Brother Printer Accepts Generic Toner After Microchip Swap

Chris Asipyan

Prying the factory microchip off an original cartridge and mounting it onto an aftermarket replacement defeats manufacturer lockouts to restore full supply readings.

AI-assisted summary of Brother Printer Genuine Toner Fix - Use Any Toner — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published: 2020-07-21

Key ideas

Brother printers enforce OEM cartridge purchasing by embedding microchips that detect and block third-party toners. (0:00)
Swapping the genuine microchip from a depleted starter cartridge into an aftermarket unit cleanly bypasses the manufacturer lock-out. (1:25)
Two-pack third-party Linkyo cartridges cost roughly $25, compared to $45 to $85 for a single OEM Brother TN-730 or TN-760 cartridge. (0:00)
The OEM starter cartridge locked out printing after only 417 total pages, following an initial low-toner alert at 358 pages. (5:18)

Detailed notes

## Background This tutorial was published on YouTube by Chris Asipyan on July 21, 2020. The video description details a workaround hack to bypass manufacturer microchip restrictions on Brother printers (specifically the HL-L2350DW) to use affordable third-party toner, while cautioning viewers that the procedure will void the warranty.

## TL;DR Frustrated by genuine Brother toner replacements costing almost as much as the printer itself, Chris demonstrates how to bypass the built-in microchip lockout system. He purchases an inexpensive two-pack of Linkyo third-party toner cartridges for about $25, then carefully removes the authentic OEM microchip from the depleted starter cartridge using a blade and screwdriver. After transferring the genuine chip into the replacement cartridge and reinserting the assembly into the drum, he runs an internal diagnostic test print. The printer successfully accepts the aftermarket cartridge as genuine, showing 100% toner capacity and producing sharp, high-quality test prints.

## Atmosphere & style The presentation carries a pragmatic, resourceful DIY tone that feels empowering for consumers fed up with aggressive printer industry lockouts. Chris provides methodical, calm, and hands-on guidance, speaking in an unpretentious, accessible manner while navigating delicate physical components. There is a palpable sense of triumph and relief when the machine boots up without errors and prints a crisp diagnostic sheet, validating the clever physical workaround.

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=0s) Brother printers enforce OEM cartridge purchasing by embedding microchips that detect and block third-party toners. - [01:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=85s) Swapping the genuine microchip from a depleted starter cartridge into an aftermarket unit cleanly bypasses the manufacturer lock-out. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=0s) Two-pack third-party Linkyo cartridges cost roughly $25, compared to $45 to $85 for a single OEM Brother TN-730 or TN-760 cartridge. - [05:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=318s) The OEM starter cartridge locked out printing after only 417 total pages, following an initial low-toner alert at 358 pages.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=0s) OEM toner replacements for the Brother HL-L2350DW cost between $45 and $85, rapidly exceeding the machine's initial purchase price of around $100. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=0s) Manufacturers embed microchips in cartridges primarily to detect non-genuine supplies and prevent third-party toners from functioning. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=0s) Third-party alternatives, such as Linkyo two-packs for around $25, offer massive cost savings over genuine TN-730 and TN-760 cartridges. - Using this microchip transfer workaround to enable third-party toner will void the printer's warranty. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=105s) The toner cartridge must be separated from the drum carriage by engaging the green release tab before working on the chip. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=105s) Protective gloves should be worn when handling cartridge microchips to prevent skin oils from damaging electronic contacts. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=105s) The OEM microchip is glued in place and requires careful prying with a razor blade and small flathead screwdriver. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=105s) The Linkyo replacement cartridge includes a dummy chip that pushes out easily from the inside without requiring prying. - [05:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=318s) Before installing the modified cartridge, it must be gently rocked side to side to evenly distribute internal toner powder. - [05:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=318s) The exposed developer roller must not be touched when removing the protective cover and seating the cartridge into the drum. - [05:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=318s) Following installation, the Brother HL-L2350DW recognizes the swapped chip and displays a 'Ready' status. - [05:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=318s) A test print report confirmed crisp print quality and showed toner and drum levels resetting to roughly 100%. - [05:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=318s) Factory starter toner logs revealed an initial low-toner warning at page 358 and a mandatory cutoff lock-out at page 417.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=0s) OEM Toner Costs and the Third-Party Chip Problem

Chris Asipyan introduces a workaround for replacing the toner cartridge in a Brother laser printer. After checking online for replacement supplies, he found that the printer takes either a TN-730 or a TN-760 cartridge. The genuine Brother toner prices ranged anywhere from $45 to $85. Considering the printer itself cost only a little over $100 brand-new, Chris balks at the ongoing expense: “So what these printer companies have started doing is they've been putting chips inside the toners uh little microchips that allow them to detect that you're using a non-genuine brother toner and it'll basically not accept the toner you put inside.” If left unchecked, buying OEM supplies quickly outpaces the hardware's purchase price over time.

