Paper Handling and Printing Problems

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Printing Difficulties

Print Quality Difficulties

Paper Handling Difficulties

Printing Difficulties

Difficulties	Suggestions
No printout	(Windows) Check that the correct printer driver has been installed and selected.
Check to see if the machine's LEDs are indicating an error. See Related Information: Error and Maintenance LED Indications.
Check that the machine is online: Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019 Click > Windows System > Control Panel. In the Hardware and Sound group, click View devices and printers. Right-click the Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Click See what’s printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar and make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected. Windows 8.1 Move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. When the menu bar appears, click Settings > Control Panel. In the Hardware and Sound group, click View devices and printers. Right-click the Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Click See what's printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar and make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected. Windows Server 2012 R2 Click Control Panel on the Start screen. In the Hardware group, click View devices and printers. Right-click the Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Click See what’s printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar and make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected. Windows Server 2012 Move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. When the menu bar appears, click Settings > Control Panel. In the Hardware group, click View devices and printers. Right-click the Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Click See what's printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar and make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Click (Start) > Devices and Printers. Right-click Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model) and click See what's printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar. Make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected. Windows Server 2008 Click (Start) > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Printers. Right-click Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Make sure Use Printer Online is not listed. If it is listed, click this option to set the driver Online.
One or more ink cartridges have reached the end of their life. See Related Information: Replace the Ink Cartridges.
If old, unprinted data remains in the printer driver spooler, it will prevent new print jobs from printing. Open the printer icon and delete all data as follows: Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019 Click > Windows System > Control Panel. In the Hardware and Sound group, click View devices and printers > Printers. Windows 8.1 Move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. When the menu bar appears, click Settings > Control Panel. In the Hardware and Sound group, click View devices and printers > Printers. Windows Server 2012 R2 Click Control Panel on the Start screen. In the Hardware group, click View devices and printers > Printers. Windows Server 2012 Move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. When the menu bar appears, click Settings > Control Panel. In the Hardware group, click View devices and printers > Printers. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Click /Start > Devices and Printers > Printers and Faxes. Windows Server 2008 Click (Start) > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Printers. Mac Click the System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
The headers or footers appear when the document is displayed on the screen but do not appear when the document is printed.	There is an unprintable area on the top and bottom of the page. Adjust the top and bottom margins in your document to allow for this. See Related Information: Unprintable Area.
Cannot perform ‘Page Layout’ printing.	(Windows ) Check that the paper size setting in the application and in the printer driver are the same. See Related Information: Change the Paper Size and Paper Type .
Print speed is too slow.	(Windows) Try changing the printer driver setting. The highest resolution needs longer data processing, sending, and printing time. Try the other quality settings in the printer driver as follows: In the printer driver, clear the Color Enhancement (True2Life) checkbox on the Advanced tab.
Turn the Borderless feature off. Borderless printing is slower than normal printing. See Related Information: Print Settings (Windows).
Turn off the Quiet Mode setting. Print speed is slower in Quiet Mode. See Related Information: Reduce Printing Noise.
Make sure the Media Type setting in the printer driver or in the application you use to print matches the type of paper you are using. See Related Information: Change the Paper Size and Paper Type . See Related Information: Print Settings (Windows).

Difficulties

Suggestions

No printout

(Windows)

Check that the correct printer driver has been installed and selected.

Check to see if the machine's LEDs are indicating an error.

See Related Information: Error and Maintenance LED Indications.

Check that the machine is online:

Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019
Click > Windows System > Control Panel. In the Hardware and Sound group, click View devices and printers. Right-click the Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Click See what’s printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar and make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected.
Windows 8.1
Move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. When the menu bar appears, click Settings > Control Panel. In the Hardware and Sound group, click View devices and printers. Right-click the Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Click See what's printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar and make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected.
Windows Server 2012 R2
Click Control Panel on the Start screen. In the Hardware group, click View devices and printers. Right-click the Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Click See what’s printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar and make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected.
Windows Server 2012
Move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. When the menu bar appears, click Settings > Control Panel. In the Hardware group, click View devices and printers. Right-click the Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Click See what's printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar and make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
Click (Start) > Devices and Printers. Right-click Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model) and click See what's printing. If printer driver options appear, select your printer driver. Click Printer in the menu bar. Make sure Use Printer Offline is not selected.
Windows Server 2008
Click (Start) > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Printers. Right-click Brother XXX-XXXX Printer (where XXX-XXXX is the name of your model). Make sure Use Printer Online is not listed. If it is listed, click this option to set the driver Online.

