Nothing is more annoying than pressing the “Print” button and discovering that your Brother printer not printing black ink if you depend on it every day for work, school, or company. Sometimes the black ink won’t show up, even in color prints that appear good, leaving your documents illegible or unfinished.
The most frequent causes of black ink not printing on Brother printer will be discussed in this article, along with easy fixes that don’t require a specialist.
Why Brother Printer Not Printing Black Ink?
You can tackle the issue more effectively if you are aware of the potential reasons before attempting any remedies. These are a few of the most typical explanations:
- Low or dehydrated ink levels
- A clogged printhead
- Trapped air within the ink cartridge
- Inaccurate printer configuration
- Using outdated or third-party ink cartridges
- Out-of-date firmware for printers
The procedures below will assist you in troubleshooting your brother’s printer, regardless of how long it has been printing black ink.
1. One way to fix a brother printer black ink not printing is to check the ink levels.
Using your computer or the device itself, open the Brother printer control panel. Substitute the cartridge if the ink level is low or empty. Make sure the cartridge is correctly fitted if you recently replaced it.
2. Make the Printhead Clean
One of the most frequent reasons why brother printer black ink not working is a blocked printhead. A printhead cleaning feature is integrated into Brother printers.
Procedure:
- Navigate to the printer’s Settings or Menu.
- Choose Maintenance or Ink
- Select “Cleaning.”
- Run the cleaning cycle after selecting Black.
- For optimal results, you might need to conduct the cleaning procedure two or four times.
3. Examine the cartridge for air.
Air bubbles can occasionally become caught close to the ink output, obstructing the appropriate flow.
To resolve this:
- Take out the black ink cartridge.
- On a soft surface, gently tap it.
- Put it back in until you hear a click.
- This aids in the restoration of ink flow and pressure.
4. Print a Test Page
Print a Quality Check Sheet after cleaning to confirm your progress. Repeat the cleaning method if there are any breaches in the black ink area.
5. Make Use of Real Brother Ink
Third-party ink may be less expensive, but it might lead to clogging and compatibility problems. The Brother Printer Not Printing Black Ink issue may be immediately resolved by switching to original Brother cartridges.
6. Update the firmware on your printer
Ink recognition may be hampered by outmoded firmware.
To update:
- Visit the Brother Support webpage.
- Enter the model of your printer.
- Install the most recent firmware updates after downloading them.
- After that, restart the printer.
7. Change the Print Configuration
Incorrect printing options might occasionally be the source of the black ink problem.
Procedure:
- On your PC, open Print Preferences.
- Choose from black and white or grayscale.
- Try printing again after clicking Apply.
- The printer is forced to utilize solely black ink as a result.
When to Get Expert Assistance
There could be a more serious hardware problem if none of the aforementioned fixes worked, particularly if the printer displays error messages or smeared prints. The best course of action at this point is to take the printer to a service center or get in touch with Support.
Preventive Advice for Printing Issue
To prevent future issues with the Brother printer’s inability to print black ink:
- To keep ink flowing, print one page per week.
- Cartridges should be stored in airtight containers until used.
- Keep the printer away from very hot or cold conditions.
- Use only premium or original inks.
- Once a month, run a cleaning cycle
Final thoughts
Checking the ink level, cleaning the printhead, and upgrading firmware are the most efficient ways to resolve a Brother Printer Not Printing Black Ink issue, yet it can still cause disruptions to your operation. You may keep your printer in top operating shape by according to the precautionary advice.
The majority of the same troubleshooting techniques—regular maintenance, updated drivers, and correct configuration—apply if you encounter additional problems, such as Brother Printer Not Scanning or require help setting up Brother printer wifi.
FAQS-
Can clogged print heads stop black ink from printing?
Black ink cannot reach the paper because clogged print heads obstruct the ink flow. Dried ink is typically removed and printing is restored by running printhead clean cycles.
Why is my Brother printer printing faded or light black text?
Faded or light black lettering can be caused by low ink levels, blocked nozzles, improper print settings, or dry ink in the cartridge. Usually, it may be fixed by cleaning and checking the ink levels.
Can air bubbles in the cartridge stop black ink flow?
Black ink cannot reach the printhead if air bubbles obstruct the ink pressure inside the cartridge. Normal ink flow may be restored by taking the cartridge out and putting it back in.
Does using third-party ink affect black printing?
Third-party ink may cause poor black printing quality or problems with detection because it dries more quickly, clogs printheads, or is chemically incompatible with Brother printers. Better performance is guaranteed with genuine ink.