Brother HL-1850 Mac Manual

The Brother HL-1850 is a monochrome laser printer designed for home and small office use, compatible with Mac OS X and macOS systems. It features fast printing speeds, high-resolution output, easy setup, and reliable performance. This manual covers installation, configuration, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting specifically for Mac users. Below are key sections for setup, features, driver installation, printing, maintenance, and support.

1. Features at a Glance 2. System Requirements 3. Installation on Mac 4. Specifications 5. Printer Setup & Configuration 6. Printing from Mac 7. Maintenance & Care 8. Troubleshooting 9. Regulatory Information

Features at a Glance

Key components: Laser printing engine, paper tray, control panel, USB port, toner cartridge.

Feature	Description
Print Speed	Up to 20 pages per minute
Resolution	Up to 2400 x 600 dpi
Paper Capacity	250-sheet input tray
Connectivity	USB 2.0 for direct connection
Mac Compatibility	macOS 10.10 or later, OS X 10.7 or later
Toner Yield	Approximately 2,500 pages (standard cartridge)
Control Panel	Power button, status LED, error indicators
Dimensions	14.2" x 9.8" x 7.7" (W x D x H)
Weight	Approximately 13.2 lbs
Warranty	1-year limited warranty

System Requirements

Ensure your Mac meets these requirements before installation.

Operating System: macOS 10.10 or later, OS X 10.7 or later.
Processor: Intel-based Mac.
Memory: 512 MB RAM minimum (1 GB recommended).
Hard Disk Space: 500 MB free space for driver installation.
Connectivity: USB 2.0 port (USB cable not included).
Software: Latest Brother driver and software package.

Note: Check Brother website for latest driver updates.

Installation on Mac

Follow these steps to install the Brother HL-1850 on your Mac.

Unpack Printer: Remove all packaging materials and tape.
Install Toner Cartridge: Open front cover, remove toner seal, insert cartridge, close cover.
Load Paper: Pull out paper tray, load up to 250 sheets of letter-size paper, adjust guides.
Connect Power: Plug power cord into printer and wall outlet, press Power button.
Download Driver: Visit support.brother.com, download Mac driver for HL-1850.
Install Driver: Open downloaded file, follow on-screen instructions.
Connect USB: Connect USB cable from printer to Mac when prompted.
Add Printer: Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners, click "+", select Brother HL-1850.

CAUTION! Do not touch the green drum inside the toner cartridge.

Specifications

Printer Type: Monochrome laser printer.
Print Speed: Up to 20 ppm.
First Print Out: Less than 10 seconds.
Resolution: 2400 x 600 dpi.
Paper Sizes: Letter, Legal, Executive, A4, A5, B5, envelopes.
Paper Capacity: 250 sheets (input), 100 sheets (output).
Memory: 2 MB standard.
Interface: USB 2.0.
Noise Level: Less than 53 dB during operation.
Power Consumption: Approx. 370W printing, 45W ready, 2W sleep.
Toner Cartridge: TN-450 (standard yield: 2,500 pages).
Drum Unit: DR-450 (life: approx. 12,000 pages).

Printer Setup & Configuration

Configure printer settings via Mac System Preferences or Brother software.

Printer Preferences: Access via Printers & Scanners > Options & Supplies.

Print Settings: Paper size, orientation, quality (draft/normal/fine), duplex (manual).

Driver Settings: Toner save mode, watermark, overlay, page layout.

Network Setup (optional): Not applicable for HL-1850 (USB only).

Maintenance: Print test page, clean printer, reset settings.

Printing from Mac

Print documents from any Mac application.

Open document in application (e.g., Pages, Word, Preview).
Select File > Print.
Choose Brother HL-1850 from printer list.
Adjust settings: copies, pages, paper size, quality.
Click Print.

Print Quality Tips:

Use genuine Brother toner for best results.
Select "Fine" quality for important documents.
Use "Toner Save" mode for drafts to extend cartridge life.
Clean printer if print appears faint or streaked.

Maintenance & Care

Regular maintenance ensures optimal performance.

Cleaning: Turn off and unplug printer. Wipe exterior with dry cloth. Do not use liquids.
Paper Jam Clearing: Open rear cover, gently pull paper out in direction of paper path.
Toner Replacement: When toner low light appears, replace TN-450 cartridge.
Drum Replacement: Replace DR-450 drum unit every 12,000 pages or when print quality degrades.
Firmware Updates: Check Brother website periodically for firmware updates.

WARNING! Unplug printer before cleaning. Do not touch internal components unnecessarily.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Possible Cause	Corrective Action
Printer not recognized	Driver not installed, USB issue	Reinstall driver; try different USB port/cable; restart Mac.
Poor print quality	Low toner, dirty drum	Replace toner cartridge; clean printer interior; replace drum unit.
Paper jams	Paper loaded incorrectly, worn rollers	Clear jammed paper; reload paper properly; clean rollers.
Printer offline	Connection issue, software problem	Check USB connection; restart printer; reset printing system in Mac.
Error lights flashing	Cover open, paper jam, toner issue	Close cover; clear jam; reseat toner cartridge; restart printer.
Slow printing	Complex documents, low memory	Reduce print quality; close other applications; upgrade memory if possible.

Reset Printer: Turn off, unplug for 60 seconds, plug back in, turn on.

Regulatory Information

FCC Part 15: Class B digital device; complies with interference limits for residential use. Energy Star: Meets energy efficiency guidelines. Copyright © 2025 Brother Industries, Ltd. All rights reserved. For support, visit support.brother.com or contact Brother Customer Service at 1-877-276-8437.