Brother Printer Not Printing

Last updated: September 02, 2026 · 5 min read

Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing Anything Even Though It Has Ink?

This is one of the most frustrating problems people face. Your Brother printer shows it has ink, but nothing comes out when you try to print.

The most common reason is that the print head nozzles are clogged. Ink dries out when you don’t use your printer regularly. Even if the cartridge is full, dried ink blocks the tiny holes that spray ink onto the paper.

Here’s what to do:

1. Run a print head cleaning: Look in your printer’s menu for “Maintenance” or “Cleaning.” Select the cleaning option and let it run. This pushes fresh ink through the nozzles to clear blockages.
2. Print a test page: After cleaning, print a test page from the printer’s menu. This shows you if the cleaning worked.
3. Check the ink cartridges are seated correctly: Open the cartridge cover and gently press down on each cartridge. You should hear a click. Sometimes they work loose during shipping or moving.
4. Remove protective tape: If you just installed new cartridges, make sure you removed all the orange or yellow protective tape. Even a small piece left on can stop ink from flowing.

According to AARP’s technology guidance, many seniors avoid regular printer use because they worry about wasting ink, but printing at least one page per week actually prevents clogs and saves money in the long run.

Why Is My Printer Working But Not Printing Anything?

Your printer turns on, makes sounds, and seems ready to go, but blank pages come out instead. This is usually a communication problem between your computer and your Brother printer.

Here are the most common causes and fixes:

The Print Queue Is Stuck

When a document gets stuck in the queue, it blocks everything behind it. Your printer won’t process new jobs until you clear it out.

1. Open your print queue: Click the Start menu, type “printers,” and select “Printers & scanners.” Click on your Brother printer, then click “Open queue.”
2. Cancel all documents: You’ll see a list of waiting print jobs. Click “Printer” at the top, then select “Cancel All Documents.” Confirm when Windows asks if you’re sure.
3. Restart both devices: Turn off your printer completely. Wait 30 seconds. Turn it back on. Then restart your computer. This clears any hidden errors.

Wrong Printer Selected

If you’ve ever connected to another printer (at a library, friend’s house, or office), your computer might be trying to send documents there instead of to your Brother printer.

1. Check your default printer: Go to “Printers & scanners” in Windows settings. Make sure your Brother printer shows a checkmark or says “Default.”
2. Set it as default: If it’s not default, click on your Brother printer and select “Set as default.”

You can also find step-by-step help through Microsoft’s official printer troubleshooting guide for Windows users.

Cable or WiFi Connection Problems

If you’re using a USB cable, it might be loose or damaged. For WiFi printing, your Brother printer might have lost its connection to your network.

1. For USB printers: Unplug the USB cable from both the printer and computer. Wait 10 seconds. Plug it back in firmly on both ends. Try a different USB port on your computer if available.
2. For WiFi printers: Print a network configuration page from your printer’s menu to see if it’s connected. If it shows “Not Connected,” you’ll need to reconnect it to your WiFi network using the printer’s control panel.

How Do I Reset My Brother Printer?

Resetting your Brother printer can fix many mysterious problems. It’s like restarting your computer when things go wrong. There are two types of resets you can try.

Simple Power Reset

This is the safest reset and fixes most issues:

1. Turn off the printer: Press the power button and wait for it to shut down completely. Don’t just unplug it while it’s running.
2. Unplug the power cord: Remove the power cord from the back of the printer. Wait a full 60 seconds. This lets all the electronics fully reset.
3. Plug it back in: Connect the power cord and turn the printer on. Wait for it to fully start up before trying to print.

Factory Reset (When Nothing Else Works)

This erases all your settings and returns the printer to how it was when you first bought it. Only do this if the power reset didn’t help.

The exact steps vary by Brother model, but most follow this pattern:

1. Access the menu: Press the “Menu” button on your printer’s control panel.
2. Find reset options: Look for “Initial Setup,” “Reset,” or “Restore Factory Settings.” Use the arrow buttons to scroll through options.
3. Confirm the reset: The printer will ask if you’re sure. Select “Yes” and wait for it to restart.

After a factory reset, you’ll need to reconnect to WiFi and reinstall any custom settings. Don’t worry if this sounds complicated. Our printer help service can walk you through it or do it for you remotely.

What Are Common Brother Printer Problems?

Knowing what typically goes wrong helps you fix things faster. Here are the issues we see most often:

Brother Printer Not Printing Black

When color prints fine but black text won’t print, your black ink cartridge is either empty, clogged, or not making proper contact. Remove the black cartridge, check for protective tape, and reinstall it firmly. Run a cleaning cycle specifically for black ink if your printer offers that option.

Brother Printer Not Printing Blank Pages

Blank pages usually mean the printer is feeding paper but not putting any ink or toner on it. Check that you removed all protective strips from new cartridges. For laser printers, the toner cartridge might need shaking to distribute the powder evenly.

Brother Printer Not Printing Via WiFi

WiFi printing fails when the printer loses its network connection. This often happens after a power outage or when you change your WiFi password. Print a network settings page from your printer to see its connection status. If it shows disconnected, you’ll need to reconnect through the printer’s WiFi setup menu.

Brother Printer Not Printing No Error Message

When your printer seems fine but won’t print and shows no error, the problem is usually on the computer side. Check your print queue for stuck jobs. Make sure the correct printer is selected. Restart both devices.

Some users on brother printer not printing reddit forums also report driver issues. If you recently updated Windows, your printer driver might need updating too. Visit Brother’s website to download the latest driver for your specific model.

According to AARP, 91% of adults 50+ now own a smartphone, yet many still struggle with everyday tech problems like printer connectivity. You’re not alone if this feels confusing.

When Should You Ask for Help Instead of Fixing It Yourself?

Sometimes the smartest move is to get expert help. Here’s when to call for assistance:

• You’ve tried all the basic steps and your Brother printer still won’t print after 30 minutes of troubleshooting
• The printer shows error codes or messages you don’t understand
• You need to reinstall printer software or drivers but aren’t comfortable downloading files from the internet
• Your WiFi printing stopped working and you’re not sure how to access network settings
• Paper keeps jamming in places you can’t easily reach or see

Professional support saves you time and frustration. More importantly, it prevents you from accidentally changing settings that make things worse. Our team at printer help service can connect to your computer remotely and fix most printer issues while you watch. There’s no charge for the initial diagnosis.