To counter this, he purchased a third-party replacement from Linkyo on Amazon. For around $25, the package came as a two-pack of toners, representing substantial savings compared to a single genuine unit. However, because modern printer manufacturers embed microchips onto their cartridges to lock out aftermarket consumables, the third-party cartridge cannot simply be dropped in as-is. Chris explains his strategy: he will harvest the authentic Brother microchip from the original starter toner that shipped with the machine and transfer it into the Linkyo cartridge to deceive the printer into believing an authentic OEM cartridge is running.

- **Printer model**: Brother HL-L2350DW - **OEM cartridge specifications**: TN-730 (standard yield) or TN-760 (high yield), priced between $45 and $85 - **Printer cost**: Slightly over $100 - **Third-party alternative**: Linkyo 2-pack purchased on Amazon for roughly $25

[01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=105s) Disassembling the Drum and Swapping the Microchip

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Chip Transfer Process accDescr: Step-by-step diagram showing how the OEM chip is moved to the Linkyo aftermarket toner cartridge. subgraph OEM_Toner["Genuine Brother Cartridge"] A["Pull OEM Toner & Drum Assembly"] --> B["Press Green Tab to Release Cartridge"] B --> C["Pry Out Glued OEM Microchip with Blade/Screwdriver"] end subgraph Linkyo_Toner["Linkyo Replacement Cartridge"] D["Slide Out Linkyo Dummy Chip from Inside"] E["Slide Genuine OEM Chip into Slot"] F["Gently Shake Side to Side"] G["Remove Protective Cover & Seat into Drum"] end C --> E D -.->|Discard dummy| E E --> F --> G ```

Chris opens the printer's front compartment by pulling the two tabs located on the sides and gently extracts the entire internal assembly by its green grab area. The unit removed consists of both the toner cartridge and the imaging drum assembly. To separate them, he presses down firmly on the green release lever on the drum carriage, which pops the toner cartridge free. Comparing the original Brother toner alongside the new Linkyo replacement, the chip bays are located in the identical spot on both housings.

Before handling the electronics, Chris puts on protective gloves, warning viewers that skin oils can harm the sensitive microchip contacts: “All right so it's not a good idea to touch this with your hands with your fingers because the oils in your skin might might damage the chip here so just wear some spandex gloves like i'm doing.”

The OEM chip extraction requires careful physical leverage: - He slips a razor blade underneath the genuine chip to begin separating it from the cartridge plastic. - Once slightly lifted, he switches to a flathead screwdriver to gently pry and pop the chip free from the factory glue securing it beneath. - Moving to the Linkyo cartridge, no prying is necessary; he simply pushes its dummy chip outward from the inside edge, allowing it to slide out smoothly. - He then takes the genuine Brother microchip and slides it directly into the mounting slot on the Linkyo cartridge until seated.

[05:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8&t=318s) Reassembly, Test Printing, and Page Yield Results

With the genuine chip firmly in place, Chris preps the Linkyo unit for installation. He gently rocks and rotates the cartridge from side to side to distribute the internal toner powder evenly. He then removes the plastic protective roller cover, warning never to touch the exposed developer roller. He aligns the cartridge with the drum unit guides, sets it into position, and presses down until it snaps in with a tactile click. The combined toner and drum assembly is then slid back into the printer chassis until fully seated, and the access door is shut.

Upon powering on the printer, the unit cycles with three distinct mechanical clicks before coming to a stop and showing `Ready` on the LCD panel. Chris navigates the printer's on-screen menu to verify status:

