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Brother Error 46 — Ink Absorber Full Fix

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Overview

Brother Error 46 means the ink absorber (waste ink box) is full. It needs to be reset or replaced.

Key Details

  • Error: Unable to Clean 46
  • Brand: Brother InkJet
  • Category: Waste Ink Error
  • Ink absorber box is full

Common Causes

  • Normal wear — absorber fills over time
  • Frequent head cleaning used excess ink
  • High volume printing accumulated waste
  • Counter reached maintenance threshold

Steps

  1. 1Press and hold the power button for 5+ seconds to do a soft reset
  2. 2Use Brother maintenance mode to reset counter
  3. 3Replace the waste ink absorber physically
  4. 4Contact Brother service for professional reset
  5. 5Consider purchasing a waste ink box kit

Tags

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Frequently Asked Questions

Counter can be reset, but the physical absorber should be cleaned/replaced to avoid overflow.