Brother TN-2320, TN-2220 and TN-450 Toner Reset

Your Brother keeps showing "Replace Toner" after you've changed it because the internal page counter hasn't been set back to zero. These printers don't measure the actual toner: they count copies up to a limit. With a compatible toner that has a new chip, it almost always resets on its own. If it doesn't, here's the reset step by step.

Why does the printer keep asking for toner if I've just changed it?

Mono Brother printers don't know how much toner is left: they have a counter that adds up pages until a limit, and then it warns you. When you put in a new cartridge, that counter has to go back to zero. If the message persists, it means the reset hasn't happened, not that the toner is faulty. It's a counter fault, not an ink one.

First things first: you almost never have to reset anything

Good news. Our compatible toners come with a factory-new chip (or reset part). When you install the Brother TN2320 TN660 compatible toner or the Brother TN450 TN2220 compatible toner, the printer reads them as full and the counter goes back to zero on its own. In most cases you close the cover and it prints straight away, without touching any menu.

Choose by your model. If your Brother uses the TN-2320 cartridge (DCP-L2500D, HL-L2340DW, MFC-L2700DW and similar), you need the TN2320 TN660. If it uses the TN-2220/TN-450 (DCP-7065DN, HL-2270DW, MFC-7360N and the like), you need the TN450 TN2220. Both yield 2,600 ISO pages for €8.98 and €7.98: less than a cent per printed page.

How do I install the Brother toner step by step?

The process is the same across the whole mono range. Take your time and don't force any part:

• Turn off the printer and open the front cover.
• Pull out the complete drum + toner assembly (it comes out as a single piece).
• Lower the green locking lever and separate the old toner from the drum.
• Fit the new toner into the drum until you hear a firm click.
• Slide the green lever from side to side a couple of times to distribute the toner.
• Reinsert the assembly into the printer and close the front cover.

If you want the detail with photos and the mistakes worth avoiding, we have our guide on how to install a toner step by step without damaging it.

The printer still says "Replace Toner": how do I reset the counter?

If the warning doesn't go away after installing it, you have to reset the counter by hand. The method depends on whether your Brother has a display or not, and the exact sequence changes from one model to another. These are the standard, documented routes for this family:

• Models with an LCD display and keypad (various MFC and DCP printers): the reset is done from the printer's own menu, in the toner information or reset section. Follow the options that appear on screen.
• LED models without a keypad (many HL printers): usually you open the front cover and hold down the right button until the LEDs confirm the reset. The specific combination varies by model.

Important and honest: we're not going to give you a made-up button sequence as if it were universal, because it changes depending on the model and would only waste your time. If, after fitting the compatible one, your Brother is still on "Replace Toner", tell us your exact model and we'll send you the right sequence. For the general detail there's "Replace Toner": resetting the Brother and HP counter and, if your machine is the new TN-2510, the specific guide to resetting the TN-2510 toner.

What if it's not the counter, but it doesn't recognise the toner?

Sometimes the problem isn't the reset, but that the printer won't accept the cartridge as valid: a poorly seated chip, dusty contacts or fussy firmware. Before writing off the toner as bad, run through my printer doesn't recognise the compatible toner: what to do, which covers the most typical faults and how to solve them in a couple of minutes.

What if the problem is the drum and not the toner?

Careful, because the toner and the drum are separate parts. The drum (the DR-2300 or DR-420 unit in this range) lasts several cartridges and gives its own warning, along the lines of "Replace Drum" or a different flashing pattern. If your message is about the drum, not the toner, changing the cartridge won't fix it. You can see all the compatible consumables sorted in Star Toner's best sellers, or write to us and we'll tell you which part you need before you spend.

In short: change the cartridge, close the cover, and on most Brother printers the counter resets on its own with our compatible toner. Only some models require a manual reset, and for those the sequence depends on your machine. If yours is being stubborn, write to us with the model and we'll guide you.

Frequently asked questions