Brother Printer Error Code 61 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Brother error 61 means the printer's front cover or top cover sensor detected that a cover is open — or the cover is closed but the sensor thinks it's open. The printer won't print with any cover open as a safety measure. Sometimes the cover is genuinely not fully latched. Other times the cover sensor itself is faulty and thinks the cover is open when it's actually closed. Firmly closing all covers usually fixes this immediately.

Affected Models

Brother HL-L2350DW
Brother MFC-L2710DW
Brother MFC-J5945DW
Brother DCP-L2550DW
Brother HL-L8360CDW

Common Causes

Front cover not fully closed — the latch didn't engage properly
A piece of paper, toner residue, or foreign object preventing the cover from fully closing
A faulty or stuck cover open/close sensor inside the printer
Drum or toner cartridge not fully seated, preventing the cover from latching
A broken or bent cover hinge preventing the cover from reaching the fully-closed position

How to Fix It

Open the front cover completely and close it firmly. Press on both sides of the cover as you close it — both left and right latches must engage. An even, firm push while the cover is level ensures both sides click into place simultaneously.

A cover that appears closed but wasn't closed with enough force often triggers error 61. Press firmly until you hear or feel a click on each side.
Open the front cover and remove the toner cartridge and drum unit. Inspect the inside of the printer and the toner cartridge area for any debris, torn paper, or toner residue that might be preventing the cover from seating fully.

Even a small wad of jammed paper near the toner bay can hold the cover slightly open.
Reinstall the toner and drum unit. Make sure the drum unit is fully seated — push it firmly inward until it stops and clicks into place. A drum unit that's slightly out of position prevents the front cover from closing completely.

The drum unit slides in on a track. You should feel it seat firmly with no wobbling. An arrow on the drum should align with an arrow inside the printer.
Close the front cover again firmly and check all other covers too — the document feeder, rear output tray, and manual feed slot cover. Some Brother models will show error 61 if any cover is detected as open, not just the front one.

The rear paper output flap is sometimes accidentally left open after manual feed printing. Check it too.
If the cover appears fully closed but error 61 persists, the cover sensor switch is likely stuck or faulty. The sensor is a small mechanical switch that the cover presses when it latches. You can sometimes free a stuck sensor switch by opening and closing the cover several times rapidly to dislodge debris from the switch contact.

If the switch needs replacement, it's a small, inexpensive part. A local printer repair shop can replace it quickly.

When to Call a Professional

Error 61 is usually self-fixable. If firmly closing the cover doesn't work and no obstruction is present, the cover sensor may be faulty. A technician can replace the cover sensor switch for $30-$60 including parts and labor. For older printers, check whether repair is worth it compared to buying new.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if the cover is actually closed on my Brother printer?

The front cover should sit flush with the front of the printer — there should be no visible gap around the edges. When properly latched, you should be able to pull on the cover slightly and feel it locked in place. If the cover moves even a tiny bit when you pull it, it didn't fully latch. Pressing both sides of the cover firmly simultaneously usually achieves a full latch.

Can I reset Brother error 61 without opening the cover?

No — error 61 is triggered by the physical cover sensor state, not a software flag. The error will stay active as long as the sensor reports 'cover open.' You must address the physical cover situation — either by closing it properly or fixing the sensor — to clear the error.

My Brother printer shows error 61 but I just replaced the toner — why?

Toner replacement is the most common trigger for this error. After replacing toner, it's easy to forget to push the drum unit back in all the way before closing the cover. The drum unit has to be seated fully before the front cover can latch properly. Open the cover, push the drum unit in firmly until it stops, then close the cover.