Brother HL‑2240 Laser Printer
The Brother HL‑2240 is a compact monochrome laser printer known for simple reliability and sharp text. It’s designed as a USB‑connected printer for a single computer rather than a wireless shared device. Because it’s a laser printer, setup is different from inkjets: you install the toner and drum assembly, load paper, then install the correct Brother driver. Once configured, the HL‑2240 can run for thousands of pages with very little attention. This page covers first‑time setup, driver installation on Windows and macOS, toner/drum maintenance, and practical troubleshooting for common HL‑2240 problems.
Unbox and Remove Shipping Materials
- Open the box and remove the printer, starter toner, drum unit, and paper tray parts.
- Remove all tape and cardboard from the exterior and inside the paper path.
- Open the front cover and take out the drum unit if it’s preinstalled.
Install Toner and Drum
The HL‑2240 uses a separate toner cartridge and drum:
- Slide the toner cartridge into the drum unit until it clicks.
- Gently rock the assembly side‑to‑side to distribute toner evenly.
- Insert the assembly into the printer and close the front cover.
If you ever replace toner, remember to reset the toner counter through the printer’s button sequence or driver utility so the warning clears.
Load Paper Correctly
Pull out the paper tray, load plain paper, and adjust the guides to touch the edges without bending the stack. Don’t overfill; curled paper is the biggest cause of jams in this model. Extend the output support so printed pages don’t fall forward and skew.
Connect by USB
Plug the power cord in and turn the printer on. Connect a USB cable only when the driver installer asks. Using USB too early can cause Windows to grab a generic driver.
Install Drivers on Windows
Download the HL‑2240 driver package from Brother’s support site. Run the installer, choose USB Connection, and follow prompts. After installation, print a test page. If Windows installed a generic driver first, remove the printer from Printers & scanners, uninstall the generic driver, reboot, and reinstall the Brother package.
Install Drivers on macOS
On macOS, download the Brother HL‑2240 driver and run the installer. Then open System Settings > Printers & Scanners and add the printer. Select the Brother driver in the Use dropdown for accurate paper handling and toner status. AirPrint is not typical for this older USB model, so using Brother’s driver is important.
Toner and Drum Information
The HL‑2240 commonly uses Brother TN‑420 or high‑yield TN‑450 toner and a DR‑420 drum. The drum lasts much longer than a toner cartridge. If prints start to show vertical lines or a repeating background pattern, the drum may need cleaning or replacement even if toner is still okay.
Fixing Paper Jams
If a jam occurs, turn the printer off and open the front cover. Pull the drum/toner assembly out and remove jammed paper slowly in the direction of travel. Check the rear exit path as well. After clearing, reinsert the assembly and print a test page. Frequent jams usually mean curled paper or a tray overfilled past the max line.
Print Quality Troubleshooting
- Faded text: remove the toner and shake gently to redistribute, or replace toner.
- Vertical streaks: clean the drum wire slider inside the drum unit and print again.
- Gray background: drum is worn or humidity is high; try fresh paper and consider drum replacement.
- Smudges: use the correct paper type and let the printer warm fully before heavy printing.
Printer Not Printing at All
If jobs spool but nothing prints, clear the queue and restart the printer. On Windows, restart the Print Spooler service. Try a different USB port and cable, and avoid hubs. If the printer shows as “offline,” remove and re‑add it after reinstalling the Brother driver.
Using the Manual Feed Slot
The HL‑2240 includes a manual feed slot for envelopes, labels, and thicker paper. Open the manual feed door, insert one sheet at a time, and select the matching media type in the Brother driver. Feeding special media through the manual slot reduces jams and keeps prints flatter.
Resetting Toner or Drum Counters
After installing a new toner or drum, you may still see a warning because the printer tracks page counts. Brother allows counter resets using the Go button and the front cover sequence. The exact timing varies slightly by region, so follow HL‑2240 reset instructions from Brother. Resetting ensures the printer measures the new consumable correctly.
Sleep Mode and Warm‑Up Behavior
It’s normal for the HL‑2240 to pause briefly before printing if it has been idle. Laser printers warm the fuser when they wake from sleep. You can adjust sleep timing in the driver settings, but leaving sleep enabled saves power and reduces heat wear.
Keeping the HL‑2240 Healthy
Laser printers like the HL‑2240 benefit from a dust‑free environment. Keep the ventilation areas clear, use paper stored in a dry place, and avoid pulling paper backward against the feed direction. A monthly quick print keeps rollers clean and ensures toner doesn’t compact in the cartridge.
With correct toner/drum installation and Brother’s USB driver, the Brother HL‑2240 remains an excellent low‑maintenance printer for crisp black‑and‑white documents.