1. Press the down arrow repeatedly until reaching **Print Reports**, then press **OK**. 2. Scroll past WLAN Report, Drum Dot Print, and Network Config to highlight **Printer Settings**. 3. Press **OK** and then hit the **Go** button to execute the test print.

``` +-------------------------------------------------------+ | Brother HL-L2350DW Test Report Metrics | +-------------------------------------------------------+ | Print Quality: Crisp, dark, no visible defects | | Drum Unit Life Reported: ~100% | | Toner Cartridge Level: ~100% | | OEM Starter Toner Low Warning: Page 358 | | OEM Starter Mandatory Replace Cutoff: Page 417 | +-------------------------------------------------------+ ```

Examining the printed sheet, the printout is dark and crisp. The printer interprets the swapped chip as completely functional: “Here it says drum unit and toner cartridge are at one hundred percent pretty much so that's great it thinks that everything is good.” The printed error log shows that the starter toner triggered a "Toner Low" alert at approximately 358 pages and completely locked the printer from further printing at 417 pages. Chris notes he is eager to see how many more pages this high-yield third-party cartridge will deliver in comparison, confirming that the simple physical chip swap cleanly defeats the manufacturer lock-out.

## Mentioned Chris Asipyan, Brother, Brother HL-L2350DW, TN-730, TN-760, Linkyo, Amazon

## Video description Don't give into the printer manufacturing companies bad practices. Use this simple hack to trick your printer into using 3rd party toners. However, doing this will void your warranty. My printer model is: HL-L2350DW

New Model Linkyo Toner: https://amzn.to/3S8R9tZ

New Model Printer: https://amzn.to/3yNmPhQ

Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, thank you for your support.

Thanks for watching! Please support my channel by subscribing and enjoying more helpful videos like this.

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzaRVEzYuz8)

中文简报

兄弟打印机通过更换微芯片成功兼容通用碳粉撬下原装墨盒上的原厂微芯片并安装到第三方替代品上，可破解厂商锁定并恢复墨量满额显示。由于兄弟原装碳粉墨盒的更换成本几乎与打印机本身相当，Chris在感到不满之余，展示了如何绕过内置的微芯片锁定系统。他以约25美元的价格购买了两支装的廉价Linkyo第三方碳粉墨盒，随后用刀片和螺丝刀小心地从耗尽的原装随机墨盒上拆下真正的OEM微芯片。将该原装芯片转移到替换墨盒并重新装入硒鼓组件后，他进行了内部诊断测试打印。打印机成功将该第三方墨盒识别为原装，显示100%碳粉容量，并打印出清晰、高质量的测试页。兄弟打印机通过嵌入微芯片来检测并封锁第三方碳粉，以此强制用户购买OEM墨盒。 (0:00) 将耗尽的随机墨盒上的原装微芯片换入第三方墨盒中，可彻底绕过厂商的锁定机制。 (1:25) 两支装的第三方Linkyo墨盒售价约25美元，而单支兄弟原装TN-730或TN-760墨盒的售价在45至85美元之间。 (0:00) 原装随机墨盒在印至358页发出墨量低警告后，仅打印到417页就锁死并停止打印。 (5:18)

Original transcript

[0:00] hey there youtube today i'm going to [0:02] replace the toner in this brother laser [0:04] printer [0:05] i checked online to see what kind of [0:07] toner i need to buy [0:08] and how much it costs in this particular [0:12] printer i need to get [0:13] either a tn 730 or tn 760 [0:17] toner however when i checked online i [0:20] noticed that it [0:21] costs way too much to buy toner it's [0:24] anywhere between 45 to 85 dollars [0:27] and that's just way too much to spend on [0:30] just toner [0:31] especially when this printer cost me [0:33] around a little over a hundred dollars [0:35] so the toner itself can add up pretty [0:38] quickly to [0:39] way more than the cost of the printer [0:41] over time so what i've done is i went [0:43] out and bought a third party uh [0:45] toner from a company called linkio [0:48] i'll have a link to this exact item in [0:51] the description of this video [0:53] if you guys are interested i bought this [0:55] one from amazon and it cost me i believe [0:57] around [0:58] uh 25 bucks something like that and it [1:00] comes with two [1:01] toners so [1:04] you get two which is really good deal i [1:06] think for 25 bucks [1:12] so what these printer companies have [1:14] started doing is they've been putting [1:15] chips inside the toners uh little [1:17] microchips that [1:19] allow them to detect that you're using a [1:22] non-genuine [1:23] brother toner and it'll basically [1:27] not accept the toner you put inside so [1:29] what i'm gonna have to do here is i'm [1:31] gonna need to take out the chip [1:33] from the old toner the genuine toner [1:35] that this printer came with [1:37] and install it on the new toner [1:39] cartridge [1:40] so that i can trick the printer into [1:42] thinking that it's still using its [1:44] genuine [1:45] toner all right so let's go ahead and [1:48] remove the old toner from the printer [1:51] uh there's these two tabs on the sides [1:52] you just kind of pull them up [1:54] apart and it opens this compartment [1:59] just grab it from the green area here [2:01] just pull it out [2:02] nice and gently [2:07] and here you can see the chip i'm [2:08] talking about that's the one that [2:10] detects [2:11] uh allows the printer to detect if [2:13] you're using a genuine toner or not [2:18] so in this bag is the new toner let me [2:21] go ahead and [2:22] take it out [2:33] now this here is only the toner [2:36] but in this case up here this is the [2:39] toner plus the drum [2:40] so what we need to do is we need to [2:42] separate this toner part from the drum [2:45] all right to separate it there's this [2:47] green tab here you're going to push down [2:48] on [2:51] and i'll pop out the toner cartridge [2:55] just like that very simple [2:58] and you can put this aside for now [3:03] all right let's flip these two over this [3:04] is the original one [3:08] here's the third party one so you can [3:11] see the [3:12] the chips are located in the same place [3:14] so what we're gonna do is we're gonna [3:15] slide this one out [3:17] and this one as well and put it into the [3:20] slot here [3:22] all right so it's not a good idea to [3:23] touch this with your hands with your [3:25] fingers because the oils in your skin [3:27] might [3:27] might damage the chip here so just wear [3:30] some spandex gloves like i'm doing [3:32] all right so i'm going to use this razor [3:35] blade here [3:36] to go ahead and put this underneath that [3:39] chip [3:40] and force it out of there [3:48] all right i lifted it a little bit and [3:50] i'm gonna use [3:52] the screwdriver instead to continue [4:02] there we go so just kind of uh [4:05] push it and pry it open and it will pop [4:08] right off of there [4:10] it was being held down by some glue [4:12] underneath [4:14] so let's go ahead and set this aside [4:17] and bring in the new toner cartridge [4:23] [Music] [4:25] all right so here this one is a little [4:27] bit different [4:28] it's you're not going to have to pry it [4:30] out what you have to do is slide it out [4:32] so come from this side [4:36] from the inside part and just kind of [4:38] push it [4:45] and it slides right out like that [4:51] all right so now we're going to take the [4:53] original genuine chip and we're going to [4:55] insert it into [4:56] the third party cartridge just like this [5:00] we're going to slide it right in [5:08] and that's it simple as that [5:11] and now your printer will think you have [5:13] an original [5:14] genuine toner installed all right so [5:18] what you want to do is you want to take [5:19] this cartridge here and you want to just [5:22] kind of [5:24] rotate it from side to side give it a [5:27] gentle shake [5:28] [Music] [5:29] just to even out the toner dust inside [5:38] once you've done that we're going to [5:39] take off this protective cover [5:47] be careful not to touch this part here [5:48] with your hands [5:50] turn it around and just insert it right [5:55] into the slot here [5:58] once it's sitting in there go ahead and [5:59] push it down [6:01] it'll click right in place [6:04] all right so i've turned on the printer [6:06] and as soon as i turned it on [6:08] i heard uh three clicking sounds and [6:12] now it stopped clicking and it says here [6:14] ready [6:15] so what i'm gonna go ahead and do is i'm [6:16] gonna print a test page to see what it [6:18] does alright so what i want to do is i [6:21] want to print myself [6:22] a report so i'm going to click the [6:25] arrows [6:26] down down down [6:29] down print reports press ok [6:32] print settings [6:35] wlan report drum dot print [6:39] network config printer settings [6:42] and i'm going to print the print [6:43] settings press ok [6:46] go [6:50] [Music] [7:05] so far the print looks very good the [7:07] toner looks good [7:10] here it says drum unit and toner [7:13] cartridge [7:14] are at one hundred percent pretty much [7:17] so that's great it thinks that [7:20] everything is good [7:23] it says here air history toner low [7:26] so with my original toner that came with [7:28] the printer it was able to print [7:31] about 358 pages or so before the toner [7:34] got low [7:35] and then at 417 pages it asked me to [7:38] replace the toner and wouldn't print [7:40] anymore [7:41] so i'm just curious to see how much more [7:44] pages i can print with the toner i just [7:46] installed in here [7:49] but apart from that everything else [7:50] looks very good [7:52] there's no problems at all well yes [7:55] that's how you save a lot of money on [7:56] toner thanks for watching [7:58] give me a thumbs up if you can please [8:00] and also subscribe to my channel for [8:01] more useful videos in the future [8:04] thanks again see you guys later