Your laser printer shows a drum error, a drum end soon warning or a demand to replace the drum, and it may refuse to print. The drum is the light-sensitive cylinder that carries the image to the paper. On some printers it's a separate unit holding the toner cartridge; on others it's built into the cartridge. The message can mean the drum is worn out, a new drum hasn't been registered, it isn't seated, or a charging wire needs cleaning. This guide covers each case.
What you might be seeing
- A drum error or replace drum message on the control panel
- A drum end soon warning that keeps returning
- The message persists after fitting a new drum unit
- Printing stops until the drum is replaced
Common causes
- Drum at end of life
- The printer counts drum use and warns as it nears its rated life.
- New drum not registered
- Some printers need you to confirm a new drum in a menu, or the old count remains.
- Drum or toner not seated
- If the toner isn't locked into the drum unit, or the drum isn't fully home, sensors report an error.
- Dirty corona wire
- On drum units with a corona wire, toner buildup on the wire can trigger a drum error.
- Faulty or unrecognized drum
- A defective drum, or one with a chip the printer doesn't accept, causes a persistent error.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order and test a print after each one. Most people are done within the first few steps.
The fuser sits close to the drum area and can cause burns, so let the printer cool for about 30 minutes before removing the drum. Don't expose the drum to bright light for more than a few minutes.
Read the exact message
Check whether the message is an early warning, such as drum end soon, or a stop, such as replace drum or drum error. A warning usually means you can keep printing while quality holds up; a stop means the printer won't continue until the issue is fixed. If the printer allows, print a supplies or configuration page to see the drum's remaining life.
Restart the printer
Power the printer down for about a minute, then switch it on again. A one-off sensor reading can clear on restart. If the message comes straight back, turn it off, unplug it and allow 30 minutes of cooling before opening it, because the fuser sits close to the drum area and gets very hot during printing.
Reseat the drum and toner
Open the front cover and slide out the drum and toner assembly. Press the toner cartridge firmly into the drum unit until it clicks and the lock lever rises, if your model has one. Slide the assembly back along its guides until it stops, then close the cover firmly. Keep the drum out of bright light and don't touch its surface while it's out.
Clean the corona wire
If your drum unit has a small colored slider on top, it cleans the corona wire. Slide it gently from one end to the other several times, then return it to its marked home position; a slider left midway blocks part of the wire and causes a streak. Reinstall the drum and switch the printer on to see whether the error clears.
Work out which part needs replacing
If your printer uses combined toner-and-drum cartridges, a drum message means replacing the cartridge, not a separate part. If it has a separate drum unit, check the supplies page for remaining life and order the drum listed in your manual. One drum usually lasts through several toner cartridges, so new toner alone won't clear a drum message.
Confirm a new drum in the printer's menu
After installing a new drum unit, some printers detect it automatically, while others need you to confirm it through the supplies or maintenance menu or a button sequence described in the manual. Do this only after fitting a genuinely new drum. Resetting the counter on an old drum doesn't renew it; it only hides the reminder while print quality keeps declining.
Test with the old drum if the error persists
If a new drum still triggers an error after reseating and confirming it, reinstall the old drum briefly. If the message changes, the new drum may be faulty and should go back to the seller. If both drums produce the same error, the printer's drum contacts or sensors may need professional attention.
How to keep it from happening again
- Order a replacement when the drum end soon warning first appears
- Slide the corona wire cleaner at every toner change
- Confirm a new drum in the menu straight after installing it
- Keep spare drums in their light-proof bags until needed
Common questions
How long can I print after the drum end soon warning?
It varies with how you print, but the warning usually appears with some useful life remaining. Keep printing and watch for gray backgrounds, faded areas or spots. Order a replacement when the warning first appears so you're ready when quality drops or the printer stops.
Do I need to replace the drum when I replace the toner?
Only if your printer uses combined cartridges with the drum built in. Printers with a separate drum unit are designed so one drum outlasts several toner cartridges. The supplies page shows which parts your printer uses and how much life each one has left.
Why does the drum error continue after I installed a new drum?
The usual reasons are a toner cartridge not clicked into the new drum, a new drum that hasn't been confirmed in the menu, or protective packing left on the new unit. Check each one. If the error remains, the drum may be faulty or the printer's sensors may need attention.
This guide is general information written for common home and office printers. Menus and button names vary between models, so check your printer’s manual where a step differs. Printer Problems Solved is independent and not affiliated with any printer manufacturer. See our disclaimer.