Brother Error Drum End Soon — What It Means & How to Fix It
Updated August 2026 · Independent PrinterCare USA support guide
When your Brother printer displays the Drum End Soon error, it is not a mechanical failure or paper jam. The printer's internal counter has tracked the drum unit's usage and determined it is approaching the manufacturer's recommended replacement point, typically around eighty thousand pages depending on your model. This is a preventive warning, not an immediate emergency, but ignoring it may result in poor print quality within weeks.
The good news is that this warning can be reset without replacing any hardware, at least temporarily. However, you should plan to purchase a replacement drum unit soon, as continuing to use an exhausted drum will produce increasingly faded prints and may eventually damage other components. A new genuine Brother drum typically costs between thirty dollars and seventy dollars depending on your printer model.
How to fix it — step by step
- Check your exact Brother printer model number. Locate the model number on the back of your printer or inside the front panel where the toner cartridge sits. Common models experiencing this error include the HL-L8360CDW, MFC-L9550CDWT, and HL-L2350DW. Write down the exact model number before proceeding, as menu navigation varies slightly between series.
- Access the printer's menu system from the control panel. Press the Menu button on your Brother printer's touchscreen or button panel. Navigate using the arrow keys to find Settings, Maintenance, or System Settings depending on your model. Look specifically for options labeled Drum, Consumables, or Supplies. This is where the drum counter reset function is typically located.
- Locate and select the Drum Counter Reset option. Once in the Maintenance or Consumables menu, scroll through the available options until you find Drum Counter Reset, Drum Unit Reset, or similar wording. Different models may label this as Reset Drum Page Count or Drum Yield Reset. Select this option and confirm that you want to proceed with the reset.
- Confirm the reset through the security PIN prompt. Many Brother printers require a four digit security PIN to prevent accidental resets. The default PIN is typically 0000 or 0001, though some models may use 1111. Enter the PIN when prompted and press OK or Confirm. If the PIN does not work, consult your printer manual or contact Brother support for the correct code.
- Verify the reset was successful by checking the status page. Print a configuration page or status page by holding the Go button or pressing Reports in the menu system. Look for the Drum Yield or Drum Remaining percentage, which should now show significantly higher usage allowance, typically reset to ninety nine percent. If the percentage remains low, the reset did not take effect and you may need to restart the printer.
- Power cycle the printer to ensure changes are saved. Turn off the Brother printer completely by pressing the Power button or flipping the power switch to the Off position. Wait for at least thirty seconds, then turn the printer back on. Allow the startup sequence to complete fully before attempting to print, as this ensures the reset has been properly registered in the printer's firmware.
- Order a replacement drum unit for long-term reliability. While the reset is free and will silence the warning, plan to purchase a genuine Brother drum unit within the next month or two. Genuine drums cost between thirty five dollars and sixty five dollars depending on your model and can be ordered through Amazon, Staples, Office Depot, or directly from Brother's website. Using an exhausted drum significantly degrades print quality and can damage the fuser assembly.
- Contact Brother support if the reset menu is inaccessible. If your specific model does not show a drum reset option in the maintenance menu, Brother offers remote support assistance for forty nine dollars. A technician can remotely access your printer via your network connection and perform the reset, which may be faster than locating the correct procedure for less common model variants. Call Brother customer support at one eight hundred four two seven two four eight five to arrange this service.
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Frequently asked questions
Will my Brother printer stop working after the Drum End Soon warning appears?
No, your printer will continue to function normally even after the warning appears. The Drum End Soon message is a preventive notification that your drum unit is approaching the end of its designed lifespan, not an indication that it has failed. However, print quality will gradually decline, with faded text and images becoming noticeable within a few weeks.
How many times can I reset the drum counter before I must replace the drum unit?
Technically, you can reset the counter multiple times indefinitely, but this is not recommended. Each reset bypasses the printer's quality safeguards without actually replacing the worn drum. After two or three resets, the physical drum unit becomes too worn to produce acceptable print quality, and continuing to use it may damage internal components like the fuser or transfer roller.
Is the drum unit the same thing as the toner cartridge, or are they separate parts?
The drum unit and toner cartridge are completely separate components. The drum is the cylindrical metal roller that attracts toner powder and transfers it to paper, while the cartridge is the container that holds loose toner powder. A Brother printer typically has one drum unit that lasts significantly longer than the toner cartridge, which is why they have separate replacement cycles.
Can I buy a third-party or compatible drum unit instead of an official Brother drum?
Yes, many compatible or remanufactured drum units are available for fifty to seventy percent less than genuine Brother drums. However, these may have shorter lifespans or produce lower quality output. Genuine Brother drums are manufactured to exact specifications and carry a warranty, making them the most reliable choice despite the higher price. If you frequently print large volumes, the investment in a genuine drum unit is usually worthwhile.