# Why is my printer not printing black when ink is full brother?
## Brother printer not printing black | 1-877-331-5006| Brother printer shows low

It’s a frustrating moment: your **[Brother printer shows that your black ink cartridge is full](https://hubinfo.bettermode.io/discussions/post/why-is-my-printer-not-printing-black-when-ink-is-full-brother-LtcAS5THTbuwscK)**, but nothing comes out when you try to print black text or images. While Brother printers are generally reliable, issues with black ink printing are not uncommon. The good news? Many of these issues can be resolved at home with a bit of troubleshooting.

This guide explores all the potential causes of this issue and provides step-by-step solutions to help you get back to printing normally.

### **Common Causes of Black Ink Not Printing**
Even though your printer shows a full cartridge, it doesn’t necessarily mean the ink is flowing correctly. Here are the most frequent culprits:

**1. Clogged Printhead**
Brother inkjet printers (especially those not used frequently) are prone to printhead clogs. This happens when ink dries up and blocks the nozzles, preventing ink from reaching the page.

**2. Air Bubbles in the Ink Line**
If you recently changed or refilled a cartridge, an air bubble could have formed in the ink delivery line, interrupting the ink flow—especially black, which is used the most.

**3. Faulty or Counterfeit Cartridge**
Even if the ink cartridge is full, it may be defective or not recognized properly by the printer. Sometimes aftermarket or refilled cartridges don’t seat correctly, or their chips malfunction.

**4. Printhead Alignment or Calibration Issues**
Misalignment can cause ink to be sprayed inaccurately, making it look like black isn’t printing at all.

**5. Driver or Software Issues**
Outdated or corrupt printer drivers can cause malfunctioning print jobs, including black ink not printing correctly.

**6. Incorrect Printer Settings**
Your print settings may be set to grayscale, color only, or another mode that doesn't use black ink.

**7. Firmware Glitch**
Sometimes firmware can incorrectly report ink levels or fail to initiate proper printing sequences.

**Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide**
**Step 1: Check the Obvious**
Start with the basics:

Is the printer turned on and connected?

Is the black cartridge properly installed and clicked into place?

Is there a protective strip (used in new cartridges) still covering the ink port?

Are you printing a document that actually contains black text or images?

**Step 2: Print a Test Page**
A test page will help determine whether the issue is with the black ink alone or something broader.

How to print a test page:

Go to your printer’s menu.

Navigate to Ink Management > Test Print > Print Quality.

Select to print the page.

Check if black ink appears. If all colors are fine but black is missing or faint, you’ve likely got a clog or ink delivery problem.

Cleaning and Maintenance
**Step 3: Run the Printhead Cleaning Cycle**
Brother printers have a built-in cleaning function to clear clogs.

On your printer, go to Ink Management > Cleaning.

Choose Black or All if you suspect other colors are also affected.

Allow the cleaning cycle to complete (it may take a few minutes).

Repeat up to 3 times, but no more—too many cycles can waste ink.

Then print another test page.

⚠️ Tip: Don’t run multiple cleaning cycles in a row—wait a few minutes in between to avoid overheating the printhead.

**Step 4: Deep Cleaning Manually (If Necessary)**
If cleaning via the menu doesn’t work, you may need to manually clean the printhead.

Steps:

Remove the black cartridge.

Use a lint-free cloth and warm distilled water or isopropyl alcohol.

Gently dab the printhead area until no dried ink appears.

Use a syringe or ink flush kit to push cleaning fluid through the nozzles (only for advanced users).

Caution: Manual cleaning may void your warranty if not done correctly.

Cartridge-Related Fixes
**Step 5: Try a Different Cartridge**
Even if your black cartridge is full, it might be defective.

Try:

Replacing it with a new genuine Brother cartridge.

Reseating the cartridge (remove it, wait 30 seconds, reinstall).

Wiping the chip with a microfiber cloth.

If the new cartridge works, the old one may have been faulty or counterfeit.

Software & Settings
**Step 6: Check Printer Settings on Your Computer
Sometimes your print settings are to blame.**

Open the Printer Preferences from Control Panel or your print dialog box.

Make sure it's not set to “Color Only”, “Grayscale”, or “Use Color Ink Only”.

Select Plain Paper as media type and Normal Quality—these options typically use black ink.

**Step 7: Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause strange behavior.**

To update:

Go to Brother’s official website.

Enter your model number and download the latest drivers.

Uninstall your current printer from Devices and Printers, then reinstall using the new driver.

Bonus: Sometimes, simply uninstalling and reinstalling the printer will fix glitches.

**Step 8: Power Cycle the Printer**
Turn off the printer, unplug it for 5 minutes, and restart it. This clears internal memory and can fix temporary glitches.

**Firmware & Hidden Issues**
**Step 9: Check for Firmware Updates**
Sometimes Brother releases firmware updates that fix ink detection or printhead control issues.

**To check:**

Visit Brother’s support site.

Download the firmware update tool.

Run it while the printer is connected via USB or Wi-Fi.

**Step 10: Reset the Printer to Factory Settings
If all else fails:**

Navigate to Initial Setup > Reset > Factory Reset.

Follow the prompts.

This will remove any corrupted settings but won’t fix hardware issues.
**Related Blog:**
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{%preview https://hubinfo.bettermode.io/discussions/post/why-is-my-brother-printer-not-printing-anything-even-though-it-has-ink-8YhrLm6yorEzEqj %}

**When to Call for Help**
If none of the above steps work, you might be dealing with:

A damaged printhead (especially if black hasn't worked for a long time).

A malfunctioning ink delivery system (rare but possible).

A main board or logic board issue, which can only be fixed professionally.

**How to Prevent This in the Future**
Print regularly: At least once a week to prevent ink from drying.

Use genuine ink: Third-party inks are cheaper but may cause clogs.

Keep it clean: Avoid dust build-up around the cartridge and printhead.

Avoid overheating: Don’t run too many cleaning cycles in a row.

**Final Thoughts**
A **[Brother printer that refuses to print black](https://hubinfo.bettermode.io/discussions/post/why-is-my-printer-not-printing-black-when-ink-is-full-brother-LtcAS5THTbuwscK)** ink despite a full cartridge can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, most of these issues are fixable with proper troubleshooting. Whether it’s a clogged printhead, faulty cartridge, or incorrect settings, following the steps above can usually resolve the problem.

If you’re still having issues, let me know your printer model (e.g., Brother MFC-J805DW), and I’ll tailor the fix to your exact situation.