How to Replace and Reset the Drum on a Brother Printer (“Drum End Soon” Fix)

Published September 27, 2026. Written by William Elward, founder of Castle Ink.

Quick answer

To clear “Drum End Soon” or “Replace Drum” on a Brother laser printer, install a new drum unit and then reset the drum counter. The drum is the green-framed part the toner cartridge clicks into. Swap the toner cartridge into the new drum, reinstall it, close the cover, and run the reset for your model (below). The reset only tells the printer a fresh drum is installed; it does not fix a worn drum, so only do it after replacing the drum.

Which drum does my Brother printer use?

Not sure? The drum number is printed on the side of the green drum frame, and your model's drum is listed on our Brother drum unit page. Model guides: What drum does the Brother HL-2270DW use? and What drum does the Brother HL-L3270CDW use?.

How to replace the drum unit (most Brother mono lasers)

1. Leave the printer on and open the front cover. Let it cool for a few minutes; the inside can be hot.
2. Pull out the toner-and-drum assembly (the toner cartridge sitting in the drum unit).
3. Push down the green lock lever and lift the toner cartridge out of the old drum.
4. Unpack the new drum. Don't touch the green (or blue) drum surface; fingerprints and light damage it.
5. Push the toner cartridge into the new drum until it clicks. If it doesn't lock, it can separate inside the printer.
6. Slide the assembly back in and close the front cover.
7. Reset the drum counter using the steps for your model below.

How to reset the drum counter, by model

DR730 printers with buttons: HL-L2350DW, HL-L2370DW

With the printer on and the front cover closed: press OK and ▲ (Up) at the same time, press OK to select Drum, then press ▼ (Down) to reset. (Per Brother's manual for the HL-L2325DW/L2350DW/L2370DW.)

DR730 printers with buttons: HL-L2390DW, DCP-L2550DW, MFC-L2690DW, MFC-L2710DW, MFC-L2717DW

With the front cover closed: press OK and ▲ together, press OK to select Drum, then press ▲ to reset.

DR730 touchscreen printers: HL-L2395DW, MFC-L2730DW, MFC-L2750DW

With the front cover closed: press the error-clear (X) button, then press and hold the settings/toner icon for about five seconds. Select Drum, then Yes, and confirm with OK.

LED-only printers (no screen): HL-L2300D, HL-2270DW, HL-2240

Open the front cover. Press and hold Go until all the LEDs light up, release it, then close the front cover. The Drum light should go out.

Newer models: HL-L2464DW, HL-L2480DW, MFC-L2820DW, MFC-L2880DW

Button models (HL-L2464DW, DCP-L2640DW, MFC-L2800DW): press OK and ▲ together, select Drum, then press ▲. Touchscreen models (HL-L2480DW, MFC-L2820DW, MFC-L2880DW): clear any error message, open the Toner menu until Drum appears, press Drum, then Yes.

Color models: HL-L3270CDW and similar

With the cover closed, press and hold the Toner icon for about five seconds, select Drum, choose the color of the drum you replaced, and confirm Yes.

Older models with a screen (DR630 and DR420 generation)

Most of these reset with the front cover open: press Clear (MFC/DCP models) or OK (HL models), and when Replace Drum? appears, choose Yes (▲ or 1). Close the cover. Button labels vary by model, so if that doesn't work, search your model on Brother's support site for “reset the drum counter.”

Common questions

What's the difference between the drum and the toner cartridge?

The toner cartridge holds the powder; the drum is the light-sensitive roller that transfers it to paper. On most Brother lasers they're separate parts, and a drum lasts through several toner cartridges. Full explanation: Brother drum unit vs. toner cartridge and Drum unit vs. toner cartridge.

How long does a Brother drum last?

Brother rates drums in pages, usually around 12,000 pages for the DR420/DR630/DR730 generation (more for business models like the DR720 at about 30,000). Real life depends on how many pages you print per job; printing one page at a time wears the drum faster than long jobs.

Can I keep printing after “Drum End Soon”?

Yes. “Drum End Soon” is an early warning, and you can usually print a few hundred to a thousand more pages. Order a drum now. When the message changes to “Replace Drum,” some models keep printing and some stop; print quality is the real signal.

I replaced the drum but the message is still there. What now?

The counter wasn't reset, or it was reset with the cover in the wrong position for your model (some resets need the cover open, others closed). Repeat the steps for your model carefully. If it still won't clear, the drum's reset gear or sensor may not have been triggered; reseat the drum and try again.

Can I just reset the drum counter without replacing the drum?

You can, but Brother warns against it: the counter protects print quality. If your pages still look clean, a reset buys time, but expect gray backgrounds, spots, or repeating marks as the drum wears. Those symptoms mean it's time for a new drum. See Printer ghosting: why faint repeat images appear and Laser printer streaks and lines.

How do I tell if it's the drum or the toner causing bad prints?

Faded, light prints usually mean low toner. Repeating spots or marks at the same spacing down the page, gray backgrounds, or dark streaks that don't go away with new toner usually mean the drum. Cleaning the corona wire (the green slider on the drum) fixes many vertical streaks.

Is it safe to use a compatible drum?

Yes. A quality compatible drum performs like OEM and doesn't void your printer warranty under U.S. law. See Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM and Does compatible ink void your warranty?.

How do I reset the toner counter instead?

That's a different procedure. See How to reset a Brother toner cartridge.

Shop Brother drum units at Castle Ink

• DR730, DR630, DR420, DR720, DR360, and DR350 compatible drum units
• Matching toner: TN760, TN660, and the full Brother toner range
• All Brother drum units

Related guides

• Drum unit vs. toner cartridge
• Brother drum unit vs. toner cartridge
• How to replace a Brother toner cartridge
• How to reset a Brother toner cartridge
• Printer ghosting: why faint repeat images appear
• Laser printer streaks and lines

About the author: William Elward is the founder of Castle Ink and has written about printers, ink cartridges, and printing technology for more than 20 years.