On the covered Brother printer, Print Unable 46 means print Unable 46 means the machine's ink absorbers are almost full, per Brother's MFC-490CW FAQ. The absorbers hold liquid and dried ink purged from the print head, and Brother says they can control enough ink for the expected life of the machine. First, note when the machine last cleaned its print head automatically.
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0 of 2 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleNote when the machine last cleaned its print head automatically.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleBrother lists when the machine cleans the print head automatically, which is how ink reaches the absorbers: at the initial installation of the ink cartridges; when the machine is turned on after being powered off while idle; on the first print job after a paper jam is cleared; if the print head was not capped properly in standby; when an empty cartridge is replaced while the machine is powered off; and after 45 days powered on with no use. Brother says the message may have occurred in error, and that a firmware update may resolve it: press STOP/EXIT to reach the main screen, press the # and * keys together, and read the first two characters of the top row as the ROM version.
Version OE or later needs no update, while OA, OB, OC or OD should be updated with Brother's firmware update tool, which erases any stored faxes, so print or back them up first, and the update must not be interrupted. If Print Unable 46 continues after the update, Brother sends you to its warranty and service options.
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What does Print Unable 46 mean on a Brother printer?+
Print Unable 46 means the machine's ink absorbers are almost full, per Brother's MFC-490CW FAQ. The absorbers hold liquid and dried ink purged from the print head, and Brother says they can control enough ink for the expected life of the machine.