Error and Maintenance Messages

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DCP‑J1100DW / MFC‑J1300DW

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Home > Troubleshooting > Error and Maintenance Messages

FAQs, Manuals & More

As with any sophisticated office product, errors may occur and supply items may have to be replaced. If this happens, your machine identifies the error or required routine maintenance and shows the appropriate message. The most common error and maintenance messages are shown in the table.

You can correct most errors and perform routine maintenance yourself. If you need more tips, go to your model's FAQs & Troubleshooting page on the Brother Solutions Center at support.brother.com.

(MFC-J1300DW)
If the touchscreen displays errors and your Android™ device supports the NFC feature, touch your device to the NFC symbol on the control panel to access the Brother Solutions Center and browse the latest FAQs from your device. (Your mobile telephone provider's message and data rates may apply.)

Make sure the NFC settings of both your Brother machine and your Android™ device are set to On.
Related Information references are at the bottom of this page.

Error Message	Cause	Action
B&W Print Only Replace ink.	One or more of the colour ink cartridges have reached the end of their lives. You can use the machine in monochrome mode for approximately four weeks depending on the number of pages you print. While this message appears on the touchscreen, each operation works in the following way: Printing If the media type is set to Plain Paper in the Basic tab, and Greyscale is selected in the Advanced tab of the printer driver, you can use the machine as a monochrome printer. Copying If the paper type is set to Plain Paper, you can make copies in monochrome. Faxing If the paper type is set to Plain Paper, the machine will receive and print the faxes in monochrome.	Replace the ink cartridges. See Related Information: Replace the Ink Cartridges. Although the Cause column lists options for using the machine after this error appears, you may not be able to use the machine until you replace the ink cartridge(s) under the following conditions: If you unplug the machine or remove the ink cartridge. If you select the Slow Drying Paper option on the machine or in the printer driver.
Cannot Detect Ink Volume	If you are using non Brother Original ink, the machine may not detect the ink volume.	Replace the cartridge with a Brother Original ink cartridge. If the error message remains, contact Brother customer service or your local Brother dealer.
Cannot Detect	An ink cartridge is not installed correctly.	Take out the new ink cartridge and reinstall it slowly and firmly until it locks into place. See Related Information: Replace the Ink Cartridges.
	If you are using non Brother Original ink, the machine may not detect the ink cartridge.	Replace the cartridge with a Brother Original ink cartridge. If the error message remains, contact Brother customer service or your local Brother dealer.
	The wrong Brother model ink cartridge was installed.	Check the model numbers of the ink cartridges and install the correct ink cartridges.
Comm.Error	Poor telephone line quality caused a communication error.	Send the fax again or connect the machine to another telephone line. If the problem continues, contact the telephone company and ask them to check your telephone line.
Connection Error	Other devices are trying to connect to the Wi-Fi Direct network at the same time.	Make sure there are no other devices trying to connect to the Wi-Fi Direct network, and then try to configure the Wi-Fi Direct settings again.
Connection Failed	The Brother machine and your mobile device cannot communicate during the Wi-Fi Direct network configuration.	Move the mobile device closer to your Brother machine. Move your Brother machine and the mobile device to an obstruction-free area. If you are using the PIN Method of WPS, make sure you have entered the correct PIN.
Cover is Open.	The scanner cover is not locked in the closed position.	Lift the scanner cover and then close it again.
	The scanner cover is not locked in the closed position.	Make sure the interface cable (if used) has been guided correctly through the cable channel and out the back of the machine.
	The ink cartridge cover is not locked in the closed position.	Firmly close the ink cartridge cover until it locks into place.
Data Remaining in Memory	Print data is left in the machine's memory.	Press . The machine will cancel the job and clear it from the memory. Try to print again.
