Brother Printer Not Printing

Fixing Brother Printer Not Printing Issues

Byadmin  Last updated on

Are you encountering the Brother printer not printing issue? If yes, you are not alone. Just keep your patience. Before you start cursing, you need to go through this article more carefully. This way, you will come to know how to deal with such an annoying issue or inconvenience.

Once you explore this post, you will be familiar with the proper details of why this issue happens. Along with this, you can know what solutions you can put in place yourself to fix this issue more quickly.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s high time to grab this opportunity and delve into this post. This is certainly an ideal way to nip the Brother printer not printing black issues in the bud. To know more details, you have to keep reading this blog post more carefully. Let’s go ahead…..

Why Is Your Brother Printer Not Printing?

You may have to confront various issues while using your Brother printer. But it may happen that it starts appearing to be connected but not printing. Brother printer not printing is surely an issue that may hinder you to achieve the best printing results. Such issues can range from simple misconfiguration to various technical hardware faults.

So, without wasting even a single minute, you need to go ahead and have an eye on the key factors responsible for this issue….

1. Connectivity Issues (Wi-Fi or USB)

Is your Brother printer not connected to your PC via USB? Or is this printing device not connected to the network via Wi-Fi? If yes, print jobs won’t reach the printer. Due to loose USB cables, unstable Wi-Fi signals, or router issues, the communication link can be broken between the device and the printer.

If you are using a wireless printer, a change in the Wi-Fi password or network may disconnect the printer. This situation may let you face – Brother printer not printing color issue.

2. The Printer Is Set to Offline Mode

Your printing device may be marked as “Offline” in your device settings. In some cases, printers get stuck in offline mode. It is all because of a lost connection or a paused print job. Windows or macOS may default to another printer without warning you about it.

3. Pending or Stuck Print Jobs in Queue

Due to a corrupted or failed print job, the printer queue can be blocked. It prevents new jobs from being created. But, in case one job gets stuck in the print queue, it prevents all subsequent jobs from printing. As a result, you have to encounter – Brother printer not printing black.

4. Empty or Low Ink/Toner Levels

Are your printer’s ink or toner cartridges empty? Or are they not recognized? If yes, your printer won’t print. Brother printers often halt printing if they detect low ink to prevent damage or poor-quality output. In some cases, even new cartridges are not recognized. It is all because of the incorrect installation or counterfeit issues.

5. Driver Issues or Outdated Printer Software

Your printer may not function properly if its driver is corrupted or outdated. Even more, it can be incompatible with your current OS. Drivers serve as a bridge between your OS and printer hardware. If they are outdated or incorrectly installed, the printer won’t receive commands properly. This way, you have to deal with the Brother printer not printing color issues.

6. Wrong Default Printer Selection

Your system may be sending print jobs to the wrong printer. Have you installed multiple printers on your device? If yes, your computer device may default to another one. So, you always need to make sure that the Brother printer is selected before printing.

7. Print Settings Are Incorrect

It may happen that print commands may not match your printer’s capabilities. For instance – printing in color when only black is available. If your document is set to print in a format or paper size that your printer can’t support, the job may silently be rejected. As an outcome, you have to encounter Brother printer not printing issues.

8. Software Conflicts or OS Bugs

Your operating system or antivirus software may block printer communication. Firewall settings or buggy Windows or macOS updates can sometimes interrupt your printer communication. In addition to this, Antivirus programs may misinterpret commands as threats.

9. Clogged Print Heads or Internal Hardware Problems

If your printer turns on but nothing prints, there could be a mechanical issue. Due to unwanted dust, dried ink, or clogged nozzles, the ink may prevent it from reaching the paper. For laser printers, fuser or drum issues may also cause print failure. At the end you have to deal with – Brother printer not printing black issue.

10. Error Codes or Warning Lights

The printer may be showing an error code or blinking light. It indicates an exclusive issue. Brother printers mostly display error codes such as E50 and E60. These error codes are related to hardware malfunctions, paper jams, or fuser issues. Once you start ignoring them, your brother’s printer will keep functioning.

Easy DIY Fixes When Your Brother Printer Not Printing

Now, it’s the right time to resolve the Brother Printer Not Printing issue. To kick-start the process, you have to be aware of the key reasons for this issue. If you are aware of them, you can go ahead with this process.

1. Check Printer Connectivity

In the first step, you need to make sure that your Brother printer is properly connected to your computer device or Wi-Fi network. If it is not you have to deal with Brother printer not printing issue. So, all you need to do is –
What to Do:
If you are using a USB cable, you need to make sure it’s securely connected.
On the other hand, if it is wireless, you need to make sure that the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
Initially, restart your router and printer so that you can refresh the connection.

2. Set Brother as the Default Printer

Your computer device may be sending the print job to another device. So, to set your device as the default printer, the steps to follow are –

How to Fix:

In the first step, you have to go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Now, right-click your Brother printer and choose Set as Default Printer.

