20
Brother Printer
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
Brother error 20 means the printer is unable to print because it cannot process the print job data being sent from your computer. The printer receives the job but something about the data confuses it. This is usually a software or driver issue, not a hardware failure.
Affected Models
- Brother HL-L2350DW
- Brother MFC-L2710DW
- Brother MFC-L2750DW
- Brother DCP-L2550DW
- Brother HL-L3270CDW
Common Causes
- A corrupted print job is stuck in the print queue and is blocking all new jobs
- The printer driver on your computer is outdated or has become corrupted
- The document being printed contains complex graphics that are too large for the printer's memory
- There is a communication error between your computer and the printer over USB or Wi-Fi
- The printer's internal memory is full because too many jobs were sent at once
How to Fix It
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On your computer, open the print queue and cancel all pending print jobs.
On Windows, go to Start > Settings > Printers, click your Brother printer, and delete every job in the queue.
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Turn off the printer, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.
This clears the printer's internal memory buffer and removes any data that got stuck during processing.
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Restart your computer as well. This clears the print spooler service on Windows.
A stuck Windows print spooler can keep sending a bad job even after you cancel it manually.
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Go to the Brother support website, download the latest driver for your exact model, and reinstall it.
Uninstall the existing driver first through Windows Control Panel before installing the new one.
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Try printing a simple one-page text document to test. If that works, the issue was with the original document's complexity or file format.
Complex PDFs with embedded fonts and high-resolution images are common triggers for error 20.
When to Call a Professional
Error 20 is almost always a software problem that you can fix yourself. If the error persists after reinstalling the driver and clearing the queue, the printer's internal memory board may have a fault. Professional diagnosis for a memory-related hardware fault typically costs $50 to $100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does error 20 only happen with certain documents?
Some documents are more complex than others and require more printer memory to process. Large PDFs, documents with many fonts, or files with high-resolution embedded images can exceed the printer's processing ability. Try printing the document in smaller sections, or convert it to a simpler format first.
How do I clear the print queue on Windows when jobs are stuck?
Go to Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Printers and Scanners. Click your Brother printer, then open the print queue. Right-click each job and select Cancel. If jobs won't cancel, restart the Print Spooler service in Windows Services.
Can error 20 damage my printer?
No — error 20 is a data processing error, not a mechanical fault. It cannot physically damage your printer. The worst that can happen is a job gets stuck and you need to reset the printer.