Brother DCP-L3550CDW aftermarket toner failure

The Brother DCP-L3550CDW printer requires toner cartridges with embedded chips for authentication. Some aftermarket (non-OEM) cartridges include battery-powered chips, which can lead to recognition failures if the battery depletes. However, genuine Brother cartridges do not contain a battery, and the battery issue is not caused by the printer itself.

Issue description

Aftermarket toner manufacturers use battery-powered chips to bypass Brother’s authentication system. When the 1.5V battery inside these third-party chips depletes, the printer fails to recognize the cartridge, displaying a misleading "No Toner" error message, even if toner remains in the cartridge.

This issue does not affect OEM Brother cartridges, as they use a different chip design that does not require a battery. Brother’s chip system is primarily used for tracking toner levels and verifying cartridge authenticity, which can restrict third-party toner compatibility but is not responsible for battery failures in non-OEM cartridges.

File:Toner life screen.jpg

Toner life despite error screen

Battery is usually hidden behind the chip	This is the chip
Battery is usually hidden behind the chip (removed for this photo)	The toner chip that contains the battery

File:Error Display.jpg

Error display of the issue

This is where the chip resides	Battery of the chip
Location where the chip is installed on the cartridge	Close-up of the battery on the chip

User-discovered solutions

Users have found several workarounds for this issue:

• Taking out the cartridges before turning off the printer for an extended period.
• Replacing the chip of the affected cartridge with the chip from an older cartridge that still has battery power (the chip is attached with screws).
• Replacing the 1.5V battery yourself if you have the necessary tools (requires soldering skills).
• Keeping the printer perpetually turned on to avoid battery depletion.

Users on Printer Forums reported success with replacing the battery or swapping the chip from a recognized cartridge. Others have noted that pressing the red X and back arrow on the printer control panel allows access to toner status and may temporarily resolve the issue.

Firmware-related issues

Firmware updates have been linked to preventing the use of third-party toner chips. Several users reported that after updating their printer to firmware version 1.59, previously working third-party cartridges were no longer recognized, triggering the "No Toner" error. This is separate from the issue of dead batteries on aftermarket cartridges.

To prevent firmware-related cartridge recognition problems, users have suggested:

• Disabling automatic firmware updates via the printer settings.
• Blocking the printer from internet access to avoid automatic updates.

Consumer impact summary

While Brother's chip-based authentication system restricts the use of non-OEM toner cartridges, the battery issue is caused by third-party cartridge manufacturers, not Brother. The chip requirement itself can be seen as a method to enforce a closed ecosystem, potentially increasing costs for consumers. However, the battery-powered chip design is an independent choice made by aftermarket manufacturers, not a function of the Brother printer or its OEM cartridges.

Related incidents

This issue primarily affects aftermarket toner cartridges used in multiple Brother printer models:

• Brother MFC-L3770CDW experiences identical battery-related toner recognition failures.
• Users of Brother printers with TN-760 cartridges have reported similar issues.

One user on Printer Forums expressed frustration, stating:

"I am very close to trashing my Brother printer and getting something else. Are there any laser printers that DO NOT HAVE BATTERIES in their toner cartridges and have aftermarket cartridge sources?"

See also

• Planned obsolescence
• Right to repair