Brother Printer Error Code 71 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 71 on a Brother inkjet printer means the printer cannot detect an ink cartridge. One or more cartridges may not be seated properly, or they may be empty or incompatible. Removing and reseating the cartridges usually fixes this.

Affected Models

Brother MFC-J480DW
Brother MFC-J680DW
Brother MFC-J880DW
Brother DCP-J552DW
Brother MFC-J450DW

Common Causes

An ink cartridge is not fully seated and its chip is not making contact
One or more ink cartridges are empty and need to be replaced
A third-party ink cartridge with an unrecognized chip was installed
The orange protective cap was not removed from a new cartridge before installation
The cartridge contacts inside the printer are dirty or corroded

How to Fix It

Lift the ink cartridge cover. Wait for the carriage to stop moving before proceeding.

The carriage will move to the access position when you open the cover.
Remove all ink cartridges from the printer. Place them on a paper towel.

Check each one — make sure the orange protective caps (on new cartridges) have been removed.
Check the ink level indicator or the Brother iPrint&Scan app to see which color is empty.

An empty cartridge will trigger error 71 just like an unseated one.
Wipe each cartridge's gold chip with a dry lint-free cloth. Reinstall each cartridge firmly.

Each cartridge should click into its colored slot — match the cartridge color to the slot color.
Close the cartridge cover. The printer will initialize. Try printing to see if error 71 has cleared.

If it persists, try replacing the cartridge that was flagged in the ink level monitor.

When to Call a Professional

Error 71 is almost always resolved by replacing or reseating cartridges. If the contacts inside the printer are corroded, a technician can clean or replace them. Contact Brother support if replacing cartridges with genuine products does not fix the error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use refilled ink cartridges in my Brother inkjet printer?

Refilled cartridges often work but can trigger error 71 if the chip still reports empty from the previous use. Some refill kits include a new chip — make sure yours does. Genuine Brother ink cartridges always clear error 71.

Error 71 is showing for a specific color. Do I need to replace all cartridges?

No. Only replace the cartridge that the printer is flagging. The display or the Brother Status Monitor will indicate which color is the problem. Other cartridges do not need to be replaced.

I installed a new genuine Brother cartridge but still see error 71. Why?

First, make sure you removed the orange protective cap from the new cartridge. Also verify the cartridge is the correct model for your printer. If both are correct and error 71 persists, the cartridge may be defective — contact Brother support.