Maintenance procedure · Written to ASD-STE100 Issue 9 · Formatted to ANSI Z535

Replace the Toner Cartridge and the Drum Unit in a Laser Printer

Two different parts, two different messages, two different jobs — for laser and LED-page printers with a separate toner cartridge and drum unit
ApplicabilityLaser and LED-page printers that use a separate, user-replaceable toner cartridge and imaging or drum unit. Some entry-level laser printers combine both into one cartridge instead; check your printer's own supplies list before you order a part. This record follows Brother's own consumer support documentation for the general replacement sequence; other manufacturers use different lever, latch and confirmation-button names for the same job.
Task time8 min to 13 min editorial estimate, not a measurement
PersonnelOne
Revisionv1 · 2026-08-04
BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.

Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.

Summary

A laser or LED-page printer gives two different low-supply messages, and they point at two different parts with two different jobs. A toner message (Toner Low, Replace Toner) means the powder that forms the printed image is running out. A drum message (Replace Drum, Drum Stop) means the light-sensitive roller that carries that image onto the page has reached the end of its rated life. The two parts wear at different rates, and readers who buy a replacement often buy the one the message did not name.

This page walks through removing the used assembly, freeing the toner cartridge from the drum unit, fitting the new part, and confirming the printer accepts it. It is built from Brother's own consumer support documentation, and the general sequence — open the cover, separate the cartridge from the drum, fit the new part, close the cover — holds across most laser printers that use a separate toner cartridge and drum unit. The exact lever, latch and confirmation-button names are different on other manufacturers and models, so check your printer's own guide for those details. This page does not cover a paper jam or an internal printer fault, and it does not print one page-yield number as if it applied to every model.

Necessary equipment

ItemNote
Replacement toner cartridge or drum unit (the exact part number for your printer)Match the new part's number against your printer model before you open the package.
A sheet of paper or a drop clothPlace the used assembly on the sheet. Toner powder can spill during this step.
Your printer's own instructions or quick-start guide optionalFind the exact lever, latch and prompt names for your model.
Cold water and a cloth materialClean spilled toner from your skin or clothing with cold water, not hot water.

Find the part the message names

Estimated 1 min to 2 min

NOTEA toner message and a drum message name two different parts.
Toner cartridge rated-yield test method and print coverage
Manufacturer or standard verified
ISO/IEC 19798 (LETTER), A CONTINUOUS PRINT OF A SAMPLE PAGE AT 5% PAGE COVERAGE. THE PAGE COUNT ITSELF IS SPECIFIC TO EACH PART NUMBER; READ IT FROM THE CARTRIDGE BOX OR THE MANUFACTURER'S PUBLISHED YIELD TABLE FOR YOUR MODEL.

Source: Toner yield not as expected · tier 1 · accessed 2026-08-04

Toner cartridge and drum unit rated page yield for your printer
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE FIGURE PRINTED ON THE CARTRIDGE OR DRUM BOX, OR YOUR PRINTER MANUFACTURER'S PUBLISHED SUPPLIES TABLE FOR YOUR EXACT MODEL AND PART NUMBER.

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

  1. Read the exact message on the printer display or in the printer status window.
    • A toner message and a drum message name two different parts.
    <1m
  2. Before you order a part, find your printer's model number.
    • The toner cartridge and the drum unit are specific to one printer model.
    <1m
  3. Make sure the new part's number matches your printer model.
    <1m

Open the printer

Estimated 1 min to 2 min

NOTEThis section removes the used assembly and separates the toner cartridge from the drum unit.
WARNING

WAIT FOR THE PRINTER TO COOL BEFORE YOU OPEN THE FRONT COVER.
The inside of the printer is hot after a print job and can burn your skin.

  1. Open the front cover of the printer.
    <1m
NOTICE

KEEP THE DRUM UNIT OUT OF DIRECT LIGHT ONCE IT IS OUT OF THE PRINTER.
Direct light can damage the drum surface and cause a print fault.

  1. Remove the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly from the printer.
    • Place the assembly on a sheet of paper in case toner spills.
    <1m
  2. Press the lock lever on the drum unit.
    • The lever position and colour are different on different printer models.
    <1m
  3. Remove the toner cartridge from the drum unit.
    <1m

Replace the toner cartridge

Estimated 2 min to 2 min

NOTEDo the steps in this section only if the message named the toner cartridge.
  1. If the message named the toner cartridge, do the steps in this section.
    <1m
CAUTION

DO NOT INHALE TONER DUST.
Toner dust can irritate your airway.

