Brother Printer Not Printing Black? Find the Cause
If your Brother printer not printing black is the problem, the printer may still be producing colour normally while black text appears faint, incomplete or completely missing. On an inkjet model, this can happen when the black ink cartridge is empty or the black nozzles are clogged. Incorrect print settings can also affect how black is produced.
The quickest way to narrow it down is to check whether the printer’s own print-quality test also has a missing black section.
Quick Diagnosis: Start Here
| What you’re seeing | Start here |
|---|---|
| Black text is completely missing | Go to Fix 1 |
| Black printing is very faint | Go to Fix 2 |
| The problem started after changing the black ink | Go to Fix 3 |
| Colour prints normally but black does not | Go to Fix 4 |
| Printer’s test page has missing black | Go to Fix 5 |
| Test page prints black normally but documents don’t | Go to Fix 6 |
| Black printing stopped after a computer or driver change | Go to Fix 7 |
| Black still won’t print after these checks | Go to Fix 8 |
Why This Happens
A Brother printer may stop printing black for several reasons:
- The black ink cartridge is empty or very low.
- The black cartridge is not installed correctly.
- The black print-head nozzles are clogged.
- The printer has been unused for an extended period.
- Print settings are affecting how black is produced.
- A particular document or application is causing the problem.
- The printer driver or software is not configured correctly.
The important first step is to determine whether the printer itself cannot produce black or whether the problem happens only when printing from your computer.
Fix 1: Check the Black Ink Level
Start with the black ink supply.
Check the ink level shown on the printer or in its software. If the black cartridge is empty or extremely low, replace it with the correct cartridge for your Brother model.
If the printer reports that the black cartridge is installed but the page is still completely missing black, don’t immediately replace another cartridge.
Instead, print a quality-check page and see whether the black section appears.
Fix 2: Run a Print-Quality Check
A print-quality check can tell you whether black ink is actually reaching the paper.
Use the printer’s built-in print-quality or nozzle-check function where supported.
Look at the black pattern.
If you see:
- Missing lines
- Gaps
- Very faint black
- No black at all
the issue is likely within the black ink path or print head rather than the document you’re printing.
If the black pattern looks normal, move on to the computer-side checks.
Fix 3: Check a Newly Installed Black Cartridge
If the problem started after replacing the black ink cartridge, check the installation.
Remove and reinstall the cartridge according to your Brother model’s instructions.
Make sure:
- It is the correct cartridge for your printer.
- Any required protective material has been removed.
- The cartridge is fully seated.
- The printer recognises the cartridge.
Then run another print-quality check.
A cartridge that isn’t seated properly may not supply ink correctly even though it appears to be installed.
Fix 4: Check Whether the Printer Is Producing Black at All
If colour printing works but black doesn’t, print a page containing both black text and colour elements.
You can also use the printer’s own print-quality check.
If colour sections appear normally but the black section is missing, focus on the black cartridge and print-head/nozzle system.
If black appears on the printer’s test page but disappears only when printing a document from your computer, the problem is more likely to be related to print settings or software.
Fix 5: Clean the Print Head
If the black section of the printer’s quality check is missing or broken, use the printer’s normal print-head cleaning function where supported.
After cleaning, run another quality check.
If the black pattern improves, the nozzles may have been partially clogged.
Avoid running cleaning cycles repeatedly without checking the result. Print-head cleaning consumes ink, so it’s better to check the quality after each normal cleaning cycle.
If black remains absent despite normal maintenance, the issue may require model-specific troubleshooting or service.
Fix 6: Check the Print Settings
If the printer’s own test page prints black normally but your documents don’t, check the computer.
Open the print settings and look for options related to:
- Colour
- Grayscale
- Black & white
- Ink or print quality
- Paper type
Try printing a simple document containing ordinary black text.
If black works from one application but not another, the problem may be specific to the original application or document rather than the Brother printer.
Fix 7: Check the Brother Printer Driver
If black printing worked previously but stopped after changing computers, updating Windows or reinstalling the printer, check the Brother printer software.
Make sure the correct driver is installed for your exact printer model and operating system.
If necessary, reinstall the appropriate Brother printer software and test black printing again.
This is particularly useful when the printer’s own quality page is normal but documents sent from the computer behave differently.
Fix 8: Compare a Printer Test With a Computer Print
If you’re still unsure where the problem is, compare two prints.
First, print the printer’s own quality-check page.
Then print a simple document from your computer containing black text.
If both are missing black
Focus on the ink cartridge, print head and printer maintenance.
If the printer test has normal black but the computer document does not
Focus on print settings, the application and the Brother printer driver.
This comparison helps separate a printer-side problem from a computer-side problem without unnecessarily replacing ink or changing hardware.
How to Prevent Brother Printer Black-Printing Problems
A few simple habits can help:
- Avoid leaving an inkjet printer unused for very long periods.
- Check black ink levels before important print jobs.
- Use the correct cartridge for your Brother model.
- Make sure replacement cartridges are installed correctly.
- Run normal print-quality maintenance when print quality starts to deteriorate.
- Check print settings before assuming the cartridge is faulty.
- Keep the appropriate Brother printer software installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Brother printer not printing black?
Check the black ink level and print a quality-check page. If the black pattern is missing, the cartridge or print-head/nozzle system may be responsible. If the test page is normal, check your computer’s print settings and driver.
Why is my Brother printer printing colour but not black?
If colour prints normally but black is missing, check the black cartridge and run a print-quality test. On compatible inkjet models, clogged black nozzles can also cause this problem.
Why is black printing faint on my Brother printer?
Low ink, poor ink flow or partially clogged nozzles can cause faint black printing. Check the black ink level and run the printer’s normal print-quality maintenance.
Why did black printing stop after I replaced the cartridge?
The replacement cartridge may not be seated correctly, may not be recognised properly or may still have protective material that needs to be removed. Check the installation before changing other settings.
Why does the Brother printer test page print black but my document doesn’t?
If the printer’s own test page contains normal black, the printer can produce black successfully. Check the application’s print settings, grayscale options and Brother printer driver.
Can a clogged print head stop black ink from printing?
Yes. On compatible Brother inkjet models, clogged nozzles can prevent black ink from reaching the paper. The printer’s normal cleaning function can help restore the ink flow.
Should I replace the black cartridge immediately?
Not necessarily. First check the reported ink level and print a quality-check page. If the cartridge still has ink and the printer’s black pattern is missing, the issue may be related to ink flow or the print head.
