How to Reset a Brother Toner Cartridge (and Keep Printing After "Replace Toner")
· Editorial policy Last Updated:Last updated: November 9, 2026
Short answer: Brother laser printers stop at "Replace Toner" based on a page count or sensor reading, often while toner remains. The cleanest fix on most current models is Brother's own Replace Toner → Continue setting, which lets you keep printing until the prints actually fade. Many models also have a hidden toner-counter reset (steps by model family below). If a new cartridge still says "Replace Toner," the problem is the cartridge's reset gear or chip, the drum contacts, or a dirty corona wire — not the toner.
If you own a Brother laser printer, you've probably had this happen: the screen says Replace Toner, the printer refuses to print, and when you pull the cartridge out there's clearly toner left. That's because Brother counts pages and reads sensors — it doesn't weigh the toner. You can usually keep printing for hundreds of pages more by telling the printer to continue or resetting the counter.
Castle Ink
Fix the error, then stop overpaying: Brother toner from $10.95
Compatible Brother toner cartridges for up to 70% less than Brother charges. Same-day shipping when you order by 4 PM ET, 1-year 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Compare genuine vs compatible Brother toner prices →
Shop all Brother toner →✓ Ships same day by 4 PM ET✓ Free shipping over $50✓ 1-year guarantee
First: When This Is Safe (and When It's Not)
Resetting is fine. Toner is a dry powder that doesn't evaporate, so as long as prints look full and dark, you have toner. When prints come out faded or streaky, you're genuinely low and should swap to a fresh cartridge. If you're seeing streaks, our guide to laser printer streaks and lines helps you tell low toner apart from a drum problem.
The Official Fix: Set "Replace Toner" to Continue
Many current Brother lasers include a setting that keeps printing after the toner warning. On the printer's menu, look for General Setup → Replace Toner (or Settings → All Settings → General Setup → Replace Toner on touchscreen models) and change it from Stop to Continue. The printer will show "Toner Low" or "Replace Toner" but keep printing until you choose to replace the cartridge. Brother notes that print quality isn't guaranteed in this mode, so replace the cartridge when prints fade.
HL-Series (HL-L2300D, HL-L2350DW, HL-L2370DW, HL-L2390DW, HL-L2395DW, etc.)
This is the most common Brother home laser line. A reset sequence commonly used on these models:
- Open the front cover where the toner sits, but leave the drum and toner cartridge in place.
- Press and hold the Go button (sometimes labeled Start or with a play-arrow icon) for about 4 seconds, until all the LEDs light up.
- Release the button.
- Press Go seven times quickly.
- Close the front cover.
Button sequences can vary by firmware. If it doesn't work, use the Continue setting above (on models that have it), or the cartridge needs replacing.
MFC-Series (MFC-L2700DW, MFC-L2710DW, MFC-L2750DW, etc.)
- Open the front cover (don't remove the cartridge).
- On the touchscreen, press X or Cancel to clear any error.
- Press and hold the Home button (the house icon) for about 5 seconds.
- A hidden menu appears. Select Reset Menu > Toner and choose the option matching your cartridge (standard or high-yield).
- Close the cover.
DCP-Series (DCP-L2540DW, DCP-L2550DW, etc.)
Very similar to MFC. Open the cover, press Clear/Back, then hold OK until the reset menu appears. Pick the matching toner type from the list.
What If Your Printer Doesn't Have a Reset Option?
- Older models with a sensor window (for example the TN-450/TN-650 generation) read toner level optically through small clear windows on the cartridge ends. Make sure those windows are clean; covering one with opaque tape is a widely used workaround that makes the printer assume the cartridge is full.
- Swap to a fresh compatible cartridge. Our compatible Brother toner cartridges arrive ready to print, with no reset needed. Browse the Brother toner collection by model.
Why Does My Brother Printer Keep Saying Replace Toner With a New Cartridge?
- The new cartridge wasn't reset. Some Brother cartridges use a small reset gear on the side; if a cartridge was previously installed, the gear may already be "used." Try a different new cartridge or use the reset steps above.
- The cartridge isn't clicked into the drum. Remove the drum-and-toner assembly and push the cartridge in until the green lever lifts and it locks.
- Dirty corona wire or contacts. Slide the green tab on the drum unit back and forth several times to clean the corona wire, return it to the home position, and reinstall.
