MFC-J1215W

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

Print using only the black ink cartridge when the Color cartridges have run out.

Basically, your Brother machine is designed to stop ALL printing operations when any of the ink cartridges are low. This is to ensure the life of the print head and maintain premium print quality. If the unit were to continue printing, print jobs and cleaning cycles would suck air from the empty cartridge and damage the print head.

 

However, your Brother machine exceptionally can operate in a black and white print only mode when one or more color ink cartridges are empty. When a color cartridge is low, an error indication will appear on the LED of the machine stating Black and white print only as below.

Black and white print only

 

Follow the steps below to print using only the black ink cartridge:

 

STEP 1  Verify that the unit has message on the Status Monitor

  • If the Status Monitor displays Sleep, continue to STEP 2.
    > Click here to see how to open Status Monitor.

    The Status Monitor is available for Windows only.

  • If the Status Monitor displays other error messages (for example "Paper Jam"), refer to "FAQs & Troubleshooting" for information on the error message you are receiving.
The items listed below can cause the black and white print only mode to end and the color ink cartridge will need to be replaced:
  • You can use the machine as a black and white printer for approximately four weeks. This depends on the number of pages you print.
  • If you unplug the machine or remove the ink cartridge.

 

STEP 2  Print using only the black ink cartridge following one of these printing procedures

PC Printing (Windows only):

 

  1. Open Printing Preferences. (Click here to see how to open Printing Preferences.)
  2. Click the Basic tab and select Plain Paper in Media Type.

    Media Type
     
  3. Click the radio button Grayscale or Greyscale.

    Grayscale
     
  4. Click Apply > OK.

 

Copying:
If the paper type is set to Plain Paper, you can make copies in black and white.

If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

Have you checked the manuals?

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

Related Models

MFC-J1205W, MFC-J1215W

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