Paper Jam
Brother Inkjet / Laser Printer
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
Brother paper jams are most often caused by paper not loaded correctly, a piece of torn paper remaining from a previous jam, or worn paper feed rollers. Always clear jams slowly in the direction of paper travel — never pull against the paper path.
Affected Models
- Brother MFC series
- Brother HL series
- Brother DCP series
- Brother HL-L series laser printers
- Brother MFC-J series inkjet printers
Common Causes
- Paper loaded askew in the tray — not aligned with the guides
- Paper tray overfilled beyond the maximum fill line
- Torn paper fragment from a previous jam still inside the printer
- Paper too thick, thin, or damp for the printer model
- Worn paper feed rollers not gripping the paper cleanly
- Multiple sheets feeding simultaneously (multi-feed)
How to Fix It
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Turn off the printer and unplug it.
Press the power button to turn off the Brother printer fully. Unplug from the mains. For laser printers, wait 10 minutes before reaching inside — the fuser unit becomes very hot during printing.
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Open all access panels and locate the jammed paper.
Open the front cover (on laser models, this reveals the drum and toner cartridge area). Also open the rear cover / back output tray. For inkjet models, open the scanner lid and the ink cartridge access area. Look in each area for jammed paper — sometimes it is easier to see from the back.
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Remove jammed paper slowly and in the correct direction.
Using both hands, gently pull the jammed paper in the direction it was travelling (the direction paper normally exits the printer). Never pull against the paper path — this tears the paper and leaves fragments inside. If the paper is in the fuser area (laser printers), pull straight down toward you, not upward.
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Check for torn paper fragments.
Shine a torch inside every access area and the paper path. Even a small 1 cm × 1 cm torn piece will cause the jam sensor to remain triggered. Use tweezers to carefully remove all fragments. Do not use metal tools near the drum unit or fuser on laser printers.
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Reload the paper tray correctly.
Remove all paper from the input tray. Fan the paper to separate any stuck sheets. Load a fresh stack aligned squarely against all four tray guides. Do not fill above the maximum fill line. For laser printers, ensure you are using paper rated for laser printing (80 gsm is standard).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Brother printer keep jamming in the same place?
Repeated jams in the same location usually indicate worn paper feed rollers at that point in the paper path. The rollers lose their grip over time and no longer pull paper through cleanly. Brother sells roller replacement kits for most laser models, and the replacement is documented in the service manual. Cleaning the existing rollers with a lint-free cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol can temporarily restore grip.