One or more ink cartridges have reached the end of their life.

See Related Information: Replace the Ink Cartridges.

If old, unprinted data remains in the printer driver spooler, it will prevent new print jobs from printing. Open the printer icon and delete all data as follows:

Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019
Click > Windows System > Control Panel. In the Hardware and Sound group, click View devices and printers > Printers.
Windows 8.1
Move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. When the menu bar appears, click Settings > Control Panel. In the Hardware and Sound group, click View devices and printers > Printers.
Windows Server 2012 R2
Click Control Panel on the Start screen. In the Hardware group, click View devices and printers > Printers.
Windows Server 2012
Move your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. When the menu bar appears, click Settings > Control Panel. In the Hardware group, click View devices and printers > Printers.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
Click /Start > Devices and Printers > Printers and Faxes.
Windows Server 2008
Click (Start) > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Printers.
Mac
Click the System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.

The headers or footers appear when the document is displayed on the screen but do not appear when the document is printed.

There is an unprintable area on the top and bottom of the page. Adjust the top and bottom margins in your document to allow for this.

See Related Information: Unprintable Area.

Cannot perform ‘Page Layout’ printing.

(Windows )

Check that the paper size setting in the application and in the printer driver are the same.

See Related Information: Change the Paper Size and Paper Type .

Print speed is too slow.

(Windows)

Try changing the printer driver setting. The highest resolution needs longer data processing, sending, and printing time. Try the other quality settings in the printer driver as follows:

In the printer driver, clear the Color Enhancement (True2Life) checkbox on the Advanced tab.

Turn the Borderless feature off. Borderless printing is slower than normal printing.

See Related Information: Print Settings (Windows).

Turn off the Quiet Mode setting. Print speed is slower in Quiet Mode. See Related Information: Reduce Printing Noise.

Make sure the Media Type setting in the printer driver or in the application you use to print matches the type of paper you are using.

See Related Information: Change the Paper Size and Paper Type .

See Related Information: Print Settings (Windows).

