What Toner Does the Brother MFC-L2690DW Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Brother TN760 Toner Cartridges – TN760, TN730 & DR730 Drum → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Quick answer: The Brother MFC-L2690DW uses Brother TN730 (~1,200 pages) or TN760 high-yield (~3,000 pages) black toner, plus a separate DR730 drum unit (~12,000 pages). The TN760 is the best value for almost everyone.
CastleScore · October 2026
88/100 — Highly Recommended
Brother MFC-L2690DW
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 86 | 4.40★ average across 989 ratings at Amazon (4.4) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (18%) | 94 | About 1.4¢ per page all-in with our compatible TN760 toner (3,000 pages) and DR730 drum (12,000 pages). |
| Reliability (18%) | 90 | No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews. |
| Features (11%) | 78 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi. No touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 90 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Out of stock at Brother. Brother still lists the MFC-L2690DW but shows it out of stock, without marking it discontinued. The similar models it suggests, such as the MFC-L2820DW, use the newer TN830 toner.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 12, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
TN760 Toner
DR730 DrumOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
Brother MFC-L2690DW Toner at a Glance
| Supply | Type | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Brother TN730 | Black toner (standard) | ~1,200 pages |
| Brother TN760 | Black toner (high-yield) | ~3,000 pages |
| Brother DR730 | Drum unit (separate) | ~12,000 pages |
The MFC-L2690DW is a monochrome laser all-in-one — print, copy, scan and fax — with a 50-page automatic document feeder, automatic two-sided printing, a 250-sheet tray, and Wi-Fi plus USB. It is easy to mistake for the similar MFC-L2710DW or MFC-L2750DW. Good news: all three use exactly the same supplies.
New units ship with a starter toner of about 700 pages, so plan on buying your first replacement sooner than you might expect.
Standard vs. High-Yield: Which Should You Buy?
The TN760 and TN730 are the same physical size, but the TN760 prints about 2.5 times as many pages. On an all-in-one that also handles copying and faxing, pages add up fast — the TN760 is the clear choice. Our printer ink cost calculator shows the cost-per-page difference.
Don't Forget the DR730 Drum Unit
The Brother MFC-L2690DW uses a two-piece system: the toner cartridge holds the powder, and a separate DR730 drum unit transfers it onto the paper. The drum is rated for about 12,000 pages — roughly four TN760 cartridges — so you do not replace it with every toner change. When the printer asks for toner, the drum is usually fine; when it asks for a drum, your toner is usually fine.
Signs the drum is wearing out: dots or marks that repeat at the same spacing down the page, a light gray background, or streaks that a new toner cartridge does not fix. Castle Ink stocks a compatible DR730 drum unit. After installing a new drum, reset the drum counter (see the steps below) — the printer does not do it automatically.
How to Replace the Toner
- Open the front cover and wait for the printer to stop moving.
- Pull out the toner-and-drum assembly as one piece.
- Push down the green lock lever and lift the old toner cartridge out of the drum unit.
- Gently rock the new TN760 side to side a few times, remove the orange protective cover, and slide it into the drum unit until it clicks and the green lever lifts.
- Slide the green tab on the drum unit from left to right several times to clean the corona wire, then return it to its home position (the ▲ mark).
- Reinstall the assembly and close the front cover. The toner counter resets automatically when a new cartridge is detected.
Resetting the drum counter after a drum change: do this only after you install a new DR730. With the machine on and the front cover closed, hold OK and press the Up arrow, press OK to select Drum, then press Up to reset.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Replace Toner" but prints look fine: Brother printers stop at a page estimate, not when the toner is truly empty. You can switch the Replace Toner setting from Stop to Continue in the General Setup menu. More options in how to reset a Brother toner cartridge.
"Toner Error" or "Cartridge not detected" with a new cartridge: Make sure the toner clicked fully into the drum, remove any leftover packing material, and that the cartridge is sold for the North American market. Power off, open and close the front cover, then power back on. See printer says cartridge not recognized.
Vertical white or black lines: Clean the corona wire with the green slider on the drum. If a line stays in exactly the same place, the drum is worn.
Faded print: Rock the toner cartridge side to side to redistribute the powder; if fading returns quickly the cartridge is near empty. See printer printing faded text.
Which Other Printers Use TN730 / TN760?
The same TN730/TN760 toner and DR730 drum fit the Brother HL-L2350DW, HL-L2370DW, HL-L2390DW, HL-L2395DW, DCP-L2550DW, MFC-L2710DW, MFC-L2730DW, MFC-L2750DW, HL-L2325DW and MFC-L2717DW. One spare cartridge can cover every one of these machines in your home or office.
What MFC-L2690DW owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, Brother's support pages and owner reviews, answered in our words.
It still says Replace Drum after I fitted a new DR730. How do I reset it?
With the machine on and the front cover closed, hold OK and press Up, press OK to select Drum, then press Up to reset. Don't reset it unless the drum is new.
The toner that came with it ran out fast. Is that normal?
Yes. The in-box cartridge is a starter that Brother rates at about 700 pages, and one Walmart reviewer got about 350. A TN760 is rated for about 3,000.
Can I connect it to my network with an Ethernet cable?
No. It has Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and USB only. If you need a wired connection, the MFC-L2717DW uses the same toner and has Ethernet.
Will it copy or scan both sides of a page automatically?
No. The 50-sheet document feeder scans one side only, so two-sided originals have to be flipped by hand. It does print two-sided automatically.
Why is it slower than the advertised 26 pages per minute?
Brother's 26 ppm figure is for one-sided printing. The printer ships set to two-sided output, which is slower, so change the default if speed matters more than paper.
MFC-L2690DW quirks worth knowing
- There is also an MFC-L2690DWXL version. It takes the same TN730/TN760 toner and DR730 drum and uses the same drum-reset steps.
- The document feeder takes 16–28 lb paper up to legal size, while the main tray handles heavier 16–43 lb bond. Feed card-weight originals from the glass.
- Fax runs on a 33.6K modem with 207 speed-dial locations and PC-Fax send and receive.
- If you sign up for Brother's Refresh EZ Print subscription, its cartridges are deactivated when you cancel and must be replaced at your own cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MFC-L2690DW toner the same as the MFC-L2710DW?
Yes. Both use TN730 or TN760 toner and the DR730 drum.
How often do I replace the drum?
About every 12,000 pages — roughly every four TN760 cartridges.
Can I keep printing when it says Replace Toner?
Yes. Change the Replace Toner setting from Stop to Continue in the General Setup menu, and replace the cartridge once print quality fades.
Does compatible toner void the warranty?
No. Under the U.S. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, Brother cannot void your warranty only because you used third-party toner. Brother does say its warranty may not cover damage that is caused by non-Brother supplies.
Other printers that use TN730 and TN760 toner
Brother HL-L2390DW · Brother MFC-L2710DW · Brother HL-L2370DW · Brother DCP-L2550DW · Brother HL-L2350DW · Brother HL-L2395DW · Brother MFC-L2750DW · Brother HL-L2325DW
More Brother ink guides: Brother DCP-L2640DW · Brother MFC-L2820DW · Brother HL-L2460DW · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother HL-L2460DW — CastleScore 90
- Brother MFC-L2820DW — CastleScore 90
- Brother HL-L5210DW — CastleScore 89
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 12, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Brother TN760 Toner Cartridges – TN760, TN730 & DR730 Drum? Shop Brother TN760 Toner Cartridges – TN760, TN730 & DR730 Drum at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.