OFF.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I print a passport size photo on my Brother printer?

Load 4×6 glossy photo paper, open your 4×6 passport photo layout, set paper size to 4×6 in, paper type to Brother BP71 Glossy / Other Glossy Paper, quality to Best/High, and scaling to Actual Size (100%). Print, then cut each photo to exactly 2×2 inches. Our tool generates the 4×6 layout with cut lines automatically.

What paper should I use for passport photos on a Brother printer?

Use 4×6 inch glossy or semi-gloss photo paper and select Brother BP71 Glossy / Other Glossy Paper as the paper type so the driver applies the right color profile. Plain copy paper is not accepted for US passport photos — they must be printed on photo-quality paper.

Why does my Brother printer cut off part of my passport photo?

Borderless mode or "Fit to Page" is rescaling the image. Turn borderless OFF and set scaling to Actual Size (100%). A 4×6 layout printed at 100% keeps each photo at exactly 2×2 inches.

What quality setting should I use on a Brother printer for passport photos?

Always the highest photo quality mode (Best/High). Draft and Standard modes produce banding and washed-out backgrounds that can get a passport photo rejected.

How much does it cost to print passport photos at home on a Brother printer?

Roughly $0.10–$0.25 per 4×6 sheet (ink plus paper), which yields four 2×2 passport photos — about 5 cents per photo, versus $15–$18 for two photos at a pharmacy photo counter.

Can a Brother laser printer print passport photos?

Yes, if it's a color laser (HL-L3280CDW, MFC-L3780CDW, etc.) and you use laser-compatible glossy photo paper — never inkjet photo paper, which can melt on the fuser. Laser photos lean slightly matte; that's acceptable, since US rules allow matte or glossy photo paper.

Why is the photo tray not feeding my 4×6 paper on a Brother printer?

Most Brother MFC-J models have a slide-forward photo tray on top of the main cassette — it must be pushed fully forward to engage. If it's mid-position, the printer feeds from the main tray (letter paper) or jams.

Updated July 2026 · Settings verified against current Brother drivers and the Brother Mobile Connect app.

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