Brother HL-L2865DW: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Brother HL-L2865DW right for you?

The HL-L2865DW is a compact monochrome laser printer Brother added to its US lineup in September 2024, alongside the MFC-L2900DW and MFC-L2980DW all-in-ones. It prints up to 36 ppm, prints two-sided automatically and connects by Ethernet or dual-band Wi-Fi, so it can join a 5 GHz network, which many older Brother lasers could not. Brother did not name a predecessor, but it fills the slot once held by the HL-L2350DW and HL-L2375DW. It is a close relative of the HL-L2460DW, which already has a page here, so compare current prices before choosing. It suits home offices and small businesses that print mostly black text and want a printer that stays connected.

Best for: Home offices that print mostly black text and want a reliable wired or 5 GHz connection

Setting up the Brother HL-L2865DW

Remove the packing material and orange tape from the toner and drum assembly before first power-on. For a desk next to the router, Ethernet is the simplest and most stable connection; otherwise join Wi-Fi from the control panel or Brother Mobile Connect on either band. On Windows, install the Full Driver and Software Package, or rely on the built-in driver if you only print. Add the printer by hostname rather than IP address if your router hands out changing addresses. Confirm the toner and drum numbers on the installed parts before ordering spares.

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-L2865DW uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Brother toner cartridge and separate drum unit (confirm part numbers on the installed parts before ordering)

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