Resetting the toner on Brother HL-2360DW printer is indeed an important task for users who are threatened by abnormal messages that say “Replace Toner” when toner is still present in the cartridge. It is a problem commonly occurring for users and can be resolved by performing a toner counter reset. This complete guide will thus explain how to reset toner, when and why might there be a need to do so, and what risks and implications might be involved in resetting the toner. Finally, learn how to improve the life span of toner cartridges and achieve optimum print quality.
Introduction of the Brother HL-2360DW
The Brother HL-2360DW tops the rank of most-considered options when it comes to monochrome laser printers. This efficient printer produces excellent prints at maximum affordability and is considerably employed at home and the office because of its robust performance and ease of use as well as being a wireless printer. Like any other laser printer, HL-2360DW needs a toner cartridge for document printing. This printer is also capable of informing users about low-usage toner, or replacement needed. Therefore, most of the time; it happens to trigger the message before the time, which would make the user do toner reset.
Toner Reset Process Understand
What does a Toner Reset mean?
Toner resetting is the procedure of resetting the built-in counter mechanism that sends a message to the printer as to when the replacement of the toner cartridge is needed. This toner counter ascertains the pages have been printed and subsequently establishes when the toner cartridge will be considered empty. The moment it hits a certain threshold, the printer will display the message “Replace Toner” or “Toner Low” that will coincide to the time the end-user needs to replace the cartridge.
Nonetheless, the toner counter may not fully match the real toner level. The reason is that the printer usually determines the toner levels through page counts or an estimate of coverages, which are not necessarily similar to what is being used. Resetting the counter really just tells the printer to ignore the toner level and lets the user go on printing until the toner really runs out.
Why Reset the Toner?
Here are a few of the main reasons you may want to reset the toner on your Brother HL-2360DW:
Premature Toner Replacement Alert: The printer may call for replacement of the toner cartridge even though there’s still toner remaining. The reset can allow the use of the remaining toner without any replacement.
Saving Money: Resetting the toner counter allows the maximum use of the toner cartridge and saves one from regularly buying and spending on unnecessary quantities.
Green: In addition to the environmental impacts, the reset makes you utilize the cartridge until it is finally empty before disposing of it.
Disruption-free: Resetting the toner will allow you to continue printing at that moment until you acquire a new cartridge should you receive a message indicating toner replacement at the worst time.
When Should You Reset the Toner?
Resetting the toner counter has some rewards, and it is better to know when the right time comes. Such are the following cases wherein a toner reset would be a good idea:
Toner Low Message but Still Mostly Full: If you see that there’s still toner in the cartridge, but the printer flashes a low toner icon, a reset on the counter should do the work.
Printing Light but Not Empty: Slightly less darker printing turning out, but if the printing is neither too much faded nor totally blank, it indicates there are some toner traces left in it. Resetting toner enables you to continue printing while maintaining enough acceptable quality.
Before Critical Print Jobs: When there is a low toner warning before printing a huge batch of documents, resetting the toner would enable you to continue printing without interruptions.
Do not, however, reset the toner when the cartridge is empty because this simply puts you in danger of reduced print quality and possible damage to the printer.
A step-wise guide on toner reset for Brother HL-2360DW
Resetting the toner on the Brother HL-2360DW is very easy. Depending on whether one uses an original Brother toner cartridge or a compatible third-party toner, the steps may vary a bit between them. The steps will go as follows when resetting a toner.
Method 1: Resetting Using the Printer’s Control Panel
Turn Off Your Printer: First, turn off the Brother HL-2360DW printer. Make sure the printer is completely powered down before proceeding.
Open the Front Cover: The toner and drum assembly are now accessible: Open the front cover to access the toner. That is the only cover that can be opened when replacing the toner cartridge.
Press and Hold the “Go” Button: With the front cover still open, press and hold the “Go” button on the printer’s control panel. You need to hold it until all the lights on the control panel come on and then the “Ready” light flashes. This process typically lasts 5 seconds.