Disconnected	The other person or other person's fax machine stopped the call.	Try to send or receive again. If calls are stopped repeatedly and you are using a VoIP (Voice over IP) system, try changing the Compatibility to Basic (for VoIP). See Related Information: Telephone Line Interference/VoIP.
Document Jam/too Long	The document was not inserted or fed correctly, or the document scanned from the ADF was too long.	Remove the jammed document, and then press . Set the document in the ADF correctly. See Related Information: Load Documents in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF). See Related Information: Document Jams.
DR Mode in Use	The machine is in Distinctive Ring mode. You cannot change the Receive Mode from Manual to another mode.	Set Distinctive Ring to Off. See Related Information: Turn off Distinctive Ring.
FaxAbility On	The machine is in FaxAbility mode. You cannot change the Receive Mode from Manual to another mode.	Set FaxAbility to Off. See Related Information: Turn FaxAbility Off or On.
High Temperature	The room temperature is too high.	After cooling the room, allow the machine to cool down to room temperature. Try again when the machine has cooled down.
Hub is Unusable.	A hub or USB flash drive with hub has been connected to the USB direct interface.	Hubs, including a USB flash drive with a built-in hub, are not supported. Unplug the device from the USB direct interface.
Ink Absorber NearFull	The ink absorber box is nearly full.	The ink absorber box must be replaced soon. Contact Brother customer service or your local Brother dealer. The ink absorber box absorbs the small amount of ink emitted during print head cleaning.
Ink Absorber Pad Full	The ink absorber box is full. These components are periodic maintenance items that may require replacement after a period of time to ensure optimum performance from your Brother machine. Because these components are periodic maintenance items, the replacement is not covered under the warranty. The need to replace these items and the time period before replacement is dependent on the number of purges and flushes required to clean the ink system. These boxes acquire amounts of ink during the different purging and flushing operations. The number of times a machine purges and flushes for cleaning varies depending on different situations. For example, frequently powering the machine on and off will cause numerous cleaning cycles since the machine automatically cleans upon power up. The use of non-Brother ink may cause frequent cleanings because non-Brother ink could cause poor print quality which is resolved by cleaning. The more cleaning the machine requires, the faster these boxes will fill up. Repairs resulting from the use of non-Brother supplies may not be covered under the stated product warranty.	The ink absorber box must be replaced. Contact Brother customer service or your local Brother Authorised Service Centre to have your machine serviced.
Ink Low	One or more of the ink cartridges are near the end of their lives. If the sending machine has the ability to convert it, the colour fax will be printed at your machine as a monochrome fax.	Order a new ink cartridge. You can continue printing until the touchscreen displays Replace Ink. See Related Information: Replace the Ink Cartridges. You can still scan even if the ink is low or needs to be replaced.
Jam A Inside/Front Repeat Jam A Inside/Front	The paper is jammed in the machine.	Remove the jammed paper. See Related Information: Paper is Jammed Inside and in the Front of the Machine (Jam A Inside/Front). Make sure the paper guides are set to the correct paper size.
Jam A Inside/Front Repeat Jam A Inside/Front	More than one sheet of paper was placed in the manual feed slot. -OR- Another sheet of paper was placed in the manual feed slot before the touchscreen displayed Where to Place the Paper.	Do not put more than one sheet of paper in the manual feed slot at any one time. Wait until the touchscreen displays Where to Place the Paper before you feed the next sheet of paper in the manual feed slot. Remove the jammed paper. See Related Information: Paper is Jammed Inside and in the Front of the Machine (Jam A Inside/Front).
Jam B Front Repeat Jam B Front	The paper is jammed in the machine.	Remove the jammed paper. See Related Information: Paper is Jammed in the Front of the Machine (Jam B Front). Make sure the paper guides are set to the correct paper size.
Jam C Rear	The paper is jammed in the machine.	Remove the jammed paper. See Related Information: Paper is Jammed in the Back of the Machine (Jam C Rear). Make sure the paper guides are set to the correct paper size.
