Brother Printer Error 70 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 70 on a Brother printer means the toner cartridge or drum unit is not installed correctly. The printer cannot detect the toner or drum unit in its correct position. This is often caused by a cartridge that is not fully seated or one that needs to be replaced.

Affected Models

Brother HL-L2350DW
Brother HL-L2395DW
Brother MFC-L2710DW
Brother MFC-L2750DW
Brother DCP-L2550DW

Common Causes

The toner cartridge or drum unit was not fully inserted and is not properly seated
The toner cartridge is empty or near empty and the printer is flagging it as a problem
The drum unit has exceeded its rated page count and needs to be replaced
A non-Brother or incompatible toner cartridge is installed
The cartridge contact points or printer contact pins are dirty and not making electrical contact

How to Fix It

Open the printer's front cover. Remove the drum and toner cartridge together as one unit.

On most Brother laser printers, the drum unit and toner cartridge come out as a combined assembly.
Separate the toner cartridge from the drum unit by pressing the release lever. Inspect both components.

Check if the toner cartridge label indicates it is empty or if the drum unit counter shows the drum has exceeded its rated lifespan.
Reinsert the toner cartridge into the drum unit until it clicks. Then reinsert the combined assembly into the printer until it clicks and seats fully.

Push the drum and toner assembly all the way into the printer. Resistance suggests the assembly is not aligned correctly — adjust and try again.
Close the front cover. Power the printer on and see if the error clears.

If the error clears, run a test print to confirm the printer is working. The test print option is usually in the printer menu under Print Reports.
If error 70 persists, replace the toner cartridge with a genuine Brother cartridge. If the drum counter has been exceeded (visible on the config page), reset the drum counter or replace the drum unit.

To reset the drum counter on most Brother printers: with the front cover open, hold the OK button for a few seconds until the counter resets. Check your model's manual for the exact method.

When to Call a Professional

Error 70 is almost always resolvable without professional service. Either reseating the drum/toner or replacing them will fix the issue in the vast majority of cases. If the error persists after installing a new genuine Brother drum and toner, the contact pins inside the printer may need inspection by a technician.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the drum unit and the toner cartridge?

The toner cartridge holds the toner powder that forms the printed image. It gets consumed over time and is replaced regularly. The drum unit is a longer-lasting component that transfers the toner image from the laser-charged drum surface onto the paper. Drum units last much longer than toner cartridges — typically 10,000 to 30,000 pages — but they also need replacing eventually.

Can I use third-party toner in my Brother printer?

You can, but third-party toner cartridges are more likely to cause errors like error 70. Incompatible chips on third-party cartridges may not communicate correctly with the printer. If you experience error 70 with a third-party cartridge, try a genuine Brother cartridge to determine if the cartridge is the cause.

How do I know when the drum unit actually needs replacing?

The printer will prompt you when the drum unit is nearing the end of its rated lifespan. You can also check the drum page count by printing a configuration page from the printer's menu. When the drum is worn out, print quality issues appear — streaks, faded areas, or repeating dots on pages — before the full error code appears.