Brother's machines show messages for consumables and maintenance, and the drum counter is the one people meet most. Brother's article says Replace Drum and Drum End Soon continue to appear if the drum counter was not reset when you fitted a new drum. To reset it: make sure the machine is on, open the front cover, press and hold OK for two seconds, press the up arrow key or 1 to reset the drum counter and close the front cover.
The checks in more detail
Reset it only when you replace the drum unit, because resetting during its life makes the remaining-life display inaccurate. The machine has separate consumables, the toner cartridge and the drum unit, so confirm you replaced the one the message names. For toner messages after a new cartridge, fit a brand new unused cartridge, seat it, confirm the drum is installed and clean the corona wire.
Other messages include Toner Low, Replace Toner, Toner Ended, Drum Stop, and error codes for jams and cover open states, which the online user's guide lists. Turn the machine off and on to clear transient messages, and update the firmware. Brother strongly recommends genuine supplies, and its limited warranty does not cover problems caused by unauthorized third-party drums or toner. If the message persists after these steps, contact Brother customer service with the exact wording.
Photograph the display and note the message and time. The exact wording shortens a support call, and a written list of what you tried avoids repeating steps. If the message clears after a power cycle and returns, the cause is real and the consumable or part needs attention. A message that appears after a power cut or a paper jam may simply be stale, so clear the fault, close all covers and power cycle before replacing anything.
Differential
Likely causes of “Brother printers shows a maintenance box, drum, fuser, waste toner or service message”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The drum counter not reset
What separates it The message Replace Drum persists because the drum counter was not reset
How to confirm Reset the counter after you have fitted a new drum
- 2
A used toner
What separates it A toner error shows because the toner was already used
How to confirm Fit a new unused cartridge, and check that the message clears
- 3
A cover not closed
What separates it The message says Cover open because a cover is not closed
How to confirm Close every cover firmly, until each one clicks into place
- 4
A transient fault
What separates it The message clears after power off because it was a transient fault
How to confirm Restart the machine, by switching it off and on, and check again
- 5
Non-genuine supplies
What separates it The machine refuses a supply because it is not a genuine one
How to confirm Use genuine supplies, and check that the message clears
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact wording of the message on the display
- Which consumable you have replaced recently
- Whether the counter was reset after the replacement
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedRead the message
ReversibleRead the message, and note whether it names the toner, the drum or a cover.
Confirm what you replaced
ReversibleConfirm what you replaced, since the toner and the drum are separate parts, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reseat supplies
ReversibleReseat the supplies firmly, until each one clicks into place, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Power cycle
ReversiblePower cycle the machine, by switching it off and on, and check the message, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Brother
ReversibleContact Brother if the message persists, and give them the model and the wording, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Laser
- Toner and drum messages apply to laser models.
- Inkjet
- Inkjets show ink and maintenance box messages.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models L5915DW, L8905CDW, L3295CDW, L2460DW, J1010DW, J4535DW, J5855DW, QL-820NWB label printer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a message persists after the counter reset and new supplies, contact Brother
- !If a supply is refused, use a genuine one
- !If a cover message stays, check the sensor path
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Resetting the drum counter.
New toner, installation, drum and corona wire.
Resetting the drum counter.
Firmware Update Tool and iPrint&Scan.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does Replace Drum stay?+
Replace Drum stays because the counter was not reset after a new drum.
What is Drum End Soon?+
The drum is nearing the end of its life.
What if I reset too early?+
If you reset too early, the remaining life display becomes inaccurate.
Are toner and drum separate?+
Yes, the toner and the drum are separate consumables, with their own life.
Does warranty cover third-party supplies?+
No, the warranty does not cover damage that is caused by third party supplies.
Can a power cycle clear it?+
Sometimes, a power cycle clears a message, if it was a transient fault.
Where are messages listed?+
The messages are listed in the online user's guide, for the model.