Brother Printer Not Printing Color

How to Fix Brother Printer Not Printing Color

Brother printer users are usually quite happy with the way their devices work. But sometimes, printing problems occur. You may find the Brother printer not printing color. It will produce missing color or blank printouts. This can happen because of improper installation of the ink cartridge or clogged ink nozzles.

Glitches with the printer drivers can also prompt Brother printers to not print color. In this piece, we will explain the causes and solutions of the issue in deeper detail. It will help you quickly resolve the functioning of your printer.

Why Is My Brother Printer Not Printing in Color

Some of the main reasons for Brother printers not printing black or color properly include the following

  • Faulty Brother printer configuration.
  • Ink or toner cartridges need replacement as they’re low in ink.
  • If you find your Brother printer not printing color even when the ink is full, it can be because of an unclean printhead or the toner becoming dislodged.
  • You have loaded the wrong paper size.
  • A printer driver error can cause a Brother printer not to print on Mac.
  • There are too many printing requests.
  • The printer is set to offline.

How to Fix Brother Printer Not Printing Color Correctly

You can now follow these resolutions to make your printer print properly.

1. Use the printer frequently

If your printing device is not printing color correctly, its ink may have dried up. This usually happens when the printer is not used for a week. If you have not been using the printer frequently, check whether it’s functioning well periodically.

Besides this, an infrequently used printer tends to collect dust which also negatively impacts its functioning. So, consider getting a printer cover and using it when your printer is not in use.

2. Update Brother Printer drivers

You must update your printer drivers regularly to keep them running well. This is particularly true for users who have upgraded to Windows 10.

  • Windows
  1. Look underneath your printer to find its model number.
  2. Now head to the official Brother website, and here, input your printer’s model number.
  3. Tap ‘Search.’
  4. Choose ‘Downloads.’
  5. Now, tap your operating system.
  6. Find the relevant driver and download its file.
  7. Double-tap the file when it is downloaded.
  8. Finally, install the new driver.
  • Mac
  1. Go to the Brother printer’s page. Download and install the latest driver version.
  2. Install them on your Mac.
  3. Now adhere to the points on your screen to finish the setup.
  4. Post-installation, launch the Apple menu.
  5. Tap ‘System Preferences’ and then ‘Printers & Scanners.’
  6. To add the printer, tap the ‘+’ sign.
  7. Choose your Brother printer from the printer’s list and tap ‘Add.’

3. Fix the clogged line in the cartridge

If your Brother MFC printer does not print color images as it should, the cause is a clogged line. So, follow these pointers when you find the Brother printer not printing color correctly.

  • Remove the ink cartridges from the printer.
  • Now, take compressed air or a gas duster with a straw.
  • Shoot this air into the hole present on the printhead.
  • It is at this hole that the ink is sucked out of the cartridge.
  • When you shoot the compressed air, it will clear the clogged line.
  • Now, run a cleaning cycle.
  • Give a test print command and see if your Brother printer is printing in color.

4. Check the ink levels

If you don’t know that your cartridges have low ink, you will ask, why is my Brother printer not printing in color? Check the ink levels on the printer’s control panel.

  • Tap ‘Menu.’
  • Using the arrow keys, choose ‘Ink Management.’
  • Hit ‘OK.’
  • Now, select ‘Ink Volume.’
  • Hit ‘OK.’

5. Find out whether the purge pump is faulty

A common problem that impacts the printer’s color printing is a faulty purge pump. Either the pump or its seals can become defective. The purge pump primes the installed cartridges by taking out the ink from them and into the printhead. Then from the printhead, the ink transfers onto the ink nozzles and into the paper.

You should carry out an automatic nozzle clean. It will make the printer ready to print. Also, fix the faulty pump seals by checking whether they are distorted or bucked. Now clean them with a non-oily cleaning liquid.

6. Use genuine ink cartridges.

It is important to check the cartridges when you find the Brother printer not printing color. The cartridges should be genuine and manufactured by Brother. Otherwise, they can damage the device because they are not tested for being compatible with your printer.

7. Check the port settings.

Is your Brother printing device linked to the correct port? You may find the printer not printing color if it is not associated with the right port.

  • Hit ‘Start’ and navigate to ‘Settings’ on your PC.
  • Tap ‘Devices.’
  • Now, choose ‘Printers & Scanners.’
  • In the ‘Devices and Printers’ section, choose your printer and right-click it.
  • Choose ‘Properties’, and under it, select ‘Change Properties.’
  • Select ‘Ports.’
  • Now, click the one with your printer’s name.
  • Lastly, tap ‘Apply.’

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is my Brother printer unable to print in red?

If your printer is not printing red, check whether its ink cartridge is installed correctly. You should also clean the clogged printhead. If the issue doesn’t resolve itself, install a genuine ink cartridge.

2. Why is my Brother printer not printing color all of a sudden?

Your Brother printer may not print in color suddenly because of incorrect printer settings. Check whether your page is set up to produce output in grayscale. If it is set this way, you’ll undoubtedly find the output in black and white. Configure it to default.

3. Why is Brother’s printer not printing even when it has ink?

Brother printer may not print correctly even with ink if there is breather tape on the cartridge. Remove this tape so the ink can come out. You should also check whether the cartridge sits appropriately inside the printer. If not, reset them.

4. How do I make the Brother DCP T710W print in color?

Make your Brother DCP T710W print in color by pressing ‘Color Start.’ You will see a print quality check sheet coming from the printer. Examine the quality of the color blocks. Choose ‘Maintenance’ followed by ‘OK.’ Next, choose ‘Improve Quality’ and then press ‘OK.’ Lastly, select ‘Check Quality’ and hit ‘OK.’

Summing up

Usually, when Brother printer does not print in color, it indicates a problem with the ink cartridge. You must check if they are installed correctly and that the printhead is clean. If you want further assistance troubleshooting issues, contact Brother printer support.