Can you keep using it?
Can you keep using it?
Contact customer support if any of these apply
- !The printer keeps dropping back to Manual Feed even when the job settings are correct.
- !The multipurpose path cannot detect loaded paper at all.
What to check first
Step-by-step checks
- 1
Consumable check
Load the requested paper into the manual or multipurpose feed path.
Start with the official recovery step before moving on to parts or deeper servicing.
- 2
Safe first step
Check the source setting in the driver or on the printer.
- 3
Consumable check
Retry once the selected source matches the loaded paper.
Background
What this message usually means
Brother shows Manual Feed when the MFC-J6945 family expects paper to be loaded through the manual or multipurpose path. It is usually a source-selection issue rather than a hardware problem.
Diagnosis
Likely causes
The print job is calling for manual feed.
The selected source does not match the loaded paper setup.
The printer is waiting for media in the multipurpose path.
Service
When service or replacement is more likely
- -This is a source-selection prompt, not a jam or carriage failure.
See also
Related codes in this family
Explore more
More Brother printer families
Keep browsing
Where to go next
Source notes
Brother's MFC-J6945DW troubleshooting list includes Manual Feed among the common LCD prompts.
Built around Brother's official MFC-J6945DW FAQ and troubleshooting guidance. Exact wording can vary slightly by region and closely related model variants.
Printer error codes can vary a little by firmware, region, and exact model variant. Use this guide as a family-level starting point and stop if the next step would require disassembly or service-mode changes.
Known family variants: MFC-J6945DW, MFC-J6947DW
Last reviewed: 2026-04-12
Reference: Open reference