Blank pages from a Brother usually trace to supplies or a new-consumable fault. On laser models Brother's toner article says the machine has separate consumables, the toner cartridge and the drum unit, so check both are installed, that you replaced only the right one and that the toner is a brand new, unused cartridge, since a partially used or swapped cartridge stops the machine reading toner consumption correctly.
The checks in more detail
Reinstall the cartridge and drum as one assembly, making sure the orange seal or tab has been removed from a new cartridge, and check that the cartridge is seated and the front cover closed. Brother also says a dirty corona wire can cause this class of fault: slide the green corona cleaner tab back and forth a few times on the drum unit, as the machine's manual shows. If a single color is missing on a color laser, check that color's toner cartridge.
On INKvestment inkjets, print the nozzle check from the maintenance menu, clean the print head from the menu and check the ink tanks are filled and their caps closed. Check the paper is loaded print side correctly, and that the file is not blank. Print a test page from the panel to separate a machine fault from a document fault. If the machine still prints blank with new genuine supplies, contact Brother. Keep new consumables in their packaging until you fit them, and fit the toner and drum together the first time so that you know both are seated.
A quick test page after any supply change catches a blank-page fault before it wastes paper. Look at the toner cartridge and drum in daylight for a missing seal or damage before assuming the machine is at fault, and photograph what you find. If blank pages appear only when printing from one program, export the file to PDF and print that, which tells you whether the file or the machine is at fault.
Differential
Likely causes of “Brother printers (MFC, DCP, HL and QL series) prints blank pages”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A seal or tab left on
What separates it The pages are blank because a seal or tab was left on a cartridge
How to confirm Remove the seal or tab, and fit the cartridge again
- 2
A partly used or swapped toner
What separates it A toner error shows and the output is blank because the toner was partly used or swapped
How to confirm Use a new unused cartridge, since a used one can cause a toner error
- 3
A cartridge not seated
What separates it The pages are blank or light because a cartridge is not seated
How to confirm Reinstall the toner and the drum, and push them in firmly
- 4
A dirty corona wire
What separates it The pages are faint or blank because the corona wire is dirty
How to confirm Clean the corona wire, using the green tab, and print again
- 5
Empty ink or a blocked head
What separates it The inkjet pages are blank because the ink is empty or the head is blocked
How to confirm Clean the head, and check the ink tanks, and then print again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- A test page from the panel
- The status of the toner and the drum unit
- Whether the supplies are genuine Brother ones
- Any message that the display shows
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedPrint a test page
ReversiblePrint a test page from the panel, to see whether the machine prints at all.
Check the toner and drum
ReversibleCheck the toner and the drum, and make sure that both are fitted properly, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Remove seals
ReversibleRemove the seals, meaning the tabs that come on new cartridges, before you use them.
Reinstall the assembly
ReversibleReinstall the assembly, and seat it firmly, until it clicks into place, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clean the corona wire, using the green tab, and print again
ReversibleClean the corona wire, using the green tab, which is on the drum unit, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clean the head
ReversibleClean the head on inkjet models, using the cleaning routine in the menu, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Brother
ReversibleContact Brother if the pages stay blank, and give them the model and the message.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Laser
- Toner and drum are separate parts on Brother lasers.
- INKvestment
- Tank inkjets use refillable ink tanks and a cleanable head.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models L5915DW, L8905CDW, L3295CDW, L2460DW, L2640DW, J1010DW, J4535DW.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If pages stay blank with new genuine supplies, contact Brother
- !If only one color is missing, replace that toner
- !If inkjet pages stay blank after cleaning, the head may need service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
New toner, installation, drum and corona wire.
Resetting the drum counter.
Power, connection, Recover WLAN and Windows checks.
Replacing the drum unit.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why are pages blank?+
A seal left on, a seated fault or empty supplies.
Must the toner be new?+
Yes, a brand new unused cartridge.
Does the drum matter?+
Yes, both toner and drum must be fitted.
Can a missing color be one toner?+
Yes, a missing color can be one toner, so check each color on a color laser.
Can inkjets go blank?+
A clogged head or empty tank.
Should I test from the panel?+
Yes, test from the panel, since that shows whether the machine prints at all.
Are genuine supplies important?+
Brother recommends genuine supplies, since others can cause errors.