How to Reset a Brother DR820/DR890 Drum Unit

If your Brother printer continues to display Replace Drum, Drum End Soon, or a similar drum-life message after installing a new DR820/DR890 drum unit, the drum counter may not have been reset correctly.

This guide explains how to manually reset the drum counter on Brother printers that use the DR820/DR890 drum unit.

Compatible Brother Printers:
Brother DCP-L5500DN, DCP-L5600DN, DCP-L5650DN; HL-L5000D, HL-L5100DN, HL-L5200DW, HL-L5200DWT, HL-L6200DW, HL-L6200DWT, HL-L6250DW, HL-L6300DW, HL-L6400DW, HL-L6400DWG, HL-L6400DWT, HL-L6400DWX; MFC-L5700DW, MFC-L5800DW, MFC-L5850DW, MFC-L5900DW, MFC-L6700DW, MFC-L6750DW, MFC-L6800DW, MFC-L6900DW, MFC-L6900DWG, MFC-L6900DWX

Before You Reset the Drum

• Install a new DR820/DR890 drum unit.
• Transfer the toner cartridge into the replacement drum unit, if necessary.
• Make sure the toner cartridge is properly locked into the drum unit.
• Reinstall the drum and toner assembly into the printer.
• Make sure the printer is powered on.

Note: Do not reset the drum counter unless you are replacing the drum unit. Brother specifically warns against resetting the counter while continuing to use the existing drum.

Drum Reset Instructions

HL Series Models
(HL-L5000D, HL-L5100DN, HL-L5200DW, HL-L5200DWT, HL-L6200DW, and HL-L6200DWT)

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Open the front cover.
3. Press and hold OK for approximately two seconds until Drum Unit appears.
4. Press OK.
5. Press the Up Arrow to reset the drum counter.
6. Close the front cover.

(HL-L6250DW)

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Open the front cover.
3. Press and hold OK for approximately two seconds until Drum Unit appears on the display.
4. Press OK.
5. Press the Up Arrow to select Reset and reset the drum counter.
6. Close the front cover.

(HL-L6300DW)

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Press Settings.
3. Select Machine Information.
4. Select Parts Life.
5. Press and hold Drum Life until the display message changes.
6. Press Yes to confirm the reset.
7. Press Home to return to the main screen.

(HL-L6400DW, HL-L6400DWG, HL-L6400DWT, and HL-L6400DWX)

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Press Settings.
3. Select All Settings.
4. Select Machine Information.
5. Select Parts Life.
6. Press and hold Drum Life until the display message changes.
7. Press Yes to confirm the reset.
8. Press Home to return to the main screen.

The printer should now recognize the new DR820/DR890 drum unit.

DCP Series Model
(DCP-L5500DN, DCP-L5600DN, and DCP-L5650DN)

1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the front cover is closed.
2. Press Settings.
3. Select All Settings, if displayed.
4. Select Machine Info. or Machine Information.
5. Select Parts Life.
6. Press and hold Drum or Drum Life until the display message changes.
7. Press Yes to confirm.
8. Press Home to exit the menu.

The drum counter should now be reset.

MFC Series Models
(MFC-L5700DW, MFC-L5705DW, MFC-L5800DW, MFC-L5850DW, MFC-L5900DW, MFC-L6700DW, and MFC-L6800DW)

1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the front cover is closed.
2. Press Settings.
3. Select All Settings, if displayed.
4. Select Machine Info. or Machine Information.
5. Select Parts Life.
6. Press and hold Drum or Drum Life until the display message changes.
7. Press Yes to confirm the reset.
8. Press Home to exit the menu.

(MFC-L6750DW)

1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the front cover is closed.
2. Press Settings.
3. Select All Settings.
4. Select Machine Info. or Machine Information.
5. Select Parts Life.
6. Press and hold Drum until the display message changes.
7. Press Yes to confirm the reset.
8. Press Home to exit the menu.

(MFC-L6900DW, MFC-L6900DWG, and MFC-L6900DWX)
1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Press Settings.
3. Select All Settings, if displayed.
4. Select Machine Info. or Machine Information.
5. Select Parts Life.
6. Press and hold Drum or Drum Life until the display message changes.
7. Press Yes to confirm the reset.
8. Press Home to exit the menu.

The drum counter should now be reset.

Common Error Messages

A drum reset may be required if your Brother printer displays any of the following messages after installing a replacement drum:

• Replace Drum
• Drum End Soon
• Drum Stop
• Replace Parts
• Drum Error

The exact message can vary by printer model.

Troubleshooting

If the drum message remains after completing the reset:

1. Confirm that the drum unit was replaced and that the reset procedure matches the printer model.
2. Repeat the reset procedure carefully.
3. Check that the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly are seated correctly.
4. If the message persists, consult the printer's model-specific Brother support documentation.

If the message continues after the correct reset procedure, the printer may not have accepted the reset command or there may be an issue with the drum unit or printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to reset the drum counter when I replace toner?
No. The drum counter should only be reset when replacing the drum unit.

How long should a DR-820 drum last?
Brother specifies approximately 30,000 pages based on one page per job, with a higher estimated yield under longer print runs.

How long should a DR-890 drum last?
Brother specifies approximately 50,000 pages based on one page per job, with a higher estimated yield under longer print runs.

Why does my printer still say “Replace Drum” after installing a new drum?
The drum counter may not have been reset, or the reset may not have been completed correctly.