Error code
Brother Drum Error, Replace Drum and Drum End Soon
Brother drum messages mean the drum is worn, needs cleaning or wasn’t reset after a swap. Clean the corona wire, seat the toner and reset only after a new drum.
Printer display · Brother
What it means
Brother laser printers keep the drum unit, which carries the long green image roller, separate from the toner cartridge that clips into it. Drum End Soon is an early warning; Replace Drum and Drum Stop mean the drum has reached its counted life, or a new drum was fitted without resetting the counter. On many models, Drum Error, or the word Drum followed by an exclamation mark, means the corona wire inside the drum unit needs cleaning. Wording differs between models, so match yours to the list in your manual.
When you’ll see it
- After fitting a new drum unit
- After many thousands of pages
- Alongside faint streaks or spots on prints
- Right after a toner cartridge change
- On models without a screen, as a drum light that stays on or blinks
Usually caused by
- Most commonThe drum has reached its counted page life
- Most commonA new drum was fitted but the counter wasn’t reset
- Most commonDirty corona wire inside the drum unit
- SometimesToner cartridge not locked into the drum unit
- Less commonA damaged drum or a faulty drum sensor
How to clear it
Work down the list in order. Tick off each step as you go: your progress is saved on this device.
On the printer itself
0 of 8 tried
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Read the exact drum message
Note whether the screen says Drum End Soon, Replace Drum, Drum Stop or Drum Error. On models with lights only, compare the light pattern with the table in your manual.
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Remove the drum and toner assembly
Open the front cover and lift out the drum and toner assembly by its handle. Set it on a sheet of scrap paper on a flat surface in case toner spills.
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Clean the corona wire
Find the green tab on the drum unit and slide it gently from one end to the other several times. Finish with it back in its home position, often marked with a ▲ symbol.
You should see: The tab sits back at its home mark; if it’s left partway along, prints get a vertical stripe.
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Lock the toner into the drum
Push the toner cartridge down into the drum unit until it locks and the green lock lever lifts by itself. A loose cartridge alone can cause drum and toner messages.
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Reinstall the assembly and close the cover
Slide the assembly back into the printer until it stops, then close the front cover.
You should see: A cleaning-related Drum Error clears and the printer returns to Ready.
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Fit a new drum if it has reached its life
For Replace Drum or Drum Stop, unpack a new drum unit made for your model, move the toner cartridge across from the old one, and install the assembly. Many models keep printing on Drum End Soon or Replace Drum for a while, but quality drops as the drum wears.
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Reset the drum counter after a new drum
Unless your manual says your model detects a new drum by itself, reset the drum counter now. On many models it’s done with the front cover open by holding a particular button until a reset prompt appears; your manual names the exact button.
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Print a test page
Print a test page or a few pages of text and look for streaks, spots or faint areas before going back to normal printing.
Common questions
Do I need a new drum every time I change toner?
No. On most Brother lasers a drum outlasts several toner cartridges; your manual lists its rated page life.
Should I reset the drum counter without fitting a new drum?
No. The counter tracks real wear, and resetting it hides the warning while a worn drum keeps printing faint or spotty pages. Reset it only after a new drum goes in.
Why does it still say Replace Drum after I put in a new one?
Usually the counter wasn’t reset, or the new drum isn’t seated fully. Reseat the assembly, then follow the drum counter reset in your manual.