Print Quality Difficulties

Difficulties	Suggestions
Poor print quality	Check the print quality. See Related Information: Check the Print Quality.
	Make sure the Media Type setting in the printer driver or in the application you use to print matches the type of paper you are using. See Related Information: Print Settings (Windows).
	Make sure your ink cartridges are fresh. The following may cause ink to clog: The expiration date written on the cartridge package has passed. The ink cartridge may not have been stored correctly before use.
	Make sure you are using one of the recommended types of paper. See Related Information: Acceptable Print Media.
	The recommended environment for your machine is between 68 °F to 91.4 °F (20°C to 33°C).
White lines appear in text or graphics.	Clean the print head. See Related Information: Clean the Print Head from Your Brother Machine. See Related Information: Clean the Print Head Using Web Based Management. See Related Information: Clean the Print Head from Your Computer (Windows).
	Check and adjust the print alignment. See Related Information: Check the Print Alignment from Your Brother Machine, Check the Print Alignment Using Web Based Management.
	Try using the recommended types of paper. See Related Information: Acceptable Print Media.
	To prolong print head life, provide the best ink cartridge economy and maintain print quality, we do not recommend frequently unplugging the machine and/or leaving the machine unplugged for extended periods of time. We recommend using (STOP) to power down the machine. Using (STOP) allows minimal power to the machine, resulting in periodic, but less frequent, cleaning of the print head.
Dark lines appear at regular intervals.	Check and adjust the print alignment. See Related Information: Check the Print Alignment from Your Brother Machine. See Related Information: Check the Print Alignment Using Web Based Management.
The machine prints blank pages.	Check the print quality. See Related Information: Check the Print Quality.
The machine prints blank pages.	To prolong print head life, provide the best ink cartridge economy and maintain print quality, we do not recommend frequently unplugging the machine and/or leaving the machine unplugged for extended periods of time. We recommend using (STOP) to power down the machine. Using (STOP) allows minimal power to the machine, resulting in periodic, but less frequent, cleaning of the print head.
Characters and lines are blurred.	Check the printing alignment. See Related Information: Check the Print Alignment from Your Brother Machine. See Related Information: Check the Print Alignment Using Web Based Management.
Characters and lines are blurred.	Change the print options. See Related Information: Change the Print Options to Improve Your Print Results.
Printed text or images are skewed.	Make sure the paper is loaded correctly in the paper tray and the paper guides are adjusted correctly. See Related Information: Load Paper.
Printed text or images are skewed.	Make sure the Jam Clear Cover is closed correctly.
There are smudges or stains at the top center of the printed page.	Make sure the paper is not too thick or curled. See Related Information: Acceptable Print Media.
Printing appears dirty or ink seems to run.	Make sure you are using the recommended types of paper. Do not handle the paper until the ink is dry. See Related Information: Acceptable Print Media.
	Make sure the printing surface is face down in the paper tray.
	If you are using photo paper, make sure the glossy side of the photo paper is face down in the tray and you have set the correct paper type. If you are printing a photo from your computer, set the Media Type in the printer driver or in the application you use to print.
Ink is smudged or wet when using glossy photo paper.	Be sure to check the front and back of the paper. Place the glossy surface (printing surface) face down. See Related Information: Change the Paper Size and Paper Type .
Ink is smudged or wet when using glossy photo paper.	If you use glossy photo paper, make sure the paper type setting is correct.
Stains appear on the reverse side or at the bottom of the page.	Make sure the printer platen is not dirty with ink. See Related Information: Clean the Machine's Printer Platen.
	Make sure you are using the paper support flap. See Related Information: Load Paper.
	Make sure the paper feed rollers are not dirty with ink. See Related Information: Clean the Paper Feed Rollers.
The printouts are wrinkled.	(Windows) In the printer driver, select the Advanced tab, click Other Print Options, and then click Advanced Color Settings. Clear the Bi-Directional Printing checkbox.

Paper Handling Difficulties

Difficulties	Suggestions
The machine does not feed paper.	Make sure the paper tray is pushed in all the way until it locks into place.
	Make sure the Jam Clear Cover at the back of the machine is closed.
	If the Power LED and the Warning LED are still blinking, see Related Information: Error and Maintenance LED Indications.
	If the paper tray is empty, load a new stack of paper into the paper tray.
	If there is paper in the paper tray, make sure it is straight. If the paper is curled, straighten it. Sometimes it is helpful to remove the paper, turn the stack over and put it back in the paper tray.
	Reduce the amount of paper in the paper tray, and then try again.
	Clean the paper pick-up rollers. See Related Information: Clean the Paper Pick-up Rollers.
	Make sure that the paper is within specifications for the machine. See Related Information: Paper Capacity of the Paper Tray.
Photo paper does not feed correctly.	When you print on photo paper, load one extra sheet of the same photo paper in the paper tray.
Machine feeds multiple pages.	Make sure the paper is loaded correctly in the paper tray. Remove all the paper from the tray and fan the stack of paper well, then put it back in the tray. Make sure you do not push the paper in too far. See Related Information: Load Paper.
	Make sure the Jam Clear Cover is closed correctly. See Related Information: Printer Jam or Paper Jam.
	Make sure the Base Pad in the paper tray is not dirty. See Related Information: Clean the Base Pad.
There is a paper jam.	See Related Information: Printer Jam or Paper Jam. Make sure the paper guides are set to the correct paper size.
There is a paper jam.	Use the jam prevention settings. For copying: See Related Information: Change the Print Options to Improve Your Print Results. For printing: See Related Information: Change the Print Options to Improve Your Print Results. See Related Information: Prevent Smudged Printouts and Paper Jams (Windows).
The paper jams when you use 2-sided print.	If paper jams occur frequently during 2-sided printing, the paper feed rollers may be stained with ink. Clean the paper feed rollers. See Related Information: Clean the Paper Feed Rollers.

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