NOTICE

CLEAN SPILLED TONER FROM YOUR SKIN OR YOUR CLOTHING WITH COLD WATER, NOT HOT WATER.

  1. Remove the new toner cartridge from its packaging.
    <1m
  2. Move the new cartridge from side to side five or six times.
    • This step spreads the toner evenly inside the cartridge.
    <1m
  3. Remove the protective seal from the new cartridge.
    <1m
  4. Press the new cartridge into the drum unit until it locks.
    <1m
WARNING

DO NOT PUT A USED TONER CARTRIDGE INTO A FIRE.
Toner in a fire can explode and cause injuries.

  1. Place the used toner cartridge in its original packaging or a spare bag.
    • Take the used cartridge to a recycling point, or follow your local rules for disposal.
    <1m

Replace the drum unit

Estimated 1 min to 2 min

NOTEDo the steps in this section only if the message named the drum unit.
  1. If the message named the drum unit, do the steps in this section.
    <1m
  2. Remove the new drum unit from its packaging.
    <1m
  3. Press the toner cartridge into the new drum unit until it locks.
    • An incompletely locked cartridge can separate from the drum unit during use.
    <1m
WARNING

DO NOT PUT A USED DRUM UNIT INTO A FIRE.
Toner residue in a fire can explode and cause injuries.

  1. Place the used drum unit in its original packaging.
    • Take the used drum unit to a recycling point, or follow your local rules for disposal.
    <1m

Close the printer

Estimated 2 min to 5 min

  1. Insert the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly into the printer.
    <1m
  2. Close the front cover fully.
    <1m
NOTICE

DO NOT OPEN THE FRONT COVER UNTIL THE DISPLAY CLEARS ITS PROCESSING MESSAGE.
An interruption at this point can cause a fault or a wasted part.

  1. Wait for the display to show the printer is ready.
    <1m
  2. If your printer shows a prompt for the new part, follow the prompt.
    • The exact prompt is different on different printer models.
    <1m
  3. Print one test page.
    <1m
  4. Look at the printer display for the message.
    • The message is not there when the new part is correctly installed.
    <1m

Terminology

This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.

toner cartridge
Also called: toner, ink, printer ink, the black cartridge, laser toner
drum unit
Also called: drum, imaging unit, imaging drum, OPC drum, printer says replace drum
front cover
Also called: access door, toner door, printer door, top cover
page yield
Also called: how many pages a toner cartridge prints, toner cartridge page count, printer page yield 5 percent coverage
genuine supplies
Also called: OEM toner, compatible cartridge, third-party toner, remanufactured cartridge

When to use a professional

This page covers the toner cartridge and the drum unit only. It does not cover a paper jam or a printer that will not start. Read your printer's own guide for the exact lever, latch and confirmation-button names. Contact the manufacturer's support line for a fault code or a jam that will not clear.

Get the exact part number from your printer model, not from memory. The toner cartridge and the drum unit are specific to one printer model. Contact the manufacturer's support line if the message stays on the display after you install a new part. Also contact support if toner leaks from a new cartridge or a new drum unit. A repeat fault after a correct part can mean a fault inside the printer.

Common questions

How do I know if I need a new toner cartridge or a new drum unit?

Read the exact message on your printer's display. A toner message (Toner Low, Replace Toner, Toner Ended) means the cartridge is the part to replace. A drum message (Replace Drum, Drum Stop, Drum Error) means the drum unit is the part to replace, even if the toner level still reads normal. If your print looks faded, streaky, or smudged and no message has appeared yet, this site's laser-printer print-quality record walks through matching the defect on the page to the likely part before you buy one.

Why does the box say one page count but I got fewer pages than that?

The number on the box is a rated yield, measured under a fixed test method at a fixed print coverage, not a promise about your own documents. Brother's own support documentation states its toner yields follow the ISO/IEC 19798 test standard, using continuous printing of a sample page at 5 percent coverage. A page with more text, graphics, or solid colour uses more toner per page than that sample, so heavier printing lowers the real yield below the rated number. The rated number is still useful for comparing two cartridges to each other; it is not a prediction for any one document.

Is it safe to use a cheaper, compatible, or refilled cartridge?

That is a choice this page will not make for you. Brother's own documentation recommends genuine supplies, and states that a third-party toner cartridge or drum unit may affect performance, print quality, and reliability, and that its limited warranty does not cover issues caused by an unauthorized part. Other manufacturers publish similar guidance for their own printers. Weigh the cost saving against that stated risk, and check your own printer's warranty terms before you decide.

Can I replace the toner cartridge and the drum unit at the same time?

Yes. Follow the toner-cartridge section and the drum-unit section of this page in either order, since both start from the same separated cartridge and drum unit. Fit the new toner cartridge into the new drum unit, not into the old one. This is also a convenient time to do it if both messages appear close together, since the printer is already open.

The display still says 'Replace Drum' after I fit a new one. What now?

Most printers need a separate confirmation step after you install a new drum unit, and the exact button sequence is different on different models — Brother's own documentation gives different sequences for different printer families, so this page will not print one that may be wrong for your model. Read your printer's own quick-start guide or on-screen help for the confirmation step for your model. A message that stays on the display after you also try the counter reset can mean the drum counter, not the drum condition. Contact the manufacturer's support line if the message still will not clear.

Toner powder spilled on my hands or my clothes. What do I do?

Avoid breathing the toner dust. Wipe or wash spilled toner from your skin or your clothing with cold water, not hot water — Brother's own documentation gives this instruction directly. Do not put a used toner cartridge or drum unit into a fire; burning toner can explode. A large spill inside the printer, rather than on you, is a cleaning job outside this page's scope; follow your printer's own cleaning instructions for that.

Sources

Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.

  1. Tier 1Replace or Install the Toner CartridgeBrother International Corporation · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  2. Tier 1How do I clear the message 'Replace Drum'?Brother International Corporation · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  3. Tier 1"Replace Drum"Brother International Corporation · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  4. Tier 1Clean loose toner inside the machineBrother International Corporation · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  5. Tier 1Toner yield not as expectedBrother International Corporation · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31
  6. Tier 1How can I check the remaining life of the drum unit?Brother International Corporation · accessed 2026-08-04 · re-verification due 2027-01-31

Revision history

Current version 1 · updated 2026-08-04 · next review due 2027-08-04

  1. v1 · 2026-08-04First draft. Built from Brother International Corporation's own consumer support portal (help.brother-usa.com), read by direct fetch article by article: a_id/77953 (toner-cartridge replacement steps and the hot-internal-parts and cold-water hazards), a_id/66365 (drum-unit replacement steps, the ISO/IEC 19752 citation, and the fire/inhalation/spill hazards), a_id/153745 (a second Brother model family's drum-replacement steps, corroborating the general sequence and showing the confirmation button sequence is model specific), a_id/64093 (the direct-sunlight hazard for the drum roller), a_id/186864 (the ISO/IEC 19798 toner-yield test method and 5% coverage figure), and a_id/77950 (the drum-counter accuracy caveat and the genuine-parts guidance used in the FAQ). No page count, rated-yield figure, or confirmation-button sequence from any single Brother model family is published as a general value on this page: each of those numbers is specific to one part number or one model family, and Brother's own documentation gives different figures and different button sequences across the model families cited here, which is itself the evidence that no single number is safe to generalise. Only the test-method names (ISO/IEC 19752, ISO/IEC 19798) and the coverage percentage are published, with the reader routed to their own cartridge box or manufacturer's table for the count itself. WebSearch was unavailable for this session (budget exhausted); every source was located through help.brother-usa.com's own site-search endpoint (verified working, returns real article titles and a_id links) and then read by direct fetch, never through a general search engine or a competitor site. Scope stops at the cartridge bay: this record does not cover a paper jam, and links to this site's existing laser-printer print-quality diagnostic record (laser-print-is-faded-streaky-or-rubs-off) for identifying which part a print defect points at before a message appears. The professional_boundary and the seven hazards (hot internal parts, drum light exposure, toner inhalation, cold-water cleanup, two fire/explosion warnings for disposal, and the mid-confirmation interruption notice) are this record's required safety elements.

Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.

Comments and corrections

Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.

Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.

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