Keep printing when toner is low: HP, Brother and Samsung
Actualizado 18 julio 2026Share
When your printer warns of "low toner", there is almost always ink left inside: it's an estimate made by the chip, not a real measurement. You can carry on printing by activating "continue" mode or by taking out the cartridge and gently shaking it. Below are the exact steps for HP, Brother and Samsung.
Why does the printer say "low toner" if it still prints fine?
The warning doesn't measure the toner left: the cartridge chip calculates it from the pages printed and the estimated coverage. Bear in mind the chip counts rotations and pages, not grams of powder, which is why it always underestimates. Manufacturers set that threshold with plenty of margin so you buy the replacement early, so when the alert appears you almost always have a good number of pages left. Keep printing until you notice faint areas or streaks: that's when it really is running out.
The quick trick: take out the cartridge and shake it
Before touching any menu, try the simplest thing. Toner is a powder and tends to build up on one side of the cartridge; redistributing it gives you a good handful of extra pages at no cost.
- Turn off the printer and open the front cover.
- Remove the toner cartridge (on many Brother models it comes out together with the drum; separate just the toner).
- Hold it horizontally and rock it gently from side to side, five or six times.
- Put it back until it clicks, close the cover and switch on.
It's a temporary fix, but very effective for finishing that urgent job. If you're unsure about reassembling it, go over how to install a toner step by step without damaging it.
How do you keep printing on an HP with the low toner warning?
By default, most HP LaserJet models don't stop at "low toner": they keep printing until the "very low" warning. If your machine has stopped, go into the panel or the internal web server (EWS) and look for the supplies settings:
- Settings → System settings (or "Manage supplies").
- Very low setting → Black.
- Choose "Continue" instead of "Stop".
The exact names change depending on the model, but the logic is always the same. From then on it will print until the quality really drops.
And on a Brother asking you to "Replace toner"?
Brother has a "continue mode" designed for exactly this. On models with a screen you activate it from the menu (General setup → Replace toner → Continue), and from then on the machine keeps printing despite the message. On LED models without a keypad, the method is to open the front cover and hold down the relevant button, but the sequence changes from one model to another.
As the steps vary, it's best to follow the specific guides: resetting the TN-2510 toner to keep printing and how to reset the counter on Brother and HP. If your model doesn't match, write to us and we'll tell you the exact sequence.
How do I get a Samsung to keep printing?
On many Samsung models "low toner" is only informational and the machine keeps printing until the quality drops; there, the trick of shaking the cartridge is the one that pays off most. Some models include a menu option to stop or not when the toner runs out: if you have it, leave it on "continue". As Samsung and HP share technology, recent models use menus very similar to HP's, so apply the same steps to them.
If it still stops, turn the machine off and on after reinstalling the cartridge: often that simple restart is enough to get it going again.
Does printing with the toner almost empty damage the printer?
No, it doesn't damage it. The worst that can happen is that the prints come out faint or streaky once there's no powder left. If you notice the text starting to come out with horizontal white bands, stop and shake the cartridge before carrying on. For internal documents or drafts it's perfect; for anything important, better to change the cartridge. What you shouldn't do is leave it running empty for a long time, because the result will be illegible and you'll waste pages.
When is it time to change the toner or the drum?
If shaking the cartridge doesn't improve the quality and you see constant faint areas, it's time for a replacement. Be careful not to confuse toner and drum: when the marks keep repeating at the same distance, fixed vertical dots or lines appear, or there's a greyish background, the problem is usually in the drum, not the toner. You'll find both compatible parts among Star Toner's best-selling products.
When you change it, let the counter reset on its own
Our compatible toners come with a new chip, so on most printers the counter resets on its own when you install them: you don't have to touch any menu. If your machine doesn't detect it first time, here we explain what to do if the printer doesn't recognise the compatible toner. Truly compatible, at the price they should cost.
Frequently asked questions
How many more pages can I print after the low toner warning?
It depends on the model and the coverage, but there's usually room for quite a few pages. The warning appears in advance, so keep printing until you see faint areas or streaks. Shaking the cartridge from side to side gives you even more pages before the final replacement.
Does activating continue mode void the printer's warranty?
No. Continue mode is a function of the manufacturer itself, included in the menu, so using it is entirely legitimate. You're only deciding to keep printing despite the warning. What is advisable is not to strain the machine by printing dry for a long time, because the result will be illegible.
Why does my new compatible toner also show "low" straight away?
It's almost always because the printer is carrying over the counter from the previous cartridge and hasn't reset it. Our compatibles have a new chip and usually reset it on their own when installed. If that doesn't happen, the counter goes to zero by opening and closing the cover or from the menu, depending on the model.
Is shaking the toner cartridge safe?
Yes, if you do it carefully. Hold it horizontally and rock it slowly from side to side; never open it or touch the roller with your fingers. That spreads the remaining powder without getting messy or damaging the part. Do it over newspaper in case any toner falls out.
How do I know if the problem is the drum and not the toner?
Look at the pattern. If the defects always repeat at the same distance, you see fixed vertical lines, regular dots or a greyish background, it's usually the drum. If they're faint areas that improve when you shake the cartridge, it's the toner. The menu also usually warns about each part separately.
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