Release “Go”: After the lights flash, release the “Go” button, and all the lights should turn off while the printer resets toner count.
Close the front cover of the printer. The “Toner” light should turn off, indicating that the toner counter has been reset successfully.
Finally, switch on the printer, allowing it to initialize. The “Replace Toner” message must have been removed, and normal printing resumed.
Method 2: Manual Reset of the Toner Using a Toner Reset Gear
Some Brother HL-2360DW toner cartridges may have a reset gear attached which automatically resets the toner counter once the cartridge gets installed. Here are the required steps, for cartridges with that feature:
Turn Off the Printer and Open Front Cover: To get to the toner cartridge, shut down the printer and open its front cover.
Remove Toner and Drum Assembly: Remove the toner and drum assembly from the printer very carefully and set it onto a flat clean surface.
Locate the Toner Reset Gear: The small gear mechanism that corresponds to the toner reset gear should be located on the side of the toner cartridge.
Position the Reset Gear: Rotate the reset gear counterclockwise until it gets clicked in place. This is the toner counter reset function on the cartridge.
Put Back the Toner and Drum Assembly: Reinstall toner and drum assembly again inside the printer.
Close the Front Cover and Switch On the Printer: Close the front cover and switch on the printer. The toner counter should be reset, and the printer would no longer show any “Replace Toner” message.
Maximizing the Life of a Toner Cartridge
Resetting the toner counter allows one to maximize toner efficiency from the cartridge; however, there are several other techniques of maximizing its life and providing the best print quality.
1. Print Draft
Printing in draft mode is another way to save toner if quality is not an issue. Draft uses less toner per page, thus elongating cartridge life. To enable draft mode in printer settings:
Windows: On the “Devices and Printers” window, right-click on your Brother HL-2360DW. Select the “Printing Preferences…” option from the menu and choose “Draft” or “Toner Save” mode in the “Quality” tab.
Mac: Open the print dialog, select “Quality & Media,” and choose “Toner Save” mode.
2. Don’t print unnecessary documents
Thus, print only what you need to avoid toner wastage. Always read the documents digitally first before printing and allow double-sided printing under most conditions in order to save paper and toner.
3. Clean the Drum Unit
The drum unit of your Brother HL-2360DW is a vital machine part in printing. With time, toner residue builds up on the drum because of the process it goes through when printing. Its consistent cleaning will go a long way in ensuring good maintaining print quality over time and extending the cartridge life:
Removing the Drum and Toner Assembly: Switch off your printer and open the front cover. Remove the drum and toner assembly.
Cleaning the Drum: Gently clean the drum surface with a lint-free cloth or with a cotton swab moistened in isopropyl alcohol. Do not touch the drum with your fingers.
Reassemble and check: Assemble the drum and toner, close the front cover, switch the printer on, and try to print a test page.
Store Toner Cartridges Properly
Store the unused toner cartridges in cool and dry places and avoid exposure to direct sunlight. This will help in preventing the toner from clumping or drying and causing inefficacy in the cartridge when it is finally set up.
Shake the Toner Cartridge
When toner finishes shaking, the remaining toner is now evenly distributed to print a few more pages before changing or resetting the toner. Here’s how:
Take off the toner cartridge: Power the printer off, open the front cover and pull out the toner cartridge.
Shake the cartridge: Gently shake it from side to side.
Install again: Reinstall the toner cartridge and close the front cover before switching the printer back on.
Possible Dangers and Considerations
While resetting your Brother HL-2360DW will save you in terms of money and allow you to use the toner cartridge longer, there are still some risks and considerations that need to be considered:
1. Print Quality Degradation
At some point before the final breaths of the toner cartridge, you would realize the output would be a little low in print quality, with the usual faded prints, streaks, and uneven printing. The moment the print quality gets to the unacceptable level, the cartridge needs to be replaced regardless of when you last reset the toner counter.
