Brother DCP-L2520DW: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Brother DCP-L2520DW right for you?

The DCP-L2520DW is the 2014 compact laser all-in-one for homes: print, copy and scan from a flatbed, with Wi-Fi and duplex printing but no ADF or fax. It uses the cheap TN-660 cartridge and DR-630 drum shared with the HL-L2340DW. These units are now a decade old but many still run; scanning on modern PCs is the usual hurdle because Windows updates strip the scanner driver. Copies are quick and the glass is letter/A4 size.

Best for: Home users who need occasional copying and scanning with cheap toner

Setting up the Brother DCP-L2520DW

Install the Full Driver & Software Package so ControlCenter4 and the scanner driver come with the print driver. Use the LCD Network menu or WPS for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. If scan-to-PC stops working after a Windows update, re-run the installer or use Brother iPrint&Scan on the desktop instead.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the toner cartridge and drum unit, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Brother's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Brother DCP-L2520DW uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• TN-630 toner (1,200 pages)
• TN-660 high-yield toner (2,600 pages)
• DR-630 drum unit (12,000 pages)

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications