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Printing Problems

Indicator Warnings

Problem Solution
The Power Indicator does not light. The printer is receiving no power.

If you are using AC or DC power, connect the AC Adapter or Car Adapter correctly and turn the AC or DC power outlet on.

For more information, see Related Topics: Connect the Printer to External Power.

If you are using a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, make sure the battery is firmly installed in the printer and is fully charged.

Received data in buffer Print data is saved in the buffer. If the printer receives incomplete data (for example because of a lost Wi-Fi connection), printing will not start. Turn off the printer, and then turn it on again.
Head, motor, or Rechargeable Li-ion Battery is cooling down. The thermal head, motor, or Rechargeable Li-ion Battery is too hot.

Head:

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 documents with high text content.

If the thermal head becomes too hot, it may produce imaging on the paper in areas not intended to be printed.

To avoid or delay this condition, print using a lighter density setting, reduce the amount of black space being printed (for example, remove background shading and colors in graphs and presentation documents), and make sure that the printer has adequate ventilation and is not located in an enclosed space.

Motor or Rechargeable Li-ion Battery:

Do not use the printer continuously. If the printer is used continuously, the motor or Rechargeable Li-ion Battery will become too hot. In this case, the printer will stop and resume printing after the motor or Rechargeable Li-ion Battery has cooled down.

NOTE
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.

Data reception error With unstable communication, it may not be possible to receive data correctly. Improve the communication conditions, and then establish the connection again.
Printer is in boot mode. To resolve the issue, contact your Brother dealer or Brother Customer Service for assistance.

Paper Problems

Problem Solution
The paper is jammed in the printer. See Related Topics: Maintenance.
The paper feeds through the printer, but nothing appears on the paper.
  • Make sure you are using thermal paper.
  • The print surface must face the back, when looking from the front of the printer.
  • Check the print density setting using the Printer Setting Tool.

    For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Windows).

    For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Mac).

The paper does not feed even though the motor is running.
  • The Release Cover must be completely closed.
  • Make sure you are using genuine Brother thermal paper. Other paper may not feed through the printer correctly.
  • Clean the Platen Roller.

    For more information, see Related Topics: Maintenance.

If you still have problems, the printer may be damaged. Contact your Brother dealer or Brother Customer Service for assistance.

Printed Image Problems

Problem Solution
The printed image is out of alignment. Make sure you are using genuine Brother thermal paper and the paper is loaded correctly.

For more information, see Related Topics: Load Paper in the Printer.

Check whether the Platen Roller is dirty. If it is dirty, clean it.

For more information, see Related Topics: Maintenance.

Print quality is poor, and the printed image is too light or too dark. Adjust the print density setting in the printer driver’s dialog box, or in the Printer Setting Tool.

For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Windows).

For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Mac).

Make sure you are using genuine Brother thermal paper.

The image is compressed and stretched in many places. Make sure the Release Cover was not left open during printing. If it is open, close it completely.

Check if the paper is slipping in the printer. If it is slipping, make sure the Platen Roller is clean.

For more information, see Related Topics: Maintenance.

You must use genuine Brother thermal paper. Before loading paper, make sure it is not wrinkled.

The top margin is incorrect. Make sure the correct margins have been set in the Printer Setting Tool or your application. Adjust the top and bottom margins as needed.

Make sure you are not forcefully inserting the paper into the Paper Input Slot. Always insert paper carefully.

The side margins are incorrect. Make sure the correct margins have been set in the Printer Setting Tool or your application. Adjust the left margin as needed.

Make sure the application, the printer, and the printer driver have been set to match the paper size of the paper that is loaded in the printer. If the application or printer driver has been set to a different paper width, the image will not be printed in the proper horizontal position. Adjust the settings as needed.

The printed page contains incorrect characters. Make sure you have defined the correct character set (font) in the application. Try changing the font used in the document.
This printer is not detected when establishing a Bluetooth connection.(PJ-862/PJ-863)
  1. Check that the Bluetooth indicator image is lit in blue image.

    If the Bluetooth indicator image is flashing or turned off, the Bluetooth connection is not established.

    To establish a Bluetooth connection, see Related Topics: Connect the Printer to a Computer Using Bluetooth Connection.

    image
    Depending on your computer's or mobile device's operating system, the printer connects via Bluetooth only when receiving data. The Bluetooth indicator is lit in blue image while receiving data, and it will start flashing when data reception is complete.
  2. Check the Bluetooth settings.

    To print the configuration report, see Related Topics: Confirm Printer Settings.

    Specify the correct Bluetooth settings in the Printer Setting Tool.

    For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Windows).

    For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Mac).

This printer is not detected when establishing a Bluetooth connection. (PJ-883)
  1. Check that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is lit in blue image or cyan image.

    When the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is lit in cyan image, Wi-Fi may be connected, but Bluetooth may not be connected.

    If the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is flashing or turned off, the Bluetooth connection is not established.

