Troubleshooting Brother Printer Problems

Types of Brother Printers

Before starting the trouble shooting process on your printer.  It is good to know which type of printer you personally have.  Each printer type have internal specifications unique to them.

• Ink-jet printers
• Laser jet printers

Dirty or Poor-Quality Prints:

Banding

Banding stripes across a page of text can be a pain, and they are commonly caused by two things - low ink cartridges and a dirty printer head.

Dirty Printer Head Nozzles

Cleaning the print heads can solve the problem. The procedure varies from printer to printer and there may be an option on the printer control panel or in the printer software on the computer.
Common symptoms to look for are:

• Blurred lines
• Blotchy prints
• Broken lines
• Ink smearing

Preventive methods for damaging or dirtying your printer's printhead and nozzles:

• Always turn your printer off at night
• Use only high quality in cartridges
• Do not wait until the ink cartridge has run out
• Print on a regular basis

Faded Prints

• The printer is getting low on toner
• The print density is set too low

Network and Connection Problems:

Defaulting to Fax Instead of Print

If your Brother printer is defaulting to fax instead of print each time you go to print.  Right click on the printer in the control panel menu and click make it default.

Drivers

Updating or reinstalling your printer driver and software may solve varying issues you may be experiencing.  Problems such as:

• Unreadable text
• Strange Characters
• PC not recognizing printer

Print Job Going to the Wrong Computer

If you have more than one printer, an issue that occurs is that the wrong printer is printing. Go to your Devices & Printers folder and right click on the printer that you want. You will have the option to make it your default printer. Depending on your operating system, these steps may be different but are generally the same.

USB Connection

Those who are experiencing USB connection problems should first try to unplug and the reconnect the USB cord from the computer as well as the printer. If the problem persists, proceed to connect the cable to another available USB port or replace it.

Hardware Problems:

Paper Jams

The most common issue with any make of printers are paper jams. A printer will jam for any number of reasons:

• It is dirty
• The wrong paper type is being used
• Worn down feeder rollers
• Loaded paper that is torn, dirty, or damp
• An object is obstructing the path of the paper
• The paper in use is too thick
• Paper is added to the tray while the printer is printing

Printer Picks Up Multiple Sheets Instead of Single Sheet from Feed Tray

The pad that is responsible for separating the paper has likely worn out and needs to be replaced.  It is also possible that the paper may be wet due to humidity.  To prevent this from being issue, ensure all paper is properly stored, dry, and or "fanned" before loading into the printer.

Common Printer Issues:

If you did not find a resolution to your problem above.  It may be time to have your printer looked at by a professional.  Contact us today to have your printer serviced.

• Ink system Failure
• Printhead missing
• Printer software not loading
• Printer icon missing
• Install printer on network
• New Printer Activation
• Printer spooler error
• Setting up a fax
• No dial-tone in fax
• Uninstalling old printer
• Downloading right drivers
• Printer printing blurred
• Print quality issues
• Printer is offline
• Scanner not found
• Color not printing
• Printing process is too slow
• Black lines in scan copy
• Connectivity issues with multiple devices.
• Printer Open Error & Insufficient Memory Error
• Wi-Fi Printing takes too long.
• Windows is sending print jobs to the wrong printer.
• Diagnose ink cartridge errors and fix it.