Samsung MLT-D111S/D116S Toner Reset (M2020, M2070)
Actualizado 18 julio 2026Share
Changed the toner and your Samsung still warns of "toner low" or "replace toner"? Almost always it's because the internal counter hasn't been set back to zero, not because the cartridge is empty. The good news: with ours, in most cases it resets itself the moment you install it. Let me explain.
First things first: you almost never have to do anything
Our compatible cartridges come with a brand-new chip built in. That chip is what tells the printer "there's a full toner", so as soon as you fit it the counter goes back to zero on its own. In practice, most users install the cartridge, close the cover and carry on printing without touching a single menu.
If your machine is an Xpress M2020, M2022, M2026 or M2070, your cartridge is the compatible Samsung MLT-D111S toner (1,000 ISO pages). If it's an M2625, M2675, M2825, M2835, M2875 or M2885, the one you need is the compatible Samsung MLT-D116S toner (1,200 pages). Both cost €11.98, around 1 cent per printed page.
How do you install the Samsung toner step by step?
The process is the same across the whole Xpress range and takes barely a minute. Take your time so you don't scuff the drum:
- Switch off the printer and wait a few seconds.
- Open the front cover that gives access to the cartridge.
- Pull out the toner + drum assembly, easing it out gently by the handle.
- Separate the old toner from the drum: push down the locking tab or lever and slide it out.
- Fit the new toner into the drum until you hear a click.
- Slide the assembly back into place, nice and straight.
- Close the cover and switch on. Done.
If it's your first time and you'd like to see it in more detail, we have a dedicated guide: how to install a toner step by step without damaging it. Gently rocking the cartridge side to side before fitting it distributes the powder better and prevents streaks on start-up.
And what if it still says "Replace toner"?
On the Samsung Xpress machines the norm is that the new chip is enough: there's no "official" button combination like on other brands. If the message persists after installing it, it's almost always a chip contact problem, not a reset issue. Try this first of all:
- Take out the cartridge and wipe the gold chip contacts with a dry cloth.
- Refit it pressing until it clicks, well seated.
- Switch the printer off and on so it reads the cartridge again.
Important and honest: the exact sequence varies by model and firmware version. On the M2070 machines with a screen a prompt may appear that you confirm from the menu itself; on the M2020 machines with no keypad, the chip handles everything. We're not going to give you a made-up combination. If your model behaves differently or the message won't go away, write to us and we'll tell you the exact step for your machine.
If you're coming from another brand and were looking for their process, we cover it separately here: "Replace toner": resetting the counter on Brother and HP and the specific case of the Brother TN-2510 toner reset.
Which cartridge do I need, MLT-D111S or MLT-D116S?
The two look alike and get mixed up a lot, but they aren't interchangeable. Check your printer's exact model:
- MLT-D111S (1,000 pages, ~1 cent/page): Xpress M2020, M2020W, M2022, M2022W, M2026, M2026W, M2070, M2070F, M2070FW and M2070W. It's the cartridge for the M2020/M2070 family.
- MLT-D116S (1,200 pages, ~1 cent/page): Xpress M2625, M2625D, M2675F, M2675FN, M2825DW, M2825ND, M2835DW, M2875DW, M2875FD, M2875FW and M2885FW.
Both perform the same as an original at a compatible price and carry ISO 9001 certification. You can see them alongside the rest of our most popular items in the best-selling compatible toner and ink collection.
Is it the toner or the drum?
The toner is the "powder cartridge" you use up and replace often. The drum (imaging unit) is the part that transfers that powder onto the paper and lasts many more cycles. If when printing you see repeated vertical streaks, marks every so many centimetres or a greyish background that don't go away when you change the toner, the culprit is usually the drum.
On these Xpress machines the drum isn't always sold separately on our website, so we're not going to link you a part we don't stock: if you think it's the drum, write to us with your model and we'll confirm exactly what you need before you spend more than you have to.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Samsung keep asking for toner after I've changed it?
Because the internal counter hasn't been reset, not because the cartridge is empty. The printer counts pages via the cartridge chip. With our compatibles, the chip is new and sets the counter to zero the moment you install it, so the warning usually disappears without you doing anything else.
Does the compatible MLT-D111S toner reset itself?
Yes, in most cases. Star Toner's compatible MLT-D111S and MLT-D116S include a new chip that the printer reads as a full cartridge. You fit the toner, close the cover and carry on printing. You don't need menus or button combinations for the reset.
How do I reset the counter manually on a Samsung Xpress?
On the Xpress machines the new chip is usually enough; there's no official button combination. If the message persists, clean the gold chip contacts, reinsert the cartridge until it clicks and switch the printer off and on. The sequence varies by model, so write to us if yours differs.
How many pages do the MLT-D111S and D116S last and what's the cost per page?
The MLT-D111S yields around 1,000 ISO pages and the MLT-D116S around 1,200. Both cost €11.98, which works out at roughly 1 cent per printed page. It's the same performance as an original at a compatible price, with ISO 9001 certification.
How do I know if the fault is the drum and not the toner?
If after changing the toner you still get repeated vertical streaks, marks at regular intervals or a greyish background, it's usually the drum (imaging unit), not the toner. The drum lasts many more cycles. Write to us with your model and we'll confirm which part you need.
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