    To establish a Bluetooth connection, see Related Topics: Connect the Printer to a Computer Using Bluetooth Connection.

    image
    Depending on your computer's or mobile device's operating system, the printer connects via Bluetooth only when receiving data. The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator is lit in blue image or cyan image while receiving data, and it will start flashing when data reception is complete.
  2. Check the Bluetooth settings.

    To print the configuration report, see Related Topics: Confirm Printer Settings.

    Specify the correct Bluetooth settings in the Printer Setting Tool.

    For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Windows).

    For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Mac).

This printer is not detected when establishing a Wi-Fi connection. (PJ-883)
  1. Check that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is lit in green image or cyan image.

    When the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is lit in cyan image, Bluetooth may be connected, but Wi-Fi may not be connected.

    If the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is flashing or turned off, the Wi-Fi connection is not established.

    To establish a Wi-Fi connection, see Related Topics: Connect the Printer to a Computer Using Wi-Fi.

  2. Check the Wi-Fi settings.

    To print the configuration report, see Related Topics: Confirm Printer Settings.

    Consult with the network administrator and specify the correct Wi-Fi settings in the Printer Setting Tool.

    For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Windows).

    For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Mac).

The Wi-Fi connection is taking too long to establish. (PJ-883) From initialization to completing the connection takes time, so it may take a minute or more to establish the Wi-Fi connection. Since this differs depending on the device you use with your Brother printer and environment, check with the device manufacturer.
I want to reset the printer/delete the data transferred from a computer or mobile device. See Related Topics: Reset the Printer.

Pages Do Not Print

Problem Solution
The Data Indicator remains lit in green image but the printer does not print.
  • Printing of all received data is not completed. Wait until it is finished.
  • If paper is not loaded, load the paper.
  • If the printer does not print even though paper is loaded, remove the paper, and then load it again.
  • Try printing again after turning the printer off, and then on again.
    image
    If the printer is connected via Wi-Fi, the connection is lost when the printer is turned off. When the printer is turned on again, it will take up to 15 seconds for Wi-Fi to become functional. (PJ-883)
  • There may be problems with sending simple ASCII text data to the printer. If the CR/LF command is not at the end of lines or the form feed command is not at the end of the last line, the printer may be waiting for this data to be sent. Print another page, or press the Feed button image to feed the paper.
  • The printer may have been started up in mass storage mode.

    For more information, see Related Topics: Print Using the USB Interface (Mass Storage Mode).

    Turn off the printer, and then turn it on again.
The application should be sending data to the printer, but the Data Indicator does not light in green image.
  • With a USB connection:
    1. Connect the USB cable firmly and correctly.
    2. Try using another USB cable.
  • With a Bluetooth connection (PJ-862/PJ-863/PJ-883):
      • (PJ-862/PJ-863) Check that the Bluetooth indicator image is lit in blue image.

        If the Bluetooth indicator image is flashing or turned off, the Bluetooth connection is not established.

        To establish a Bluetooth connection, see Related Topics: Connect the Printer to a Computer Using Bluetooth Connection.

        image
        Depending on your computer's or mobile device's operating system, the printer connects via Bluetooth only when receiving data. The Bluetooth indicator is lit in blue image while receiving data, and it will start flashing when data reception is complete.
      • (PJ-883) Check that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is lit in blue image or cyan image.

        When the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is lit in cyan image, Wi-Fi may be connected, but Bluetooth may not be connected.

        If the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is flashing or turned off, the Bluetooth connection is not established.

        To establish a Bluetooth connection, see Related Topics: Connect the Printer to a Computer Using Bluetooth Connection.

        image
        Depending on your computer's or mobile device's operating system, the printer connects via Bluetooth only when receiving data. The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator is lit in blue image or cyan image while receiving data, and it will start flashing when data reception is complete.

    2. Specify the correct Bluetooth settings in the Printer Setting Tool.

      For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Windows).

      For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Mac).

  • With a Wi-Fi connection (PJ-883):
    1. Check that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is lit in green image or cyan image.

      When the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is lit in cyan image, Bluetooth may be connected, but Wi-Fi may not be connected.

      If the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi indicator image is flashing or turned off, the Wi-Fi connection is not established.

      To establish a Wi-Fi connection, see Related Topics: Connect the Printer to a Computer Using Wi-Fi.

    2. Specify the correct Wi-Fi settings in the Printer Setting Tool.

      For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Windows).

      For more information, see Related Topics: Change Printer Settings Using the Printer Setting Tool (Mac).

Pages Are Partially Printed

Problem Solution
The Data indicator turns off while a page remains in the printer.
  • The computer or mobile device may not have sent a full page of data. Try printing the document again.
  • The computer or mobile device may have sent the wrong page size information, or the size of the loaded paper is wrong. Check the paper size settings in the application, the Printer Setting Tool, and printer driver to make sure the specified paper size matches the paper that is loaded.
  • Try pressing the Feed button image to feed the paper manually.
The printer ejects a partially printed page, and the Data indicator remains lit or flashing in green image / image. Use the correct paper size setting.
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