How to Print a Test Page on Brother Printers (2 Ways)

Most Brother printers people search for help with are laser models , specifically the HL series (mono laser), MFC series (mono or color all-in-one), and DCP series (compact all-in-one). Unlike inkjet printers where a test page is mainly about nozzle health, a Brother laser test page is a full diagnostic snapshot: toner level, drum condition, total page count, firmware version, and print quality samples all on one sheet. Knowing how to read that output tells you exactly when to replace toner, when to replace the drum, and when a print quality issue is actually a dirty transfer roller rather than a depleted supply.

What a Brother Laser Test Page Shows

A Brother test page is denser with information than most brands. It typically includes:

• Total page count: The cumulative number of pages printed since the printer was first used. Useful for tracking consumable life and estimating when the drum will need replacement.
• Toner remaining: A percentage or bar graphic showing how much toner is left in the cartridge.
• Drum life remaining: A separate indicator for the imaging drum, which wears out at a different rate than the toner cartridge. Brother drums are typically rated for 12,000–50,000 pages depending on the model.
• Print quality samples: Solid black blocks, gradients, and fine line patterns that reveal toner distribution problems, drum wear, and fuser issues.
• Network information: IP address, MAC address, and connection type, which you need when troubleshooting connectivity.

Compare the test page output against a black and white test page from this site for a more thorough assessment of toner density and text sharpness across different font sizes.

Printing from the Control Panel

The exact path depends on your Brother model series, but all models can produce a test page directly from the printer.

HL series (dedicated laser printers)

Models with an LCD: Press Menu → Machine Info → Print Test and press OK.

Models without an LCD (HL-L2300D and similar): Turn the printer off. Press and hold the Go button while turning the printer back on. Keep holding until the LEDs cycle through their patterns. Release Go, then press it once more. The configuration page will print.

MFC series (multi-function models)

Press Menu on the control panel. Navigate to Machine Info (or All Settings → Machine Information on touchscreen models) and select Print Test. On color MFC models, the test page includes CMYK color bars in addition to the standard diagnostic data.

DCP series (compact all-in-one)

DCP models follow the same path as MFC models but may label the option as Print Reports → Test Print. On button-only DCP models (no LCD), use the Go button method described above for the HL series.

Test Page via Windows Printer Properties

This method works for any Brother printer connected to a Windows PC, regardless of model series or control panel type.

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners (or Control Panel → Devices and Printers on Windows 10).
2. Click your Brother printer, then click Printer Properties (not "Properties" or "Printing Preferences," which are different dialogs).
3. On the General tab, click Print Test Page.

The Windows test page is useful for confirming driver connectivity but does not include Brother-specific diagnostics like drum life or page count. For that information, use the control panel method.

Reading the Diagnostic Output

Here is how to interpret common patterns on a Brother laser test page:

• Evenly faded across the entire page: Low toner. Remove the toner cartridge and rock it gently side to side 5–6 times to redistribute remaining toner. Reinsert and reprint. If still faded, replace the cartridge.
• Vertical black streaks: Damaged or worn drum. Open the front cover, remove the drum assembly, and inspect the green drum surface for scratches, chips, or fingerprints. Do not touch the drum surface, as skin oils cause permanent marks. Replace the drum if damaged.
• Ghost images (faint repeat of text/graphics further down the page): This is the classic sign of a drum approaching end-of-life. The drum is not fully discharging between rotations, so a "ghost" of the previous image transfers onto the next revolution. Replace the drum.
• Dark spots or specks in a repeating pattern: Debris on the drum or transfer roller. Try printing 10 blank pages; the friction can clean minor deposits. If the spots persist, wipe the corona wire inside the drum assembly by gently sliding the green tab back and forth.
• Paper curling or wrinkling: The fuser temperature may be set too high for the paper weight, or the fuser is wearing out. Check the paper type setting in the printer driver and ensure it matches your actual paper.

Drum Life, Page Counts, and When to Replace

Brother printers use a separate drum unit and toner cartridge, unlike some laser printers that combine both into a single unit. This design means you replace toner frequently (every 1,200–3,000 pages on standard-yield cartridges) but the drum lasts much longer (12,000–50,000 pages depending on model).

Brother's "Replace Drum" warning is based on a page counter, not on actual drum condition. Many Brother drums continue to produce clean prints well past their rated life. Use the test page as your actual indicator: if the print quality samples look clean and there are no ghost images, streaks, or spots, the drum is still functional regardless of what the counter says.

When you do replace the drum, always reset the drum counter. Open the front cover and hold the OK (or Go) button for about 5 seconds until the display shows "Drum Clear" or the drum indicator resets. Skipping this step causes the printer to keep displaying the replacement warning even though the new drum is installed.

After a toner or drum replacement, print a test page immediately. This serves two purposes: it confirms the new component is seated correctly, and it gives you a baseline to compare against future test pages as the supply ages. If text looks soft on the test page, check that your print resolution is set to at least 600 dpi — the DPI Calculator explains what each resolution level means in physical dot size.

For problems beyond toner and drum wear — paper jams, network issues, or error codes — our printer troubleshooting hub covers common issues across all printer brands.