PT-P900W/P900Wc

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting
  • Date: 04/03/2020
  • ID: faqp00001466_013

What do the indicator lights mean?

The indicators light and blink to indicate the printer's status.  The following symbols are used in this FAQ to explain the meaning of the different indicator colors and patterns.

Lit in green or Lit in orange or Lit in red Indicator is lit in the color shown
Flashing in green or Flashing in orange or Flashing in red Indicator is flashing in the color shown
Off or any color Indicator can be off, lit or flashing in any color
Off Indicator is off

 

[Indicators and conditions]
Click the "Condition" with a hyperlink to see its cause and solution.

 

Status, Power, Wi-Fi® indicator

Indicator Condition
Status indicator Power indicator Wi-Fi indicator
Off Lit in orange Off During the processing of the power-off
Off Lit in green Off or any color Idle mode
Initializing mode

Mode can be used only when the Touch Panel Display (TDU) is installed (includes the error mode) (PT-P950NW only)
Lit in green Lit in green Off or any color Printing mode
Flashing in red
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Lit in green Off No media error
Tape end error
Off Lit in orange Off or any color Cover open mode
Flashing in orange Lit in green Off Cover open error when printing
Flashing in green Lit in green Off or any color Receiving data
Off Flashing in green Off or any color Transferring data
Off Flashing in orange Off or any color Now cooling
Flashing in red Flashing in red Flashing in red System error
Lit in red Lit in red Lit in red In boot mode
Flashing in green Lit in orange Off Reset mode (when the mode is starting)
Off Lit in orange Off Reset mode (when the button is pressed 1 / 3 / 5 times)
Lit in green Lit in orange Off Reset mode (when the button is pressed 2 / 4 / 6 times)
Flashing in green
(3 times)		 Flashing in orange
(3 times)		 Off Reset mode (when reset is confirmed)
Off Flashing in green Flashing in orange Flashing in red
(Repeat 4 times)		 Off IP address fixed notification (USB ID fixed notification)
Lit in orange Lit in green Off Mass storage mode
Flashing in green
(1 time)		 Lit in green Off Mass storage processing mode
Flashing in orange
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Lit in red Off PT-P950NW Only:
USB host unsupported device connection error
USB host HUB connection error
Flashing in red
(1 time for 1 second)		 Lit in red Off or any color USB host power supply excessive voltage error
(PT-P950NW Only)
Mass storage error
Flashing in red
(1 time for 2 seconds)		 Lit in red Off or any color Roller holder error
Flashing in red
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Lit in red Off or any color Adapter error
Flashing in orange Lit in red Off or any color Option connection error
(PT-P950NW Only)
Off Flashing in orange Off Adapter connection error
Flashing in orange Flashing in orange Off

When blinking alternately: Cutter error

When blinking simultaneously: High temperature error
Flashing in red
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Lit in orange Off Non-compliant tape error
Flashing in red Lit in orange Off Wrong media error
Flashing in red
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Flashing in orange
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Off Communication error
Memory full error
Number of lines / character size error
Flashing in red
(1 time for 1 second)		 Flashing in orange
(1 time for 1 second)		 Off When blinking alternately: Database search error
When blinking simultaneously: No template error
Flashing in orange
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Flashing in orange
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Off High-resolution / draft printing error
Flashing in orange Lit in orange Off Black mark not detected error

 

Battery indicator

Indicator Condition
Battery indicator Power indicator
Off Off or any color Rechargeable battery power: full
Charging complete
Lit in orange Off or any color Charging
Flashing in orange
(1 time for 4 seconds)		 Off or any color Rechargeable battery power: half
Flashing in orange
(2 times for 4 seconds)		 Off or any color Rechargeable battery power: low
Flashing in red Lit in red Rechargeable battery error
Flashing in red Lit in green Rechargeable battery power: empty

 

Wi-Fi indicator

Indicator Condition
Status indicator Power indicator Wi-Fi indicator
Off Lit in orange Lit in red No available WPS access point was found
Off Lit in orange Flashing in red WPS access point connection error
Off Lit in orange Flashing in red
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 Incorrect security settings
Off Lit in orange Flashing in orange
(2 times for 1.8 seconds)		 WPS access point search error
Off or any color Off or any color Flashing in green Wi-Fi on, not connected
Off or any color Off or any color Lit in green Wi-Fi on, connected
Off or any color Lit in green Flashing in green Wi-Fi: WPS setting mode
Off or any color Lit in green Flashing in green
(3 times)		 BT switching complete notification
(PT-P950NW Only)

 

[Causes and Solutions]
Tube, Label, Power indicator

Condition Cause Solution
Now cooling

The thermal head is too hot.  The printer stops and resumes printing only after the thermal head has cooled down.
The head may become too hot if you are printing a large number of labels.
When the thermal head becomes too hot, it may produce imaging on the labels in areas not intended to be printed.