2. Damage to the Printer
Using a toner cartridge for longer than its intended life can cause wear and tear inside the printer especially at the drum unit. The drum unit is a sensitive and important part in the whole process of printing, and using an empty or near-empty toner cartridge creates frictions and may even damage it. Resetting the toner counter is a cool trick to extend the life of the cartridge; however, make sure one does not consider it a cost-effective measure in the long run on the printer. If the printer starts making strange noises or printing poorly even after resetting the toner, then better to replace the toner directly, and prevent damage.
3. Voiding Warranties
Generally resetting the toner counter is a safe activity, but know that some manufacturers might regard it as unauthorized alteration. Resetting the toner counter on your Brother HL-2360DW printer would void any warranty the printer has left since there might be possible damages if any might occur that could have been evaded by replacing the cartridge. Weigh the possible savings against a potential warranty voiding big time and consider reaching Brother’s customer support for advise in case of doubt.
4. Effects on the Environment
Resetting the toner allows you to get every last bit out of the cartridge, but it is also about how environmentally friendly the cartridges are. Dispose of or recycle the cartridge properly upon depletion. Most manufacturers including Brother provide a recycling program whereby empty cartridges can be returned to the manufacturer for a recycling process. Use up every last toner in the cartridge and then recycle it; that is the most environmentally friendly practice.
Troubleshooting Common Problems After Toner Reset
You might encounter some problems even after successfully resetting the toner on your Brother HL-2360DW. Here is a guide to troubleshooting some of their most common issues.
1. The “Replace Toner” Message Persists
If the “Replace Toner” message persists even after performing a reset, try the following steps:
Double-Check the Reset Process: Ensure that you followed all the steps in the reset process correctly. If you missed a step or released the “Go” button too early, the reset might not have been successful.
Reset the Printer: Power cycle the printer by turning it off, unplugging it from the power source, waiting for 30 seconds, and then plugging it back in and turning it on.
Check the Toner Cartridge: Make sure the toner cartridge is properly seated in the drum unit and that the drum unit is properly installed in the printer.
Try Another Reset Method: If you initially used the control panel method, try resetting the toner manually using the reset gear on the cartridge, or vice versa.
2. Poor Print Result After Reset
If the printing is faded, streaky or uneven after resetting your toner, consider the following:
Check the Toner Level: Even though you reset the toner, the cartridge can be near the end of its life and may require replacement if the print quality is poor.
Clean the rollers and drum: Print quality can be affected by dust, toner residue, and debris from paper. Regular cleaning of the drum and rollers should be done to ensure they will be free of debris.
Use High Quality Paper: The use of low-quality paper results in low print quality. Always ensure that you have the right paper type that the printer is designed to use for a specific print job.
Adjust Print Settings: Adjust print settings on the computer. Increasing the print quality settings would help if the prints are light.
3. Smudges or Streaks Caused by Toners
If you see smudges or streaks on the printed pages, you are probably experiencing a problem with the toner cartridge or the drum unit.
Inspect the Drum Unit: Check for any drum unit wear indicators, any scratches, and any buildup of toner; if it is found, you may need to replace the drum.
Replace Toner Cartridge: If the toner cartridge is almost finished or has been used for a long time, it is likely responsible for the streaks or smudges. This issue can be solved by replacing the toner cartridge.
Conclusion
Resetting toner in Brother HL-2360DW printer is a very useful technique to spend a life of toner on the toner cartridge for printing costs. Once aware of when and how toner can be reset on Brother HL-2360DW, the user will have maximized use out of the printer with all good print quality features. Balancing toner resetting benefits with other drawbacks such as damaging your printer or voiding warranties and how environmentally the reset is worth it.
Regular cleaning maintenance on the drum unit and use of quality paper will extend more life on your toner cartridge for smooth operations on a Brother HL-2360DW. Keep an eye on print quality after resetting the toner, and it is best to use it until really empty and avoid long-term issues on your printer.
Ultimately, whether you reset the toner or not must depend on their printing conditions, your budget, and the printer’s overall status. With the right approach, you will be able to efficiently manage toner use and work with your Brother HL-2360DW for years to come.