Brother MFC-7860DW: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Brother MFC-7860DW right for you?

The MFC-7860DW was the wireless, duplex-printing top of the 2011 compact laser range, and it remains one of the most common decade-old Brothers still in use. It prints 27 ppm, faxes, and scans through an ADF, all on cheap TN-450 toner. Wi-Fi on this generation supports only older security modes, so it may not join WPA3-only networks. AirPrint works on units with the final firmware applied.

Best for: Owners of a trusty old wireless laser fax machine

Setting up the Brother MFC-7860DW

Install the Full Driver & Software Package for scanning and ControlCenter4. Use the LCD Network menu for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with WPA2; if your router is WPA3-only, enable mixed mode or use Ethernet. Reserve the IP so Windows does not lose the port.

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 MFC-7860DW 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 (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