Home/Printer Error Codes/Brother

Brother Printer Error Codes

Brother printers show a message such as "Replace Drum" or "Ink Absorber Full", and many show a numbered message such as "Unable to Print 46" that points to the exact fault. Below are 50 Brother codes, covering 77 model series. Each one explains what the code means, what you can safely try, and when it needs a technician, with a link to the Brother page it comes from.

Codes are model-specific, so your own model's manual is the final word. Reviewed October 2026.

50 codes

Brother Unable to Print 46Ink absorber almost fullBrother Unable to Clean 46Ink absorber pad fullBrother Unable to Print 4FPrint head problemBrother Unable to Print 48Print head problemBrother Unable to Print 50Object stuck inside or mechanical faultBrother Unable to Print 30Paper jam stopping the machineBrother Unable to Print 31Paper jam stopping the machineBrother Unable to Print 32Paper jam stopping the machineBrother Unable to Print 36Paper jam stopping the machineBrother Unable to Print 6FPaper jam or sensor problemBrother Unable to Clean 50Paper jam or sensor problemBrother Unable to Init 1ADuplex unit problemBrother Unable to Print XXMechanical problem or object insideBrother Unable to Scan XXScanner mechanical problemBrother Unable to Clean XXMechanical problem, debris or dirty encoder stripBrother Unable to Init XXMachine could not initializeBrother Print Unable XXLaser printer mechanical issueBrother Ink Absorber FullInk absorber box needs replacingBrother Ink Absorber Near FullInk absorber box nearly fullBrother Drum End SoonDrum unit near end of lifeBrother Replace DrumTime to replace the drum unitBrother Drum ErrorCorona wire dirty or drum not seatedBrother Drum StopDrum unit at end of lifeBrother Replace TonerToner cartridge at end of lifeBrother Toner LowToner cartridge running lowBrother Toner EndedOut of tonerBrother No TonerToner cartridge not detectedBrother Toner ErrorColor toner cartridge not installed correctlyBrother Cartridge ErrorToner cartridge not seatedBrother Wrong TonerToner cartridge not compatibleBrother Cannot DetectCartridge not detectedBrother Jam InsidePaper jammed inside the machineBrother Jam RearPaper jammed in the backBrother Jam Tray 1Paper jammed in the paper trayBrother Fuser ErrorFuser not reaching the right temperatureBrother Self-DiagnosticFuser temperature problemBrother Replace FuserFuser unit due for replacementBrother Cooling DownMachine pausing to coolBrother CondensationMoisture inside the laser printerBrother Cover is OpenA cover is not fully closedBrother Size ErrorTray does not support the selected paper sizeBrother Size Error DXPaper size not usable for 2-sided printingBrother Size MismatchPaper in tray is the wrong sizeBrother No Paper FedInkjet did not pick up paperBrother No Paper T1Laser could not feed from Tray 1Brother Media MismatchPaper type setting does not matchBrother Paper JamInkjet paper jam (Jam A, B or C)Brother Replace InkInk cartridge emptyBrother Ink LowInk cartridge running lowBrother No Ink CartridgeInk cartridge not installed properly