This condition may occur more often when the printer is used at high altitude (more than 10,000 ft (3,048 m)) due to a lower air density available to cool the printer.

High temperature error.

 To avoid or delay overheating, make sure the printer has adequate ventilation and is not located in an enclosed space.
Do not use the printer continuously or the print head will become too hot.  In this case, the printer will stop and resume printing after the motor has cooled down.

Wait for approximately 5 minutes.
System error - Try turning the printer off and on.  If the error occurs again, contact your Brother dealer or Brother customer service for assistance.
Adapter error An incompatible AC adapter is connected. Connect a correct adapter.
(DC IN 24V)
USB host power supply excessive voltage error
(PT-P950NW Only)
Mass storage error		 USB host power supply excessive voltage error:
A USB device with excessive voltage is connected.

Mass storage error:
You tried to copy a file while the printer is processing another file in mass storage mode.		 USB host power supply excessive voltage error:
Disconnect the USB device and connect a compatible one.

Mass storage error:
Press any key except the Power button.
Roller holder error The roller holder did not operate correctly Press any key except the Power button.  If the error occurs again, contact your Brother dealer or Brother customer service for assistance.
In boot mode - Try turning the printer off and on.  If the error occurs again, contact your Brother dealer or Brother customer service for assistance.
When blinking alternately:
Cutter error
When blinking simultaneously: High temperature error		 Cutter error:
The tape cutter is closed when you try to print.
This error also appears if the cutter does not operate correctly while cutting.

High temperature error:
The thermal head is too hot.		 Cutter error:
Turn the printer off and on, and then try again to print.
If this error still occurs, clean the tape cutter.
(See "The label does not cut well.")

High temperature error:
Wait 10 minutes and try again to print.  If the problem remains unsolved, turn the printer on and off.  If the problem remains unsolved, contact your Brother dealer or Brother customer service for assistance.
Non-compliant tape error When the user inserted the noncompliant tape. Install a compatible tape.
Wrong media error The tape width specified in the printer driver or P-touch Editor does not match the tape that is installed. In the printer driver or P-touch Editor, specify the tape width to match the tape that is installed.
No media error
Tape end error		 Appears when printing with no label cassette installed. No media error:
Install the tape cassette.

Tape end error:
Because you have reached the end of the tape, replace the tape cassette.
(See "How do I set a tape cassette?")
Cover open error when printing Pressed the print button with cover opened. Close the cover completely.
High-resolution / draft printing error Cannot print labels in high-resolution mode when non-supported media (fabric tape, heat shrink tube etc.) is installed in the printer. Print using laminated TZe tape with black ink.
Black mark not detected error No FLe label remains. Check the remaining amount of FLe label.  If you have reached the end of the label, replace the label cassette.
Adapter connection error Adapter is connected / disconnected during printing with battery installed. Do not connect or disconnect AC adapter while printing.

To print again: close the cover or press any key other than the Power button.

To cancel the job: press the Power button.
Option connection error
(PT-P950NW Only)		 Switch on the Bluetooth® interface is turned off while the printer's Bluetooth function is enabled and the printer is connected using Bluetooth. Press any key except the Power button.  After this error occurs, the printer turns off.  Turn the printer on with the Bluetooth Interface switch on.

 

Battery indicator

Condition Cause Solution
Rechargeable battery error Charge is not completed after a period of time passed. Press any key except the Power button.  If this error occurs again, replace the battery with a new one.

 

Wi-Fi indicator

Condition Cause Solution
WPS access point connection error This printer does not support the authentication method and encryption mode that are specified for the wireless access point. Confirm and change the settings of the access point, or use another access point.
WPS access point search error There found 2 access points or more, or no access point was found. Try again to search.

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

Have you checked manuals?

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

Related Models

PT-P900W/P900Wc, PT-P950NW

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