Brother Printer Error Code 29 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Brother error code 29 indicates a paper jam at the exit area of the printer — the point where printed paper comes out. The paper made it through most of the paper path but got stuck just before or at the output tray. This is usually easy to clear but requires care to avoid tearing the paper.

Affected Models

Brother HL-L2350DW
Brother MFC-L2710DW
Brother HL-L3210CW
Brother DCP-L2550DW
Brother MFC-L3770CDW

Common Causes

The output tray is full and the newly printed sheet has nowhere to go, causing a backup at the exit rollers
The exit rollers are dirty or worn and lost their grip on the paper before it fully exited the printer
The paper used is too heavy or too stiff for the exit rollers to push it out cleanly
A folded or curled sheet of paper got caught on the lip of the output tray as it exited
An object — like a pen or notebook — was placed on the output tray and is blocking paper from coming out

How to Fix It

Turn the printer off. Do not try to pull the paper out with the printer running — the exit rollers are still trying to push the paper and you may tear it.

On laser printers, the exit area is close to the fuser, which gets very hot. Wait 5 minutes after powering off before reaching near the exit area.
Look at the paper exit slot at the top or front of the printer. If you can see the edge of the jammed sheet, gently pull it straight out in the direction it was heading.

Pull gently and evenly. If you feel significant resistance, stop — do not force it. Try opening the rear access panel to push the paper forward from behind instead.
Open the rear access panel (if your model has one). This gives you a straight line through the paper path and is often the easiest way to remove an exit-area jam without tearing the paper.

On some Brother models the rear panel is a small door. On others, the entire back opens by pressing two tabs simultaneously.
Clear the output tray of any printed pages already there. Make sure nothing is sitting on top of or in front of the output tray that could block the next sheet from exiting.

If the output tray is regularly overflowing, consider picking up printed pages more frequently to prevent exit jams from happening again.
Clean the exit rollers. Open the rear panel, locate the exit rollers (usually two or three rubber rollers near the top of the rear opening), and wipe them with a damp lint-free cloth.

Dirty exit rollers are a common cause of exit jams on older printers. Clean them every 3 to 6 months for best results.

When to Call a Professional

If the exit rollers are worn (they look smooth and shiny instead of having a grippy texture), they need to be replaced. Brother exit roller kits are available online for $15 to $30. If you are not comfortable replacing them yourself, a local printer repair shop can do it quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the paper jam at the exit on every other page but not every page?

Intermittent exit jams often happen because the exit rollers are borderline — worn enough to fail occasionally but not fully gone yet. As the rollers continue to wear, the jams will become more frequent. Cleaning the rollers may help temporarily, but replacement is the permanent fix.

My Brother printer keeps jamming at the exit only when printing double-sided — why?

Duplex (two-sided) printing routes the paper back through the printer for the second side. If the paper comes out slightly curled or damp (from laser toner heat) after the first side, it can struggle to exit cleanly after the second pass. Try using heavier paper (24 lb / 90 gsm) for duplex jobs — it holds its shape better than standard 20 lb paper.

Is it safe to pull jammed paper out of the back of a Brother laser printer?

Yes, using the rear panel is the recommended method for many exit jams. It gives you a straight pull angle without having to fight against the printer's internal structure. Just make sure the printer is off and has cooled for at least 5 minutes before reaching near the fuser area.