Third-party status
DisputedDisputed: Brother denies blocking; MFC-L2710DW owners report rejections after updates
Brother says its updates do not block third-party toner, but an MFC-L2710DW owner reported in March 2023 that a nearly full compatible TN760 was rejected as empty after firmware updates. Disputed: no Brother source confirms a block or names the version.
What to do now
- Turn on Continue Mode (Menu, General Setup, Replace Toner, Continue) so the printer keeps printing after Replace Toner until Toner Ended.[10][11]Brother's own setting. It cannot be changed while an error is showing, resets to Stop when a new cartridge goes in, and will not help if the cartridge is not detected at all.
- Hold off on firmware updates until reports on the new version appear.[4][5]Brother recommends updating. We have not verified an auto-update off switch on this model.
- Reseat the toner in the drum and reinstall the assembly.[3]Brother's fix for detection errors; it does not override a chip rejection.
What to buy instead
- Genuine Brother TN760. Always accepted.
- Compatible TN760 from a seller with a firmware return policy. Ask what happens if an update rejects it.
- Account required
- No
- Cartridges
- Brother TN730 / TN760 toner, DR730 drum
- Blocking firmware
- None reported
- Last checked
Also applies to: Other printers that take TN730/TN760 toner, such as the HL-L2350DW, HL-L2395DW and MFC-L2750DW (check your toner number).
Third-party and remanufactured cartridges
- Brother lists the TN730 (standard) and TN760 (high yield) toner and the DR730 drum for the MFC-L2710DW.[1][2]
- Brother's own help page says a non-genuine toner cartridge 'may or may not' be detected by the MFC-L2710DW.[3]
- In March 2023 an MFC-L2710DW owner reported that a third-party toner that had worked, and showed about 90% full, was rejected as exhausted after several firmware updates, with no way to override it.[4]
- Commenters in the same thread claim firmware Z still accepted third-party chips and ZA did not. One ties this to the sister MFC-L2717DW. No Brother source confirms either version.[4]
- Brother says its firmware updates do not block third-party ink or toner. In March 2025 Ars Technica found the accusations rest mostly on owner posts it could not confirm.[5][6][7]
- A hobbyist repository (May 2026) claims firmware ZG (April 2026) on the HL-L2395DW, which takes the same TN760, rejects third-party chips. Brother has not confirmed this.[8]
Brother account and subscriptions
- We found no Brother statement that the MFC-L2710DW needs an account or subscription to print.[1]
- Brother's optional Refresh EZ Print subscription is different: its terms say a subscription cartridge is deactivated when you cancel and must be replaced to keep printing.[1]
Firmware that blocked cartridges
- Owner claims only: firmware Z accepted third-party toner, ZA rejected it. No dates or Brother release notes back this up.[4]
- You can see your version under Menu, Machine Info., Version.[9]
To see your version, print a printer status report or open the printer's web page. Compare it with the firmware list.
Workarounds that sources back up
- Turn on Continue Mode (Menu, General Setup, Replace Toner, Continue) so the printer keeps printing after Replace Toner until Toner Ended.[10][11] Brother's own setting. It cannot be changed while an error is showing, resets to Stop when a new cartridge goes in, and will not help if the cartridge is not detected at all.
- Hold off on firmware updates until reports on the new version appear.[4][5] Brother recommends updating. We have not verified an auto-update off switch on this model.
- Reseat the toner in the drum and reinstall the assembly.[3] Brother's fix for detection errors; it does not override a chip rejection.
What does not reliably work
- Rolling back firmware: owners and critics say Brother removed older versions from its download sites.[4][7]
What to buy instead
- Genuine Brother TN760. Always accepted. Shop
- Compatible TN760 from a seller with a firmware return policy. Ask what happens if an update rejects it. Shop
These are plain store links. We earn nothing from them today. Disclosure.
What we could not verify
- Which MFC-L2710DW firmware version, if any, started rejecting third-party TN760 chips (owners name Z and ZA; Brother has not confirmed).
- Whether the hobbyist HL-L2395DW firmware ZG claim applies to the MFC-L2710DW.
- Whether current firmware rejects all compatible chips or only some.
Know something we missed? Dated sources beat opinions. Corrections go on the page with a date.
Get an email when the Brother MFC-L2710DW's status changes
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Sources
- Brother USA: MFC-L2710DW product page (read Oct 31, 2026)
- Brother USA: TN760 compatible printers (read Oct 31, 2026)
- Brother Support (MFC-L2710DW): Cannot Detect (read Oct 31, 2026)
- Reddit r/assholedesign: MFC-L2710DW stopped using third-party toner after firmware upgrade (published Mar 10, 2023)
- Ars Technica: Brother denies using firmware updates to brick printers with third-party ink (published Mar 5, 2025)
- The Register: Brother denies dirty toner tricks (published Mar 6, 2025)
- Tom's Hardware: Brother accused of locking down third-party cartridges via firmware updates (published Mar 4, 2025)
- brother-altfw (hobbyist repository, commit of May 30, 2026) (read Oct 31, 2026)
- Brother Online User's Guide: Check the Firmware Version (read Oct 31, 2026)
- Brother Online User's Guide: Set the Continue Mode (read Oct 31, 2026)
- Brother USA support: Continue Mode (read Oct 31, 2026)