Brother Printer Error Code 33 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 33 on a Brother printer means the drum unit is approaching the end of its rated life. The drum is the cylinder that transfers toner onto the paper during printing. You can continue printing, but you should order a replacement drum unit soon.

Affected Models

Brother HL-L2300D
Brother HL-L2380DW
Brother MFC-L2700DW
Brother DCP-L2540DW
Brother HL-L2340DW

Common Causes

The drum unit has reached approximately 80% of its rated page count (typically around 10,000 to 15,000 pages)
The drum unit counter was not reset after a previous drum replacement
Frequent printing of dense graphics or photos wears the drum faster than light text printing
The drum was inadvertently exposed to strong light for an extended period, accelerating degradation
A third-party drum unit with a lower page rating than the Brother original reached its limit earlier

How to Fix It

Open the printer's front cover to access the toner and drum assembly.

On most Brother laser printers, the toner cartridge and drum unit come out together as a combined unit.
Press the blue release button to separate the toner cartridge from the drum unit.

Hold the toner cartridge over paper or a bin — it may still have loose toner that can spill.
Install the new drum unit and reattach the toner cartridge to it, then slide the combined unit back into the printer.

Make sure the drum unit is seated all the way in — it should slide smoothly and click into place.
Reset the drum counter: On the printer's control panel, press Menu, go to Machine Info or Reset, and select Drum Reset or Parts Life Reset.

This step is critical — if you do not reset the counter, the printer will continue showing the warning even with a new drum.
Print a test page to confirm the error has cleared and print quality looks clean and even.

A new drum should produce crisp, even black text without spots, lines, or faded patches.

When to Call a Professional

Error 33 does not require a technician — replacing the drum unit is a user-serviceable task. Brother drum units are designed to be replaced by the user. If you replace the drum and the error persists, the counter may not have been reset properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep using my Brother printer when it shows error 33?

Yes. Error 33 is a warning, not a shutdown. You can continue printing until the error escalates to a full end-of-life notice (error 34) that stops printing. However, as the drum ages, you may start to see print quality issues like faint lines or gray patches on the page.

Do I need to replace the drum and the toner at the same time?

Not necessarily — they have different lifespans. Brother toner cartridges typically last 1,000 to 3,000 pages. Drum units last 10,000 to 15,000 pages. You will likely replace the toner cartridge several times before needing a new drum.

What does the drum unit actually do?

The drum unit is a photosensitive cylinder that is electrostatically charged to attract toner powder in the shape of your printed page. That toner is then transferred to paper and fused by heat. Think of the drum as the 'stamp' that picks up the ink pattern and presses it onto the page.