Brother Printer Error Code 75 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Brother error 75 indicates the printer detected that the paper or media loaded does not match the paper type setting in the print driver or printer menu. The printer is trying to protect you from printing on the wrong paper, which could cause poor print quality or a paper jam. Adjusting the paper type settings to match the paper you actually loaded fixes this quickly. This is not a hardware fault — it's a settings mismatch.

Affected Models

Brother MFC-J5945DW
Brother MFC-J6945DW
Brother MFC-J995DW
Brother MFC-J805DW
Brother DCP-J1200W

Common Causes

Paper type setting in the printer driver set to a different media than what's loaded (e.g., glossy vs. plain)
Paper size setting in the driver doesn't match the paper size physically loaded in the tray
Using the manual feed slot with a paper type that doesn't match the manual feed settings
Tray 2 (if present) contains different paper than what the job is configured to use
Auto-detect paper sensor misconfigured or detecting the wrong media type

How to Fix It

Check what paper type is loaded in the tray and what type is selected in your print job settings. On your computer, open Print > Printer Properties > Paper/Quality tab. Make sure the Media Type setting matches what's in the tray (e.g., Plain Paper, Inkjet Paper, Photo Paper).

Selecting 'Photo Paper Glossy' in the driver while plain paper is loaded is the most common trigger for error 75.
On the printer itself, confirm the tray paper type setting. Go to Menu > Tray Settings > Paper Type and verify it matches the paper loaded. The printer's internal setting and the driver setting must both match the actual paper in the tray.

If you change paper types frequently, get in the habit of updating both the driver setting and the printer's menu setting every time.
Check the paper size too. Error 75 on some Brother models appears when the paper size setting doesn't match the loaded paper. Confirm both the printer menu and driver are set to the same paper size (e.g., Letter, A4, Legal).

Letter and A4 are often confused — Letter is 8.5 x 11 inches (US standard), A4 is slightly narrower and longer (European standard). Using the wrong size setting causes mismatch errors.
Remove the paper from the tray, re-fan the stack, and reload it squarely. Make sure the paper guides slide in to hold the paper firmly without buckling it. Misaligned paper can trigger paper-type detection sensor errors on some Brother inkjet models.

Paper guides should be snug against the paper edges but not so tight that they bend the stack.
If the error persists with correct settings, reset the printer to factory defaults. On most Brother models, go to Menu > Initial Setup > Reset > Factory Reset > Yes. This clears any corrupted paper settings that may be causing the mismatch detection.

A factory reset will also clear your network settings — you'll need to reconnect the printer to your Wi-Fi after the reset.

When to Call a Professional

Error 75 never requires a technician — it's a settings issue, not a hardware problem. If error 75 persists after confirming the paper settings match, and the paper type detection sensor is malfunctioning, Brother support at 1-877-276-8437 can walk you through a sensor calibration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Brother printer care what type of paper I use?

Different paper types require different amounts of ink, different drying times, and different print head passes. Using plain paper settings with photo paper results in too little ink and washed-out photos. Using photo paper settings with plain paper floods the page with ink, causing smearing and bleeding. The paper type setting also controls the print head temperature on some models. Matching the setting to the actual paper is important for good print quality.

Can I bypass error 75 to keep printing?

In most cases, no — the printer won't print while the mismatch is active. The fastest fix is simply changing the paper type setting in the printer driver before resending the print job. This takes about 15 seconds and is much faster than calling support or resetting the printer.

My Brother printer keeps showing error 75 even after I match the settings — why?

If settings are correct and the error persists, the auto-detect paper sensor may be miscalibrated. Some Brother inkjet printers have a sensor that physically measures the paper thickness to detect type. This sensor can become dirty or miscalibrated. Cleaning the sensor gently with a dry cotton swab, or running the printer's auto-calibration routine from the settings menu, usually resolves this.