22
Brother Printer
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Brother error 22 means a print job was cancelled — either by you, by the computer, or by the printer itself after detecting a problem. The job did not print, and the printer is waiting for further instructions. This is one of the easiest errors to resolve.
Affected Models
- Brother HL-L2350DW
- Brother MFC-L2710DW
- Brother DCP-L2550DW
- Brother MFC-L2750DW
- Brother HL-L2390DW
Common Causes
- The print job was manually cancelled from the computer or from the printer's control panel
- The printer went offline during printing and automatically cancelled the job
- A connection drop between computer and printer caused the job to be abandoned
- The printer's memory was full and it dropped the job to free up space
- A timeout occurred because the printer waited too long to receive all the print data
How to Fix It
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Check the print queue on your computer and confirm the job has been removed.
Sometimes a cancelled job stays stuck in the queue and prevents new jobs from printing.
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If the job is still in the queue, right-click it and select Cancel or Delete.
If it will not delete, restart your computer — this restarts the Windows print spooler and clears stubborn stuck jobs.
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Restart the printer using its power button. Wait 20 seconds before turning it back on.
This resets the printer's internal state and confirms to the printer that the cancelled job is gone.
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Send a new print job to test.
Use a simple one-page document first. If it prints successfully, the error 22 was a one-off event.
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If the printer keeps cancelling jobs on its own, check your Wi-Fi connection stability.
An unstable Wi-Fi connection can cause the printer to lose contact with your computer mid-job, triggering automatic cancellation.
When to Call a Professional
Error 22 is a software event, not a hardware failure. You should never need professional help for this specific error. If your printer keeps cancelling jobs on its own without you asking it to, that may indicate a deeper connectivity or hardware issue worth investigating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Brother printer cancel a job I did not ask it to cancel?
The most common reason is a loss of connection between the printer and computer during printing. If your printer is on Wi-Fi, a brief signal drop is enough to trigger an automatic cancellation. Try moving the printer closer to your router or using a USB cable instead.
Is error 22 the same as the printer going offline?
They are related but not the same. Going offline means the printer cannot be reached. Error 22 means a specific job was cancelled after contact was lost or a user pressed cancel. Both often have the same root cause — a connection issue.
How do I stop jobs from being cancelled automatically?
Increase the printer's timeout setting in your computer's printer preferences — this gives the printer more time to receive data before it gives up. Also check your Wi-Fi connection quality if you print wirelessly.