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[Solved] Brother Printer Not Printing on Windows 10 & 11
A jammed paper tray could be the root cause of your printer issues
7 min. read
Updated onFebruary 5, 2024
updated onFebruary 5, 2024
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Key notes
Brother printers are typically a great, budget-friendly investment. They can print and copy many documents quickly, they’re very easy to hook up to a home network, they’re compatible with many operating systems, and they usually come with a fairly large amount of memory.
But like any printer, you may have to look into it from time to time to ensure it’s working and not having any problems. Even the most diligent printer owners must deal with their machine’s occasional refusal to print.
Sometimes,Windows cannot connect to the printer, and all that needs to happen is a quick clean-out of any paper jams that may be present inside the machine.
Why is the Brother printer not printing?
When your printer starts acting up, it can be a real pain to start working again – but if you know what’s causing the problem, you can usually fix it easily.
Here are some possible causes for your Brother printer not printing:
Why is my Brother printer not printing in colour?
The most common reason for this happening is that your Brother printer doesn’t have enough ink to fill the cartridges. Most printers have either three or four separate cartridges, each containing a different colored ink.
Check to make sure that the ink cartridges are installed correctly and that they are not empty. If the ink cartridges are out of ink or improperly installed, the printer will not be able to print in colour.
Also, try shaking up the ink cartridge to get rid of any bubbles that may be inside. Your Brother printer may be printing blank pages because of air bubbles.
Other times, you probably just need to change your printer settings. For some reason, the default settings on many printers are set to print everything in monochrome.
What can I do if my Brother printer is not printing?
1. Check cable connections
If you find that your Brother printer isn’t printing, make sure that the cable connections are secure. If a cable is loose or damaged, it might not be transferring data to the printer. Next, check if the power cord is securely plugged into the wall or surge protector.
Try turning off and then on again the printer and computer to see if they revert to normal operations. If printing with a wireless or Bluetooth connection, make sure that both devices are on the same network, and that they’re connected preferably by an Ethernet cable.
2. Clear print queue
The print queue is a list of documents that are waiting to be printed. Every time you send a document to your Brother printer, it gets added to the top of this list. The documents at the top of this list will be printed first.
Clearing the print queue will remove any jobs that haven’t printed yet and free up the space in the queue to allow new jobs to print.
3. Disable other printers
If your Brother printer is not printing or responding to the computer, it is possible that there are other printers on your network currently receiving print jobs. Disabling other printers will clear out any clutter or confusion that might be causing this error.
Once you have turned off all of your printers, go ahead and restart your computer. Your printer should then work just fine. Alternatively, you can set Brother printer as the default printer.
4. Update printer drivers
You can either follow the steps above manually, or you can use a third-party tool.PC HelpSoft Driver Updatercan do this process automatically, saving you time and effort.
It scans your device and offers you a list of devices that need to be updated. It replaces outdated drivers with the latest ones from its constantly revised database.
⇒Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
5. Restart Print Spooler
6. Run the Printer troubleshooter
7. Reset the printer
If your Brother printer is not responding to the solutions listed above, it is possible that the printer has been locked up. In this case, you can attempt to reset it by unplugging the device and waiting for a minute or two.
For a full reset, you will need to check theofficial websitefor your printer’s model number and follow the reset instructions. A full reset will cancel any print jobs and return all settings to their factory defaults. This means that all your personal files will be deleted, so make sure tobackup your filesbefore performing this step.
Why is my printer working but not printing?
Most of the time, the problem with a printer is simply a matter of troubleshooting and plugging in some cables.
However, if you’re trying to troubleshoot this issue on your own and you can’t get your printer to cooperate, there’s no shame in callingBrother printer supportfor help.
In case you have outgrown your Brother printer and are in the market forprinters compatible with Windows 11, we have an awesome collection that is just the right fit.
Let us know if you have been able to solve the issue in the comments section below.
More about the topics:Printer,Printer Errors
Claire Moraa
Windows Software Expert
Claire has a knack for solving problems and improving the quality of life for those around her. She’s driven by rationality, curiosity, and simplicity, and always eager to learn more about Microsoft’s products. With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11, errors, and software.
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Claire Moraa
Windows Software Expert
With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11 errors.
