Brother Error Print Unable 46 — What It Means & How to Fix It
Updated August 2026 · Independent PrinterCare USA support guide
Brother printers track how much ink waste accumulates in an internal absorber pad during normal printing operations. When this pad reaches its design limit, the printer displays error Print Unable 46 and stops printing entirely as a safety measure to prevent ink leakage inside the machine.
The good news is that this error does not mean your printer is broken or that the pad must be physically replaced by a service technician. Most users can reset the absorber pad counter themselves using your printer's built-in maintenance menu, and the pad itself typically lasts for several years of normal home or small business use.
How to fix it — step by step
- Power cycle your printer completely. Turn off your Brother printer using the power button on the front panel. Unplug the power cable from the electrical outlet and wait for 30 seconds. Plug the printer back in and power it on, then wait for all startup lights to finish their cycle before proceeding to the next step.
- Access the printer's settings menu from the control panel. On your Brother printer's touchscreen or button panel, look for a button labeled Menu, Settings, or a gear icon. Press this button to enter the main settings menu. You may need to press it once or twice depending on your specific Brother model to reach the main settings screen.
- Navigate to maintenance or service settings. Use the arrow buttons on your printer's control panel to scroll down through the settings menu until you locate an option labeled Maintenance, Service, or Tools. Press OK or Enter to select this option. This submenu contains all printer maintenance functions including the absorber pad counter reset.
- Find the absorber pad counter reset option. Continue scrolling through the maintenance menu until you see an option that says Absorber Pad Counter, Ink Pad Counter, or Waste Ink Counter. This is the setting you need to access. Press OK or Enter to open this specific maintenance function.
- Reset the counter to zero. The printer will display the current absorber pad counter value, which is typically very high when you are seeing error 46. Look for a button or option that says Reset or Initialize. Press this button to set the absorber pad counter back to zero, which clears the error condition.
- Confirm the reset on your printer display. Your Brother printer will ask you to confirm that you want to reset the absorber pad counter. Select Yes or Confirm using your control panel buttons. The printer will process this command and return to the main menu when the reset is complete.
- Power cycle and test printing. Turn off your Brother printer completely and unplug it for 30 seconds. Plug it back in and power it on. Once the startup cycle finishes, try printing a test page from your computer to confirm that error 46 no longer appears and printing functions normally.
- Contact Brother support if error 46 returns immediately. If the error reappears within days or even hours after resetting the counter, the physical absorber pad may have failed or there may be an internal sensor issue. Contact Brother customer support or a certified repair technician for warranty service, or you can pay approximately $49 for remote technician assistance to troubleshoot further.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to reset the absorber pad counter myself without calling a technician?
Yes, resetting the absorber pad counter through the printer's maintenance menu is completely safe and is the standard troubleshooting procedure recommended by Brother. You are only changing a software counter value, not physically disassembling the printer or handling any internal components. This reset is designed to be performed by users and does not void your warranty.
How often do I need to reset the absorber pad counter?
Most users only need to reset the absorber pad counter once every two to three years with normal printing use. Very high-volume printers in office environments may need this reset annually. If you are resetting the counter more frequently than every six months, the absorber pad itself may be failing and require professional replacement.
What is the absorber pad and why does it need a counter?
The absorber pad is a sponge-like material inside your Brother printer that collects excess ink and moisture during normal printing and cleaning cycles. The printer tracks the amount of ink waste absorbed and displays error 46 when this internal counter reaches maximum capacity. The physical pad can typically absorb waste from thousands of pages before needing professional service.
Can I just ignore error 46 and keep printing anyway?
No, your Brother printer will refuse to print while error 46 is active. The printer is designed to stop printing when it detects the absorber pad counter is full to prevent potential ink leakage damage to internal components. You must reset the counter through the maintenance menu before you can resume normal printing.