Jam C Rear	Paper dust has accumulated on the surface of the paper pick-up rollers.	Clean the paper pick-up rollers. See Related Information: Clean the Paper Pick-up Rollers.
Low Temperature	The room temperature is too low.	After warming the room, allow the machine to warm up to room temperature. Try again when the machine has warmed up.
Media card error	Multiple data storage devices were in the machine when it was turned on. The machine can read only one memory card or USB flash drive at a time.	Remove the memory card(s) or USB flash drive that you are not using.
Media Error	The memory card is either corrupted, incorrectly formatted, or there is a problem with the memory card.	Remove the memory card from the media drive (slot) of the machine and format it correctly.
Media Error		Put the card firmly into the slot again to make sure it is in the correct position. If the error remains, check the media drive (slot) of the machine by putting in another memory card that you know is working.
Media is Full.	The memory card or USB flash drive you are using already contains 999 files.	Your machine can only save to your memory card or USB flash drive if it contains fewer than 999 files. Delete unused files and try again.
Media is Full.	The memory card or USB flash drive you are using does not have enough free space to scan the document.	Delete unused files from your memory card or USB flash drive to make some free space, and then try again.
No Caller ID	There is no incoming call history. You did not receive calls or you have not subscribed to the Caller ID service from your telephone company.	To use the Caller ID feature, contact your telephone company. See Related Information: Caller ID.
No Device	When configuring the Wi-Fi Direct network, the Brother machine cannot find your mobile device.	Make sure your machine and mobile device are in the Wi-Fi Direct mode. Move the mobile device closer to your Brother machine. Move your Brother machine and the mobile device to an obstruction-free area. If you are manually configuring the Wi-Fi Direct network, make sure you have entered the correct password. If your mobile device has a configuration page for how to obtain an IP address, make sure the IP address of your mobile device has been configured via DHCP.
No File	The memory card or USB flash drive in the media drive does not contain a .JPG file.	Put the correct memory card or USB flash drive into the slot again.
No Ink Cartridge	An ink cartridge is not installed correctly.	Remove the ink cartridge and re-install it slowly and firmly until it locks into place. See Related Information: Replace the Ink Cartridges.
No Paper Fed	The machine is out of paper or paper is not correctly loaded in the paper tray.	Do one of the following: Refill the paper tray, and then follow the LCD instructions. Remove and reload the paper, and then follow the LCD instructions. See Related Information: Load Paper.
	The paper was not inserted in the centre position of the manual feed slot.	Remove the paper and reinsert it in the centre of the manual feed slot, and then follow the LCD instructions. See Related Information: Load Paper in the Manual Feed Slot.
	The Jam Clear Cover is not closed correctly.	Make sure the Jam Clear Cover is closed evenly at both ends. See Related Information: Printer Jam or Paper Jam.
	Paper dust has accumulated on the surface of the paper pick-up rollers.	Clean the paper pick-up rollers. See Related Information: Clean the Paper Pick-up Rollers.
No Response/Busy	The number you dialled does not answer or is busy.	Verify the number and try again.
Out of Fax Memory	The fax memory is full.	Do one of the following: Clear the data from the memory. To gain extra memory, you can turn off Memory Receive. See Related Information: Turn Off Memory Receive. Print the faxes that are in the memory. See Related Information: Print a Fax Stored in the Machine's Memory.
Out of Memory	The machine's memory is full.	If a fax-sending or copy operation is in progress: Press or Quit and wait until the other operations that are in progress finish, and then try again. Press Partial Print to copy the pages scanned so far. Clear the data in the memory. To gain extra memory, you can turn Memory Receive off. See Related Information: Turn Off Memory Receive. Print the faxes stored in the memory. See Related Information: Print a Fax Stored in the Machine's Memory.
Paper Size Mismatch	The paper size setting does not match the size of paper in the tray. -OR- You did not set the paper guides in the tray to the indicators for the paper size you are using.	Check that the paper size you selected on the machine's display matches the size of the paper in the tray. See Related Information: Change the Paper Size and Paper Type. Make sure you loaded the paper in the correct orientation and set the paper guides at the indicators for your paper size. See Related Information: Load Paper. After you have checked the paper size and the paper orientation, follow the LCD instructions.
