Solving fax problems

Caller ID is not shown

Contact your telecommunications company to verify that your telephone line is subscribed to the caller ID service.

If your region supports multiple caller ID patterns, you may have to change the default setting. There are two settings available: FSK (pattern 1) and DTMF (pattern 2). The availability of these settings by way of the Fax menu depends on whether your country or region supports multiple caller ID patterns. Contact your telecommunications company to determine which pattern or switch setting to use.

Cannot send or receive a fax

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Enable the fax function

For more information, see Setting up the printer to fax.


Check the display for error messages

Clear any error messages.


Check the power

Make sure the printer is plugged in, the power is on, and Ready appears.


Check the printer connections

Make sure the cable connections for the following hardware are secure, if applicable:


Check the telephone wall jack

  1. Plug a telephone into the wall jack.

  2. Listen for a dial tone.

  3. If you do not hear a dial tone, then plug a different telephone into the wall jack.

  4. If you still do not hear a dial tone, then plug a telephone into a different wall jack.

  5. If you hear a dial tone, then connect the printer to that wall jack.


Review this digital phone service checklist

The fax modem is an analog device. Certain devices can be connected to the printer so that digital telephone services can be used.


Check for a dial tone


Temporarily disconnect other equipment

To ensure the printer is working correctly, connect it directly to the telephone line. Disconnect any answering machines, computers with modems, or telephone line splitters.


Check for jams

Clear any jams, and then make sure that Ready appears.


Temporarily disable Call Waiting

Call Waiting can disrupt fax transmissions. Disable this feature before sending or receiving a fax. Call your telephone company to obtain the keypad sequence for temporarily disabling Call Waiting.


Voice Mail service may be interfering with the fax transmission

Voice Mail offered through your local telephone company may disrupt fax transmissions. To enable both Voice Mail and the printer to answer calls, you may want to consider adding a second telephone line for the printer.


The printer memory may be full

  1. Dial the fax number.

  2. Scan the original document one page at a time.

Can send but not receive faxes

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Check to see if the paper tray is empty

Load paper in the tray.


Check the ring count delay settings

The ring count delay sets the number of times the phone line rings before the printer answers. If you have extension phones on the same line as the printer, or subscribe to the telephone company's Distinctive Ring service, then keep the Ring Delay setting at 4.

  1. Type the printer IP address into the address field of your Web browser.

    Note: If you do not know the IP address of the printer, then print a network setup page and locate the IP address in the TCP/IP section.
  2. Click Settings.

  3. Click Fax Settings.

  4. Click Analog Fax Setup.

  5. In the Rings to Answer box, enter the number of times you want the phone to ring before answering.

  6. Click Submit.


The toner may be low

88 Cartridge low appears when the toner is low.

Can receive but not send faxes

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

The printer is not in Fax mode

On the home screen, touch Fax to put the printer in Fax mode.


The document is not loaded properly

Load the original document faceup, short edge first into the ADF or facedown on the scanner glass in the upper left corner.

Note: Do not load postcards, photos, small items, transparencies, photo paper, or thin media (such as magazine clippings) into the ADF. Place these items on the scanner glass.

Make sure the shortcut number is set up properly

Received fax has poor print quality

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Re-send the document

Ask the person who sent you the fax to:


The toner may be low

When 88 Cartridge low appears or when you experience faded print, replace the cartridge.


Make sure the fax transmission speed is not set too high

Decrease the incoming fax transmission speed:

  1. Type the printer IP address into the address field of your Web browser.

    Note: If you do not know the IP address of the printer, then print a network setup page and locate the IP address in the TCP/IP section.
  2. Click Settings.

  3. Click Fax Settings.

  4. Click Analog Fax Setup.

  5. In the Max Speed box, click on one of the following:

    2400

    4800

    9600

    14400

    33600

  6. Click Submit.