# [phone] Brother MFC Series Printer ‘Drum End Soon’ Error: What to Do

Brother MFC Series printers are known for their reliability, multifunction capabilities (print, copy, scan, fax), and cost-effective performance in homes and small offices. However, like all printers, they require maintenance and occasional troubleshooting. One common alert users often encounter is the **‘Drum End Soon’** warning.

If you’ve seen this message on your Brother printer’s screen, don’t panic. This guide will help you understand what the **‘Drum End Soon’** error means, why it happens, what to do about it, and how to reset or replace the drum properly. If you’re looking for immediate assistance, you can always call the Brother printer support team at **[phone] (toll-free in the USA)**.

### **Table of Contents**

1. What is the Drum Unit in a Brother MFC Printer?
2. What Does the 'Drum End Soon' Message Mean?
3. Is It Safe to Continue Printing After the Message Appears?
4. Common Causes of ‘Drum End Soon’ Error
5. How to Check the Drum Life
6. How to Replace the Drum Unit in Brother MFC Printers
7. How to Reset the Drum Counter
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
9. How to Extend Drum Life (Maintenance Tips)
10. FAQs About Drum End Soon Warning
11. When to Call Support: [phone] (USA)
12. Conclusion

## **1. What is the Drum Unit in a Brother MFC Printer?**

The **drum unit** is an essential component in laser printers. It transfers the toner from the cartridge onto the paper to create text and images. Unlike toner cartridges, which contain the actual ink powder, the drum unit is responsible for the actual **imaging process**.

In Brother printers, especially the MFC Series (like MFC-L2710DW, MFC-L2750DW, MFC-L8900CDW, etc.), the drum is **separate** from the toner cartridge. This design allows users to replace each component individually, saving costs over time.

## **2. What Does the 'Drum End Soon' Message Mean?**

When your printer shows a **‘Drum End Soon’** message, it’s alerting you that the **drum unit is nearing the end of its useful life**. This doesn’t mean you need to replace it immediately—but it’s a sign that the unit has printed close to or beyond the **rated page yield**, which is typically **10,000 to 15,000 pages** for many Brother drum units.

You may notice the following symptoms:

* Faint or faded prints
* Repeated black marks or lines
* Smudging or ghost images
* Paper jams or noise

The printer continues to work temporarily, but the print quality will likely degrade if not addressed.

## **3. Is It Safe to Continue Printing After the Message Appears?**

Yes, it’s generally safe to **continue printing for a short time** after the warning appears. However, once quality drops or other symptoms appear, replacing the drum is recommended to avoid:

* Wasting toner on poor-quality prints
* Damaging internal components
* Downtime from eventual failure

Brother recommends replacing the drum **soon after** the warning appears to maintain optimal printer performance.

## **4. Common Causes of ‘Drum End Soon’ Error**

The message can appear due to:

* The **actual wear and tear** of the drum
* **Incorrect drum installation**
* **Not resetting the drum counter** after replacing the drum
* Use of **non-genuine or third-party** drum units
* Sudden **spikes in printing load**

Brother printers keep track of drum usage via an internal **drum counter**. Once the counter reaches a set number of pages, the warning is triggered, regardless of the actual physical condition.

## **5. How to Check the Drum Life**

To verify how much life is left in the drum:

### For most Brother MFC models:

1. Press the **Menu** button on the control panel.
2. Navigate to **Machine Info > Parts Life**.
3. Select **Drum** to see its remaining life.

Alternatively, you can check drum life via the **printer’s embedded web server** if connected via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

## **6. How to Replace the Drum Unit in Brother MFC Printers**

If you’ve purchased a new drum, follow these steps:

### **Step-by-Step Drum Replacement:**

1. **Turn off the printer** and unplug it.
2. Open the **front cover**.
3. Remove the **drum and toner assembly** by pulling it straight out.
4. Press the **green lock lever** to separate the **toner cartridge from the old drum**.
5. Unbox the **new drum unit**.
6. Reinstall the **toner cartridge into the new drum** until it clicks.
7. Insert the entire assembly back into the printer.
8. **Close the front cover** and power on the machine.

**IMPORTANT:** After installing the new drum, you **must reset the drum counter**. Failing to do so will cause the error to persist.

## **7. How to Reset the Drum Counter**

This step is often overlooked but crucial. Here's how to reset the drum counter:

### For Brother MFC-L2710DW, L2750DW, etc.:

1. Open the **front cover**.
2. Press and hold **OK** for 2-5 seconds.
3. Press the **arrow up (▲)** button.
4. Wait for the printer to reset and display **"Accepted"**.
5. Close the front cover.

The message should now disappear.

## **8. Common Mistakes to Avoid**

Many users unintentionally worsen the situation. Here’s what not to do:

* **Don’t reset the drum counter if you haven’t replaced the drum.** This leads to misalignment between actual wear and printer tracking.
* **Avoid using dirty hands** or touching the green cylinder on the drum—oils can damage the surface.
* **Never use alcohol or harsh cleaners** on the drum.
* Don’t ignore signs of **print deterioration**.
* Avoid installing **non-compatible or fake drum units**—they may void the warranty or damage the printer.

## **9. How to Extend Drum Life (Maintenance Tips)**

You can maximize the life of your drum by following these maintenance strategies:

* **Print in draft or toner save mode** when quality isn’t critical.
* Use **high-quality paper**—cheap or recycled paper wears drums faster.
* Keep the **printer in a dust-free, low-humidity environment**.
* Run a **cleaning cycle** monthly from the settings menu.
* **Avoid overloading print queues** or excessive printing of high-density images.
* Use **genuine Brother supplies**—both toner and drums.

If printing suddenly becomes faint or streaky, try cleaning the **corona wire** by sliding the green tab left and right several times.

## **10. FAQs About Drum End Soon Warning**

### **Q1: Can I override the Drum End Soon warning?**

No, Brother printers do not allow overriding. You can only reset the warning after replacing the drum.

### **Q2: What is the lifespan of a Brother MFC drum unit?**

Typically, **12,000–15,000 pages**. Check your model’s manual for specifics.

### **Q3: What happens if I don’t replace the drum?**

Print quality will decline significantly. You risk **ghost printing**, toner waste, and eventual printer damage.

### **Q4: Can I clean the drum to fix the issue?**

Minor issues can be improved by cleaning the corona wire, but **cleaning won’t reset the page count** or resolve a truly worn-out drum.

### **Q5: How do I know if my drum is third-party?**

Check for Brother hologram and packaging. If in doubt, consult Brother support at **[phone]**.

## **11. When to Call Support: [phone] (USA)**

If you:

* Are unsure how to replace or reset the drum,
* Continue seeing the error after replacement,
* Face poor print quality even after installing a new drum,
* Are experiencing **frequent drum errors** on multiple devices,
* Or need help ordering a compatible drum unit,

**Contact certified Brother support at [phone] (Toll-Free USA)**.

Our technicians can guide you through model-specific solutions, order genuine replacement drums, or escalate to on-site service if needed.

## **12. Conclusion**

The **‘Drum End Soon’** error on Brother MFC Series printers is a **routine maintenance alert**, not a malfunction. Understanding what it means and how to respond ensures your printer continues running smoothly and producing high-quality documents.

By promptly replacing the drum and resetting the counter, you:

* Avoid poor print quality
* Extend your printer’s lifespan
* Ensure accurate page tracking
* Minimize downtime in your office or home

For personalized help or further questions, call **[phone]** to speak with a Brother printer expert today.