- The drum counter is the real issue. If the message is "Replace Drum" or "Drum End Soon," see how to replace and reset a Brother drum unit.
How to Bypass "Replace Toner" on a Brother Printer
The safe bypass is the Continue setting described above — it's built into the printer by Brother. Hidden reset menus and sensor tricks also work on many models, but they don't add toner: when prints fade, replace the cartridge.
How to Reset a Brother Ink Cartridge Chip (Inkjets)
Brother inkjets (LC-series cartridges) work differently from lasers. Most read ink level with an optical sensor or the cartridge chip, and there's no built-in menu to reset an ink cartridge. After refilling a Brother ink cartridge, the printer may still report it empty; refilling kits sometimes include a chip resetter for this, with mixed results. The simpler route is a ready-to-use remanufactured cartridge — browse our Brother ink cartridges, or check which cartridge your Brother uses.
If You Have a Brother MFC-L8350CDW or Other Color Laser
Color lasers are trickier. Each color cartridge has its own counter and reset routine, and the menus are buried deeper. Brother's official support page has model-specific instructions — menus shift between firmware versions. If your color Brother is also throwing certificate errors, see our guide to the invalid certificate error.
When You Should Actually Replace the Toner
- Pages coming out lighter on one side or with vertical white streaks.
- Faded text that doesn't get darker after a few pages (try gently rocking the cartridge side to side first).
- Toner spilling inside the printer when you take the cartridge out.
- The drum warning is also lit. Drum and toner are separate on most Brother lasers — our Brother drum unit collection has those too.
More Brother Toner Reset Questions
Can I keep printing when it says "Replace Toner" without a reset?
On many Brother lasers, yes. Look in the menu for a setting such as General Setup, then Replace Toner, and change it from Stop to Continue. The printer then keeps printing until the pages get too light, which is the real sign the toner is empty. Some models only offer this through the web settings page.
Why does it still say toner low after I put in a new cartridge?
First check that the cartridge clicked fully into the drum unit; the green lever should lock. Then wipe the corona wire by sliding the green tab back and forth a few times. If the cartridge is compatible, it may not trigger the printer's new-cartridge counter on its own, so use the reset steps above for your model.
How do I reset toner on a Brother color laser such as the MFC-L3780CDW?
Newer Brother color lasers track toner with a chip on each cartridge rather than a counter you can reset from the menu. Install a compatible cartridge that comes with a working chip, and the printer reads it as new without any reset.
Should I download a "Brother toner resetter" program?
No. Brother does not publish toner reset software, and the resetter tools offered on download sites are a common source of malware. The menu resets and the Replace Toner: Continue setting described here are all you need.
Do I also need to reset the drum?
Only when you replace the drum unit, which happens far less often than toner. A drum message after a toner change usually means the drum is genuinely near the end of its life. See how to replace and reset a Brother drum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does resetting the toner damage the printer?
No. Printing until the toner genuinely runs low is safe. Avoid printing for long stretches with badly faded output, which can mean the cartridge or drum is failing.
How many more pages can I get after a reset?
It varies widely — from a few dozen to several hundred pages. Watch print darkness, not the counter.
Will a compatible cartridge work after a firmware update?
Brother firmware updates can occasionally affect third-party cartridges. Our compatible Brother toner is covered by a 1-year guarantee, so if a cartridge isn't recognized, we'll replace it or refund you.
The Bottom Line
Brother's "Replace Toner" warning usually comes early. Switch Replace Toner to Continue, or reset the counter, and keep printing until the prints fade — then swap to a new cartridge.
Shop Brother Toner at Castle Ink
When you do need to replace your Brother toner, Castle Ink's compatible cartridges cost 50–70% less than OEM pricing, ship free over $50, and carry a 1-year guarantee.
See also: Best printers that don't lock you into OEM ink | Printer Ink Cost Calculator
Related Reading
Need replacement Brother toner cartridges? Shop Brother toner cartridges at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.
An independent 0–100 score for every printer, refreshed monthly from thousands of owner reviews and expert tests — plus what the ink or toner actually costs to run. See this month's Top 10 inkjet and laser rankings, or use the PrinterIQ™ finder.
See the CastleScore rankings →▶ Prefer to watch? How to Reset Brother Toner (TN760, TN730, TN660) — the video version of this guide.