Paper Size Mismatch		If printing from your computer, make sure the paper size you selected in the printer driver matches the size of paper in the tray. See Related Information: Print Settings (Windows) or Print Options (Mac).
Paper Tray not detected	The paper tray is not completely inserted.	Slowly push the paper tray completely into the machine.
Paper Tray not detected	Paper or a foreign object has prevented the paper tray from being inserted correctly.	Pull the paper tray out of the machine, and remove the jammed paper or foreign object. If you cannot find or remove the jammed paper, see Related Information: Printer Jam or Paper Jam.
Repetitive No Paper Fed	Paper dust has accumulated on the surface of the paper pick-up rollers.	Clean the paper pick-up rollers. See Related Information: Clean the Paper Pick-up Rollers.
Replace Ink	One or more of the ink cartridges have reached the end of their lives. The machine will stop all print operations. While memory is available, monochrome faxes will be stored in the memory. If the sending machine has the ability to convert it, the colour fax will be stored in the memory as a monochrome fax.	Replace the ink cartridges. See Related Information: Replace the Ink Cartridges. You can still scan even if the ink is low or needs to be replaced.
The maximum number of devices are already connected using Wi-Fi Direct.	The maximum number of mobile devices are already connected to the Wi-Fi Direct network when the Brother machine is the Group Owner (G/O).	After the current connection between your Brother machine and another mobile device has shut down, try to configure the Wi-Fi Direct settings again. You can confirm the connection status by printing the Network Configuration Report. See Related Information: Print the Network Configuration Report.
Touchscreen Init. Failed	The touchscreen was pressed before the power on initialisation was completed.	Make sure nothing is touching or resting on the touchscreen, especially when plugging the machine in.
Touchscreen Init. Failed	Debris may be stuck between the lower part of the touchscreen and its frame.	Insert a piece of stiff paper between the lower part of the touchscreen and its frame and slide it back and forth to push out the debris.
Tray Settings	This message is displayed when the setting to confirm the paper type and size is enabled.	To not display this confirmation message, change the setting to Off. See Related Information: Change the Check Paper Size Setting.
Unable to Clean XX Unable to Initialize XX Unable to Print XX	The machine has a mechanical problem. -OR- A foreign object, such as a paper clip or a piece of ripped paper, is in the machine.	Open the scanner cover and remove any foreign objects and paper scraps from inside the machine. If the error message continues, disconnect the machine from the power for several minutes, and then reconnect it. See Related Information: Paper is Jammed Inside and in the Front of the Machine (Jam A Inside/Front). (MFC-J1300DW) If you cannot print received faxes, transfer them to another fax machine or to your computer. See Related Information: Transfer Your Faxes or Fax Journal Report.
Unable to Scan XX	The machine has a mechanical problem.	Disconnect the machine from the power for several minutes, and then reconnect it. (MFC-J1300DW) If you cannot print received faxes, transfer them to another fax machine or to your computer. See Related Information: Transfer Your Faxes or Fax Journal Report.
Unusable Device Disconnect device from front connector & turn machine off & then on	A broken device is connected to the USB direct interface.	Unplug the device from the USB direct interface, then press to turn the machine off and then on again.
Unusable Device Please disconnect USB device.	A USB device or USB flash drive that is not supported has been connected to the USB direct interface.	Unplug the device from the USB direct interface. Turn the machine off and then on again.
Wrong Ink Cartridge	The ink cartridge model number is not compatible with your machine.	Verify whether the cartridge model number will work with your machine.
Wrong Ink Colour	An ink cartridge has been installed in the wrong position.	Check which ink cartridges are not matched by colour to their ink cartridge positions and move them to their correct positions.

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