Brother Printer Keeps Jamming? A Few Suggestions to Fix

How annoying is it when paper gets stuck in your printer, and you have to almost disassemble the machine to get it out? And why do printers always start jamming when you’re in a hurry?

Brother printers are excellent, but you’re still not safe from paper jams. If your Brother printer keeps jamming, here are a few suggestions that may fix the problem.

Why Does My Printer Keep Jamming?

If you’re dealing with paper jams every time you try to print something, here are the possible reasons.

1. The Tray Is Overloaded

You may be putting too much paper into the paper tray. It should never be overfilled as it can often cause a jam. If you only put the amount of paper you’re going to use for one printing task, you’re less likely to suffer a jam. Also, make sure the paper fits the tray and that it’s inserted correctly. Because the wrong size or incorrectly positioned paper can get stuck in the printer.

2. You’re Using the Wrong Paper

If you’re using the wrong kind of paper, this could be the reason why your printer keeps jamming. You can’t use cardboard, not even the thinnest kind. Office paper works with any printer model, while thicker or folded paper will likely cause a jam.

3. You’ve Given Too Many Commands in a Row

If you’ve given the printing command to the printer and nothing happens, don’t repeat the command ten more times. Have patience and wait for a moment. If it still isn’t working, you can try restarting or unplugging the printer. If it’s just a temporary bug, multiple commands could cause a paper jam.

4. There’s a Foreign Object in the Printer

Check your printer for foreign objects that may be causing the jams. There may be some overlooked paper leftover from the last time the printer jammed, sticky notes, paper clips, or anything that may have ended up in a pile of office paper by mistake.

5. The Paper Pick-up Rollers Are Dusty

The rollers may not be picking up the paper correctly due to accumulated dust. This can often cause a jam. Therefore, you should clean the rollers from time to time. Don’t forget to unplug your printer first, though. You can use a soft kitchen cloth and water to clean the rollers.

6. There Is a Hardware Issue

Sometimes, there’s a hardware issue that you may not be able to solve on your own. If your Brother printer is still under warranty, you should contact a professional and have it repaired. Often, a part may need replacing.

7. There Is a Software Issue

You’ve checked the printer, and you can’t see any paper stuck in it. Therefore, it could be a software error where the LCD keeps displaying the message when there actually isn’t a paper jam. Restart the machine and see if the message keeps popping up.

How to Deal with a Paper Jam

Whatever the reason for the paper jam, you should know how to fix it if it happens. The official Brother printer support suggests a few solutions depending on what kind of problem you’re experiencing. You’ll see a message on the LCD, telling you where the paper is stuck: at the front, at the back, or both.

Before you start troubleshooting, unplug the printer from the power source. If you’re checking the inside of the printer and touching the print head, you should wait for it to cool down first.

If the paper is stuck at the front, you should follow these steps:

1. Remove the paper tray from the printer. Don’t leave the paper support open.
2. Slowly remove the jammed paper.
3. If there’s jammed paper under the jam clear flap, raise it and remove the paper.
4. Check other places in the printer where paper could be jammed, such as under the scanner cover.
5. When you’ve removed all the jammed paper from the printer, you can plug it back into the socket and check if the LCD has stopped displaying the error message.

If the paper gets stuck at the back, here’s what to do:

1. Open the back cover of your Brother printer.
2. Carefully remove the jammed paper.
3. Close the cover and make sure you’ve done it correctly.
4. Take a look at the inside of the printer for any leftover paper.
5. Plug the printer back into the outlet and check if it’s working properly now.

If the paper is jammed on both sides, follow the previous instructions step by step. You should first remove the jammed paper from the front, then from the back, and then check the inside of the printer. Make sure there isn’t any remaining paper jammed under the print head, but be careful not to get ink on your clothes.

Easy Fixes, Easy Prevention

One of these fixes is sure to stop your Brother printer from further jamming. All the suggestions are quite easy to apply and can be done in a few minutes, unless you need to have the printer repaired. However, if you prevent paper jams by following our tips, you can postpone potential hardware repairs and prolong the life of your printer.

Does your Brother printer keep jamming? Which one of the fixes worked for you? Let us know in the comments section below.