Brother Printer Error 90 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 90 on Brother laser printers means a sheet of paper is jammed in the paper exit area — the rollers and path at the front of the printer where pages come out. The paper started to exit but did not complete its journey out of the printer. Removing the jammed sheet clears the error immediately.

Affected Models

Brother HL-L2370DW
Brother HL-L2395DW
Brother MFC-L2750DW
Brother DCP-L2550DW
Brother HL-L2350DW

Common Causes

The paper caught on a worn exit roller and did not feed all the way out of the printer
The paper was slightly too long or too heavy for the paper exit tray's capacity and folded back
Multiple sheets were picked up at once and the resulting bundle jammed at the exit rollers
The exit tray was overfilled and a completed sheet caught on the stack and was pulled back
The paper used is too lightweight and flimsily bent or creased before clearing the exit rollers

How to Fix It

Cancel the current print job on your computer before attempting to clear the jam. This prevents the printer from immediately trying to pull more paper when you clear the jam.

In Windows, go to Settings > Printers & scanners, click your Brother printer, and select Open print queue. Cancel all jobs.
Open the front cover of the printer and remove the drum and toner assembly. Set it aside on a flat surface. This gives you clear access to the paper path inside.

Avoid exposing the drum unit to bright light for more than a few minutes — cover it with a dark cloth if you will be clearing the jam for a while.
Look for the jammed paper in the exit area — the slot where pages come out. Grip the paper with both hands and pull it out firmly and evenly in the direction it was traveling. Do not pull it backward.

Pulling paper backward against the roller direction is more likely to tear it, leaving a small piece inside the printer.
Check for any torn pieces of paper remaining inside the printer. Use a flashlight to look inside the paper path. Even a small scrap will cause the next jam error.

Common hiding spots for paper scraps are around the exit rollers, behind the fuser, and near the paper registration area.
Reinsert the drum and toner assembly. Close the front cover. Turn the printer off and back on. Print a test page to confirm the jam is fully cleared.

If the error 90 returns immediately on the next print job, there is likely a torn paper scrap still inside the printer that needs to be located and removed.

When to Call a Professional

Error 90 is almost always user-resolvable by removing the jammed paper. If paper jams at the exit consistently on every print job, the exit rollers are worn and need replacement. Exit rollers on Brother laser printers are usually part of a maintenance kit that also includes the pickup roller and separator pad. A technician can replace the full maintenance kit quickly, or you can order and install the kit yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does error 90 keep happening even after I clear the jam?

If jams keep occurring at the exit, the exit rollers are the most likely cause. Exit rollers wear down over time and lose their grip, causing them to fail to push the final portion of the sheet out. A Brother maintenance kit replaces these rollers and is usually worth doing if the printer has been in use for several years or tens of thousands of pages.

Is it okay to pull the jammed paper out from the exit slot?

Yes — pulling in the forward direction through the exit slot is the correct method for a 90 error. Pulling the paper backward through the fuser can damage the fuser film. If the paper will not come out forward, check whether it is also caught further inside the paper path and free that end first.

My Brother printer shows error 90 but I cannot find any paper inside. What now?

Check more carefully — sometimes a single sheet is jammed flush against the exit rollers and hard to see. Also look at the rear access panel if your model has one. If you truly cannot find any paper and the error persists, the exit sensor itself may be stuck in a triggered position, which requires a technician to inspect.