How-to · Printer brand
Brother test page and print quality check
Print the Windows test page from the Brother driver, or run the Print Quality Check on supported inkjet models.
Print the built-in test page
Brother panels differ a lot between laser and inkjet models, and between button and touchscreen models.
- 1Load plain paperLoad plain Letter or A4 paper and make sure the printer is on and ready.
- 2Touchscreen inkjet modelsOn some touchscreen inkjet models, Brother documents Settings, then Maintenance, then Improve Print Quality, then Check Print Quality, then Start.
- 3Other modelsButton sequences for test prints and quality sheets are model-specific. Use your model’s online guide on Brother’s support site instead of guessing.
- 1Open the Printers folderOpen Printers (Printers & scanners or Devices and Printers) in Windows.
- 2Open Printer propertiesRight-click your Brother driver and choose Printer properties.
- 3Print Test PageOn the General tab, click Print Test Page.
We could not confirm a Brother-specific Mac test page command from Brother’s support pages.
- 1Check the Printer menuOpen System Settings, Printers & Scanners, select your Brother, open its print queue, and look at the Printer menu for Print Test Page.
- 2Or print a test PDFIf there is no such command, print a PDF from the print test page hub with Command+P at 100%.
Brother laser printers have no print head to clean, and their panel test print methods are model-specific. Use these steps as typical examples and confirm on Brother’s support site for your model.
Run a nozzle check
Based on Brother’s guide for a touchscreen inkjet model. Other models may use different steps.
- 1Print the check sheetGo to Settings, Maintenance, Improve Print Quality, Check Print Quality, then Start to print the Print Quality Check Sheet.
- 2Examine the color blocksLook at the four color blocks. If lines are clear and sharp, you are done.
- 3If lines are missing or fadedFollow the screen prompts to indicate the problem pattern and start cleaning.
- 4Check againThe printer offers to reprint the sheet after cleaning so you can compare.
- 1Do not touch the print headBrother warns that touching the print head can cause permanent damage and may void its warranty.
- 2Stop repeated cleaningIf repeated cleaning does not help, Brother’s guide says to contact customer service. Follow the exact limits in your model’s guide.
Print our own pattern too: nozzle check sheet. Cleaning cycles use ink, so stop after two and recheck.
What a test page tells you
- The Windows test page proves the Brother driver and connection work. It does not check ink or toner quality.
- Inkjet Brothers have a Print Quality Check Sheet. Laser models do not have print heads, so look at toner, drum and paper instead.
- Never touch the print head. Brother notes this can permanently damage it.
- For a deeper look at an inkjet, print our nozzle check sheet and the color test page.
Official sources
Steps follow these pages. Menu names can change with updates.
Brother makes both laser and inkjet printers, and the best way to test one depends on which kind you own. This page explains the options and sticks to what Brother’s own support pages document.
The Windows test page
Brother’s support instructions for Windows say to open the Printers folder, right-click your Brother printer driver, choose Printer properties, and click Print Test Page on the General tab. It confirms the driver and the connection work.
Print Quality Check on inkjets
Brother inkjets can print a Print Quality Check Sheet with four color blocks. On a touchscreen model documented by Brother, the path is Settings, Maintenance, Improve Print Quality, Check Print Quality. If the lines are clear and sharp, the print head is healthy. If lines are missing or faded, the printer guides you through cleaning and then offers to print the sheet again.
Laser models
A laser printer has no print head or nozzles. Streaks and smudges usually point to toner, the drum unit, rollers or paper. Use our black and white test page and read streaks or lines and smudges.
Why we skip panel button combinations
Some Brother models print a test page from a button combination on the printer. These sequences differ by model, and a wrong one can start something you did not intend. Look up your exact model on Brother’s support site rather than trusting a generic list.
Handle with care
Brother warns not to touch the print head, because it can be permanently damaged and the warranty may be affected. Run cleaning only when the check sheet shows a problem.
Extra checks
- Nozzle check sheet for an independent look at each ink.
- Color test page for tones and small text.
- Alignment page for crooked prints.
Get the files from the PDF hub in Letter or A4.
Good habits
Print check sheets on plain white paper and view them in good daylight. Keep a copy from when the printer was working well so you can compare later. Repeat the check after replacing an ink cartridge, and note the date on the page so you can see whether problems come back quickly.