Brother Printer Error Code 45 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 45 on a Brother printer means paper is jammed in or near the output area. This is where printed pages exit the printer. You need to clear the jammed paper before the printer can continue.

Affected Models

Brother MFC-J6935DW
Brother MFC-J6530DW
Brother MFC-J5830DW
Brother MFC-J5930DW
Brother MFC-J6930DW

Common Causes

A printed page got caught in the output rollers and could not exit cleanly
The output tray is full and a stacked page created resistance, causing the next page to jam
A sheet of paper was too heavy or stiff for the output path and got stuck
The output tray extension is not extended, so pages are backing up at the exit point
Debris inside the printer near the exit area is blocking paper from exiting

How to Fix It

Turn the printer off. Do not try to pull paper while the printer is powered on.

The exit rollers spin during printing — pulling against them can tear paper.
Check the output tray at the front of the printer. Remove any paper that has partially exited.

Gently pull the paper out toward you in the direction of paper travel.
Open the rear cover of the printer. Check the rear paper path for any jammed paper.

Paper sometimes gets stuck at the fuser exit on laser models or the rear roller on inkjet models.
Clear the output tray — remove all printed pages if it is full or nearly full.

An overloaded output tray is a common cause of output area jams.
Extend the output tray support arm if your model has one. Close all covers and power the printer back on.

If error 45 persists, use a flashlight to check for any paper scraps in the exit path.

When to Call a Professional

Error 45 is almost always resolved by clearing the jam yourself. If jams keep recurring in the output area, the exit rollers may be worn. Roller replacement at a Brother service center typically costs $50 to $90.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does error 45 happen specifically with the last page of a print job?

The last page often jams because the output rollers release it before the next page pushes it through. If the exit rollers are worn, they may not have enough grip to pull the last page out fully. Cleaning or replacing the exit rollers usually solves recurring last-page jams.

My output tray was empty and I still got error 45. Why?

Check the area just inside the printer near the exit slot. A page may have crumpled just before exiting and is stuck in the exit rollers. Open the rear cover and check the back of the paper path — that is often where these partial jams hide.

Can heavy paper cause error 45?

Yes. Paper heavier than the printer's rated maximum can cause exit jams. Check your printer's manual for the maximum paper weight supported. For thick paper like card stock, use the manual feed slot if available.