Brother HL-2240: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Brother HL-2240 right for you?

The HL-2240 is the bare-bones USB-only member of Brother's 2010 mono laser family, sold for under 100 dollars and built to be shared from one PC. It has no networking and no automatic duplex, so it suits a single desk where a cable is fine. Its toner and drum are among the cheapest to replace of any laser ever sold, which is why many are still in service. Expect the LED panel to blink toner and drum warnings long before output actually degrades.

Best for: A single-PC budget mono printer that still has cheap supplies

Setting up the Brother HL-2240

Connect the USB cable only after the Full Driver & Software Package asks for it, otherwise Windows may install a generic driver that drops manual duplex. On macOS Sonoma and later, the built-in Brother drivers still recognize the HL-2240 via USB. If the printer is not detected, try a different USB port and avoid unpowered hubs.

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 HL-2240 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• TN-420 toner (1,200 pages)
• TN-450 high-yield toner (2,600 pages)
• DR-420 drum unit

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