3. Clear the Print Queue

A stuck or corrupted print job can indeed block the entire printing procedure. Due to this, you may have to encounter Brother printer not printing black. To find out the solutions for this issue, you have to follow the step-by-step procedure mentioned below –

How to Fix:

  • First of all, you need to go to Devices and Printers.
  • Now, right-click on your Brother printer and then see what’s printing.
  • After that, cancel all print jobs and then try to print again.

4. Restart the Printer Spooler Service (Windows)

The print spooler is a background service that enables you to manage print jobs.

Steps:

  • To kick-start the process, you need to press Windows + R > type services.msc > press Enter.
  • Now, find the Print Spooler.
  • Then, right-click > Restart.
  • Finally, try to print again.

5. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of printing issues. Additionally, it may lead you to face Brother printer not printing color issues. To escape yourself from such issues, the steps that you need to follow are –

Fix it:

  • Initially, visit the official Brother Support Website.
  • Now, download and install the latest drivers for your printer model.
  • As an alternative option, you need to uninstall the existing driver and then reinstall the fresh version.

6. Check for Low or Empty Ink/Toner

Low ink levels can trigger not printing behavior. It is all to help you avoid printing blank pages.

What to Do:

  • At the beginning of the verification process, you need to check the ink/toner levels from the printer’s control panel or software.
  • In the next step, replace or refill cartridges if required.
  • Later on, run a test print so that you can check the ink flow.

7. Run the Brother Printer Troubleshooter (Windows)

Try to make the proper utilization of the diagnostic tools. It would be helpful to you for identifying and fixing issues automatically.

Steps:

  • In the first step, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
  • Now, Click your Brother printer > Manage > Run the troubleshooter.

8. Check for Firmware Updates

An obsolete firmware can interrupt the printing performance. So, all you need to do to initiate the upgrading procedure is to follow the steps mentioned below. This way, you need not to confront Brother printer not printing issues.

How to Update:

  • First of all, visit Brother’s website and download the firmware update tool.
  • Then, follow the on-screen instructions so that you can install the latest firmware.

9. Inspect Print Settings

Inappropriate page setup or format may prevent printing. In this scenario, you have to inspect the print settings.

What to Do:

  • To fix the Brother printer not printing black, you need to check if you are printing the correct file type.
  • Make sure that you have selected the appropriate size and orientation to match what is loaded in the tray.

10. Clean the Print Heads (Inkjet Printers)

Clogged print heads will surely result in black or faded pages. In this situation, you have to clean the print heads. Otherwise, you have to face Brother printer not printing color. For this, the steps that you need to follow are –

Steps:

  • In the very first step, go to the printer’s control panel or Brother software on your PC.
  • Now, choose Clean Print Heads or Nozzle Check.

11. Reset the Printer

By resetting your Brother printer, you can surely eliminate internal errors. Let’s see how it is possible for you to do –

Steps:

  • Firstly, turn off the printer.
  • In this step, you need to unplug it for 1–2 minutes.
  • Now, plug it back in and then power it on.
  • In the last step, try to print again.

12. Look for Error Messages or Blinking Lights

You can also look for your printer that may show you hardware-related errors. In this situation, what do you need to know? Do you have any ideas? If not, let’s check out the steps given below –

What to Do:

  • Initially, refer to your printer manual or Brother’s website. It will be helpful to you to decode the error.
  • In the next step, you need to follow the recommended solution on the exclusive error code. For instance – paper jam, fuser issue, etc.

13. Check Firewall/Antivirus Settings

Is there a blockage in communication between the printer and the PC? Is it due to the security software? If yes, you can have an eye on the solutions given below. It is an optimal way to get rid of the Brother printer not printing black issues.

Solution:

  • To kick-start the process, you have to temporarily disable firewall or antivirus software.
  • Now, try to print again.
  • If it is not working, you can add the Brother software to the exceptions list.

Bottom-line

In short, it is really very frustrating to deal with a Brother printer not printing issue. It can annoy you the most, when you are on a tight deadline. But it is confirmed that with the help of the right troubleshooting steps, you can surely resolve the issue. For this, you don’t need professional help. You always prefer to start with the basics and work your way through the technical checks.

Suppose, if the issue still persists, you can contact Brother support. It may surely be your next step. By staying proactive and keeping your printer well-maintained, you can definitely avoid future printing interruptions. Additionally, it will be helpful to you to keep your workflow running smoothly.

FAQs

Why is my Brother printer not printing at all?

This issue may occur due to a connection problem, obsoleted drivers, or a stalled print queue. You also have to encounter this issue, if the printer is set as the default device.

What should I do if my Brother printer is not printing black ink?

If your Brother printer is not printing black, so, you have to check the ink levels. Later on, you are also required to clean the printhead. In case the black cartridge is empty or clogged, you have to clean it with the maintenance settings of your printer.

Why is my Brother printer not printing color properly?

Any user may have to encounter this issue, due to low or dried-out color ink cartridges. So, you can try to run a nozzle check and you can also clean the color printheads through the printer software.

How can I fix faded or blank pages from my Brother printer?

Typically, faded or blank pages often result from clogged print heads or even empty ink. In such circumstances you have to run a printhead cleaning cycle. In addition to this, you also need to make sure that you are using genuine Brother cartridges. Finally, you can check for firmware updates.