How to fix No ink cartridge detected error on a Brother Printer Including MFC and DCP

This quick video shows you how to troubleshoot and fix the error of NO INK CARTRIDGE DETECTED or UNABLE TO PRINT on a Brother printer.

If you have any other issues with your Brother printer please let me know in comments and I'll do my best to help you :)

Applicable for most MFC and DCP models including Models:
DCP- 110C, 115C, 116C, 117C, 120C, 130C, 135C, 150C, 310CN, 315CN, 330C, 340CW, 350C, 540CN, 560CN
MFC-210C, 215C, 235C, 240C, 260C, 410CN, 425CN, 440CN, 465CN, 620CN, 640CN, 640CW, 665CW, 685CW, 885CW, 3240C, 3360C, 5440CN, 5460CN, 5860CN, DCP-145C, 165C, 185C, 195C, 375CW, 385C, 395CN, 585CW
MFC-250C, 255C, 257CW, 290C, 295CN, 490CW, 790CW, 795CW, 990CW, 5490CN, 5890CN, 6490CW, 6690CW, 6890CDW
DCP-J125, DCP-J140W, DCP-J315w, DCP-J515w, DCP-J715w
MFC-J220, MFC-J265w, MFC-J415w , MFC-J615w. DCP-J525W, J725DW, J925DW
MFC-J430W, J432W, J625DW, J825DW, J5910DW, J6510DW, J6710DW, J6910DW, DCP-J152W, J172, J552DW, J4110DW, J562DW, J752DW, J4120DW
MFC-J470DW, J475DW, J650DW, J870DW, J4410DW, J4510DW, J4710DW, J6520DW, J6720DW & J6920DW, J4620DW, J5320DW, J5720DW, J480DW, J680DW & J880DW

*Please let me know if it worked for a model other than these, so that I can update this list*

[khattemoat]

Extremely helpful videos for someone who was on the brink of throwing away the printer. Thank you!

[RuthElliottHilsdon]

Thank you! I have a MFC-J6935DW Printer, which was not listed, but your work-around WORKED with one minor additional step. After unplugging the printer for 20 minutes as you suggested, I removed all the cartridges, and one by one tipped them upside down for a second, so the transparent plastic at the top showed ink present. Then I replaced them the usual way and went through the remaining steps. It worked, Thank the Good Lord - and thank YOU!

[avoiceforgod]

I tried all the steps from the manual but continued to get the do not detect cartridge message. I watched your video and follow your instructions for the first potential solution, and SUCCESS! Praise God!!! Thank you for sharing this very helpful information on Youtube. Your contribution is very much appreciated. May God bless you!

[arthurotsuka]

Ink is a scam. If you tip the cartridge you see there is plenty of ink, but it doesn't show in window when level. they don't want you to be able to use all the expensive ink you paid for.

[VerissimaHealth]

you are amazing! thank you. I have had no printer for a few weeks, tried everything, even went and brought more cartridges... did what you said in first part of this video and boom, it's fixed. thank you so much from one very happy small biz owner.

[charmianward]

Thank you! I nearly went an purchased a new printer. Been using non genuine ink for 15 years and had the odd glitch installing them but this time it was persistent. Lifting the cartridges as I installed them it worked a treat. :) I had already tried turning off printer for 30 minutes and pulling a couple of other colours out but it didn't work. I then tried your idea of taking all of them out. It recognized all the cartridges as they went in but 2 colours would always not be detected after I closed the door. Lifting the cartridges while pushing them home worked in the end. :)

[Lakejoyer]

Ohmygosh! The first suggestion Worked!!! Saved me from sending all my cartridges back to You are brilliant - Thank you!!!

[laurenbailey]

Thank you so much for taking the time to help us out here... Very kind of you. And it worked! Coloring in the ink windows did it.

[tony_derosa]

One thing I had to do with non OEM ink is lift up a bit on the cartridge when installing. This worked for me!

[flwmatthew]

The re-install one by one worked perfectly. Thank you! Saved so much time and money.

[AndrewMorrison-jtxl]

Thank you for a great video...I had been troubleshooting the problem for over 2 hours--and was at the point of giving up. The tape-over
solution was the ticket!

[carolvfl]

I had to unplug the printer for 20 minutes and then put all the cartridges back in one by one, closing the door after each one. I also turned each cartridge upside down beforehand to get ink in the ink window, like someone else in the comments suggested. It worked! Thank you for the great advice!

[fidelator]

Thank you. I removed the cartridges prematurely despite they still had ink in them and the printer rejected them. Taping up the window helped.

[danashenfelter]

I have this exact Brother model. A brand new Brother brand cartridge did not show ink in the window. I shook the cartridge gently and suddenly ink appeared in the window. The printer started working again. This video saved me from thinking I needed to buy a new printer? Thanks!!!

[SadlerEastbourne]

You just saved me going mad anchored off shore on my boat amazing Thankyou

[SeabeePlumber]

[Paint] marker on the ink window worked! Thank you!!

[juliemyersofficial]

Thank you! That works, taking them out and replacing them one by one closing the door.❤

[richardgirouxmessier]

It did fix my problem with the black tape, thank you very much

[paulstuff-nwjt]

This worked for me on my Brother MFC-J5330DW. Thanks much!

[EnrichmentActivities]

The first recommendation worked. Thanks