All Brother error codes

Unable to Print 46Ink absorber almost full🧑‍🔧Unable to Clean 46Ink absorber pad full🧑‍🔧Unable to Print 4FPrint head problem🧑‍🔧Unable to Print 48Print head problem🧑‍🔧Unable to Print 50Object stuck inside or mechanical fault🧭Unable to Print 30Paper jam stopping the machine🧭Unable to Print 31Paper jam stopping the machine🧭Unable to Print 32Paper jam stopping the machine🧭Unable to Print 36Paper jam stopping the machine🧭Unable to Print 6FPaper jam or sensor problem🧭Unable to Clean 50Paper jam or sensor problem🧭Unable to Init 1ADuplex unit problem🧑‍🔧Unable to Print XXMechanical problem or object inside🧭Unable to Scan XXScanner mechanical problem🧭Unable to Clean XXMechanical problem, debris or dirty encoder strip🧭Unable to Init XXMachine could not initialize🧭Print Unable XXLaser printer mechanical issue🧑‍🔧Ink Absorber FullInk absorber box needs replacing🧑‍🔧Ink Absorber Near FullInk absorber box nearly full🧑‍🔧Drum End SoonDrum unit near end of life✅Replace DrumTime to replace the drum unit✅Drum ErrorCorona wire dirty or drum not seated✅Drum StopDrum unit at end of life✅Replace TonerToner cartridge at end of life✅Toner LowToner cartridge running low✅Toner EndedOut of toner✅No TonerToner cartridge not detected✅Toner ErrorColor toner cartridge not installed correctly✅Cartridge ErrorToner cartridge not seated✅Wrong TonerToner cartridge not compatible✅Cannot DetectCartridge not detected✅Jam InsidePaper jammed inside the machine✅Jam RearPaper jammed in the back✅Jam Tray 1Paper jammed in the paper tray✅Fuser ErrorFuser not reaching the right temperature🧭Self-DiagnosticFuser temperature problem🧭Replace FuserFuser unit due for replacement🧑‍🔧Cooling DownMachine pausing to cool✅CondensationMoisture inside the laser printer✅Cover is OpenA cover is not fully closed✅Size ErrorTray does not support the selected paper size✅Size Error DXPaper size not usable for 2-sided printing✅Size MismatchPaper in tray is the wrong size✅No Paper FedInkjet did not pick up paper✅No Paper T1Laser could not feed from Tray 1✅Media MismatchPaper type setting does not match✅Paper JamInkjet paper jam (Jam A, B or C)✅Replace InkInk cartridge empty✅Ink LowInk cartridge running low✅No Ink CartridgeInk cartridge not installed properly✅

✅ Usually fixable yourself · 🧭 Fixable with care · 🧑‍🔧 Needs servicing

Find your Brother printer model

The codes Brother documents for each model series. If your model isn't listed, search the code above: most codes work the same way across a brand's current models.

Brother DCP-8155DN

Brother DCP-L2540DW

Brother DCP-L5500DN

Brother HL-2270DW

Brother HL-2280DW

Brother HL-3170CDW

Brother HL-6180DW

Brother HL-L2340DW

Brother HL-L2379DW

Brother HL-L2395DW

Brother HL-L2400D

Brother HL-L2405W

Brother HL-L2420DW

Brother HL-L2865DW

Brother HL-L3280CDW

Brother HL-L5210DW

Brother HL-L6200DW

Brother HL-L6210DW

Brother MFC-250C

Brother MFC-8710DW

Brother MFC-8910DW

Brother MFC-J480DW

Brother MFC-J650DW

Brother MFC-J1010DW

Brother MFC-L2700DW

Brother MFC-L2820DW

Brother MFC-L5700DW

Brother MFC-L5800DW

Brother MFC-L5900DW

Brother MFC-L8600CDW

Brother MFC-L8895CDW

Brother MFC-L8905CDW

Brother MFC-L9570CDW

First steps for any printer error

  1. Write down the exact code before you do anything else — similar-looking codes often mean completely different things.
  2. Power the printer off, unplug it for a couple of minutes, then power it back on. A surprising number of transient errors clear here.
  3. Open the covers and check for paper scraps, packaging material, or anything blocking the carriage.
  4. Check the cartridges or tanks are genuine, correctly seated, and not empty.
  5. Confirm the printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip or extension lead.
  6. Check your model’s own manual — codes are model-specific, and the manual is the authority for your machine.

Code not listed, or still stuck?

Tell our printer technician your Brother model and the code. You'll find out whether it's fixable at home or worth repairing at all.

Ask about my printer — $1

Eric Paul Amora · Printer & Hardware Repair Technician

← All printer error codesCanon error codesEpson error codesHP error codes
Ask a printer tech — $1 →