You install a cartridge, close the cover, and your Brother printer still says it can't detect ink. The right fix depends on the exact message, the cartridge, and your printer model. Start by seating the cartridge properly, then work through the checks below that match your printer.
Reseat the cartridge slowly
Brother lists an incorrectly installed cartridge as a cause of Cannot Detect, so make sure each cartridge is fully locked into place.
Open the ink-cartridge cover.
Press the lock-release lever for the affected color and remove that cartridge.
Reinsert it slowly and firmly until it locks into place. Brother documents this fix for models including the MFC-J1355DW, J1360DW, J1365DW, J1410DW, J4355DW, and J4555DW, plus the DCP-J1260W.
If your cartridge has an arrow and a PUSH marking, insert it in the direction of the arrow.
Gently press the area marked PUSH until the cartridge locks, then close the cover. Brother specifies this installation method for models including the MFC-J1010DW, J1170DW, J1205W, J1215W, J4335DW, and J4535DW.
Read the exact error message
Do this before any recovery procedure, because Cannot Detect and Cannot Detect Ink Volume have different remedies. Permission to keep printing with an ink-volume warning does not extend to a detection error.
Read the complete message at the top of the printer display. On the MFC-J4535DW touchscreen, press Detail when necessary to see the full error.
The MFC-J1205W and MFC-J1215W lack an LCD, so open Brother Mobile Connect for the connected printer and read its error message there. Solid Power and Ink lights can point to a detection problem, but the same combination also signals other conditions.
If the message reads Install Starter Ink during initial setup, install the starter cartridges supplied with the printer.
If you see Wrong Ink Color on the MFC-J1355DW, J1360DW, J1365DW, J1367DW, J1410DW, J4355DW, or J4555DW, move the mismatched cartridges into their correct color positions.
Match the cartridge number to your printer
Compare the number on each cartridge with the supplies listed for your exact printer and region. On the printer's Brother support page, open Consumables & Accessories to find the supported ink-cartridge numbers, and swap any incompatible cartridge for a listed one.
On button-operated MFC-J1355DW, J1360DW, J1365DW, J1367DW, and J4355DW printers, press Ink, select Ink Volume with the arrow keys, and press OK to check cartridge condition. Then press Clear/Back, select Ink Cartridge Model, and press OK to see the replacement model.
On the MFC-J1410DW and J4555DW touchscreens, open Ink > Ink Volume, return with Back, and select Ink Cartridge Model for the compatible number. These screens give you information only; they do not override detection.
On the MFC-J4335DW and J4535DW, remove the affected cartridge and inspect its INKvestment marking, LC406 cartridge number, and small green chip on top. If the identification or the chip is missing, install a new, unopened genuine compatible Brother cartridge.
Run the recovery sequence for your model
On an MFC-J4335DW or J4535DW showing Cannot Detect, finish the cartridge-identification and chip checks above first.
Remove the affected cartridges.
Close the ink-cartridge cover.
Unplug the printer for approximately 15 seconds.
Reconnect power.
When the cartridge screen appears, slowly reinstall the cartridges in the displayed order and their matching color slots.
Close the cover.
Select Yes if the replacement-confirmation prompt appears, as Brother specifies for this procedure.
The MFC-J5340DW, J5855DW, J5955DW, J6555DW, and J6955DW follow a similar affected-cartridge sequence once you verify an accepted LC406 or LC406XL cartridge and its green chip, and the MFC-J1800DW does the same with an accepted LC401 Starter, LC401 Standard, or LC401XL High Yield cartridge and its green chip. On these models, select No if replacement confirmation appears.
Always follow your exact model's confirmation instructions, because Brother specifies different answers for different recovery procedures.
Replace or prepare the cartridge itself
A reused cartridge can trigger a detection error on the MFC-J1010DW and MFC-J1170DW.
If you reinstalled a used cartridge in either model, replace it with a new genuine Brother cartridge compatible with the printer.
A new cartridge with an air bubble has its own remedy on these two models. Slowly turn the cartridge until its ink-supply port points downward, then reinstall it. Brother also documents this air-bubble fix for other models whose own Cannot Detect FAQ lists it, such as the MFC-J5830DW, but it isn't a universal step, so check your exact model's instructions first.
For a new black cartridge in the MFC-J4335DW, J4535DW, J4355DW, or J4555DW, Brother specifies shaking it horizontally 15 times before installation. Shake a new black cartridge only when your exact model's instructions call for it, and never shake cartridges once they're installed; this preparation step is not a general detection fix.
Update firmware on the MFC-J1205W or J1215W
Brother requires firmware version 1.08 or higher for ink-detection recovery on these two models.
- 1.Open Brother Mobile Connect, tap the model name, and select All Machine Settings. If asked, enter the printer password in Login and tap Login; the default password is printed beside Pwd on the printer.
- 2.Open General > Maintenance Information and read the firmware version.
- 3.If it's below 1.08, open your exact model's Brother Downloads page, choose STEP 1: Select OS Family and STEP 2: Select OS Version, select OK, and locate Firmware > Firmware Update Tool.
- 4.Download and open the tool (on Windows, select Run if prompted). Select the printer, choose Next or Continue, follow the prompts, enter the printer password and select OK if requested, then finish with Done. Keep power connected throughout; Brother warns that an inability to print can cause the update to fail.
- 5.Open the cartridge cover, release and remove all cartridges, disconnect power for approximately 15 seconds, then reconnect and wait for startup.
- 6.Slowly reinstall each cartridge in its matching color slot and close the cover. If detection still fails, check the LC404 identification and green chip, and replace an incompatible or chipless cartridge.
Handle a Cannot Detect Ink Volume warning
For Cannot Detect Ink Volume, which can appear when non-genuine ink is installed, Brother's general remedy is to use a new ink cartridge. This applies only to the ink-volume warning and is not a bypass for Cannot Detect.
On the MFC-J4335DW and J4535DW, check each affected cartridge for the INKvestment marking. If the marking is missing, install a new, unopened genuine Brother LC406 cartridge. If the cartridges are genuine LC406, slowly reinstall them in the displayed order and close the cover. If the volume warning stays, Brother permits normal operation until the cartridge is empty.
Brother also allows continued use with Cannot Detect Ink Volume on screen on the MFC-J6540DW and J6940DW. Install a genuine compatible Brother cartridge whenever you want the message gone.
If a new cartridge still doesn't clear the warning, use Brother's Contact Us option to reach customer service.
Get help when compatible ink still fails
Contact Brother when correctly installed, compatible cartridges still fail detection after the recovery procedure for your model.
Open Brother's Support Center.
Enter your product number in Search.
Use your model's contact options to request further diagnosis or cartridge-replacement help.
Arrange service if the detection problem continues.
Use Find a Dealer or Service Center to locate a service provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix Cannot Detect by resetting the ink counter?
No. Brother's ink-counter confirmation updates the counter rather than overriding cartridge recognition. Follow the recovery instructions for your exact model, including its specified confirmation answer.
Should I reinstall the driver or clean the print head?
Brother does not list driver reinstallation or print-head cleaning as a remedy for this cartridge-detection error. Use the cartridge checks and your model's recovery procedure instead.
Can I shake a Brother ink cartridge to make it detectable?
Don't treat shaking as a general fix. Brother specifies 15 horizontal shakes for a new black cartridge in the MFC-J4335DW, J4535DW, J4355DW, and J4555DW, while other models expressly prohibit shaking.
Do these steps apply to Brother laser or refillable tank printers?
No. These procedures are for cartridge inkjets. Brother laser printers use toner and drums, and bottle-refill tank models need their own error-specific instructions.