How to use Brother HL-L2321D printer with macOS 27 when official drivers are incompatible?

Based on user reports, macOS 27 Golden Gate has ‘broken’ printer drivers from several manufacturers. 

The Brother HL-L2321D does not support AirPrint, which is the easiest way to connect to a printer and does not require drivers from the manufacturer, only an AirPrint-capable printer. 

Rosetta 2 (the macOS engine for running Intel apps on Apple Silicon) is needed for some old printer drivers. Even if it was installed on your Mac previously, the upgrade to macOS 27 Golden Gate removed it. If Rosetta 2 is not installed and you launch an Intel app, you’ll be prompted to install it. That is what happened here, when I launched an app that I had used frequently on Tahoe then launched for the first time after upgrading to Golden Gate.

That prompt does not happen with a printer driver. Accordingly, it may help to install Rosetta 2 using Terminal. Apple provides instructions for that HERE. Note that if this enables your old printer drivers to work, you’ve only put off the inevitable. As the dialog box above indicates, macOS 27 is the last version that will support Intel-only apps (and printer drivers). If you upgrade to macOS 28, you will need to find another solution – either a new printer (get one that supports AirPrint), or for example setting up a Raspberry Pi as a print server (not too hard and plenty of tutorials, but the cost will be similar to an inexpensive printer).

If that does not help, then the first step is to reset your printing system. Note that doing so will remove all your printers and you will need to re-add them, but that is Apple’s suggested method to solve printing problems.

Steps to Reset the Printing System

• Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners
• Secondary-click (right-click, two-finger click) in the top two lines or on any printer and select Reset Printing System

• More info: Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem - Apple Support

Since your printer does not support AirPrint, check the manufacturer’s website, and if there are no updated drivers, then you may be able to set up your printer on macOS using a generic driver.

Steps to Connect and Print

• Connect the printer: Plug the printer into your Mac using a USB cable, or connect it to your local network via an Ethernet cable. 
• Add the printer: Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax (the + button).
• Choose Driver: Select your printer from the list. In the "Use" drop-down menu, choose Generic PostScript Printer.
• Finish setup: Click Add to complete the installation.
• More info: Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac - Apple Support

If that does not work, there are two other options:

Option 1: onnect the printer to a always-on host computer (like a Mac, Windows PC, or Raspberry Pi) running third-party print server software such as HandyPrint, Onyx, or a CUPS-based solution to share the printer via AirPrint.

Option 2: you may be able to use the manufacturer’s printing app, which is available on the Mac App Store.

Brother iPrint & Scan

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brother-iprint-scan/id1193539993?mt=12

your options are

1. wait untill brother make a working driver for you to download from their site (they may be working on it) Downloads | HL-L2321D | Others | Brother
2. check if the free open gutenberg driver stuff include your printer model Gutenprint Supported Printers
3. get a new printer which support airprint so you can be more resistant to macOS version upgrades, after a printer manufactorer stops selling a model then supporting drivers for them is 100% expense only and only thing they can gain by the huuge expense of releasing new drivers is goodwill from users and in this day and age that is not of much value.

You could choose to modernize and replace that printer with a current networkable Brother device that is specifically stated to be Apple AirPrint compatible. The latter capability means you will never be dependent upon Brother printer drivers again.

Over the summer, I purchased a Brother HL-L8430cdw color laser. Didn't need color, or the additional cost, but did it anyway. I powered on the printer. Then, I installed Brother's Mobile Connect app from the Apple App Store onto my iPhone 17 Pro Max and used that application to configure the printer to my Wi-Fi, update firmware, and configure for AirPrint. Simple.

Although I got that dialog about the eventual sunsetting of Intel applications while on Tahoe 26.7 when I launched an Intel-only app, I have yet to see that dialog on Golden Gate, even when launching the same application.

Go figure… 😕

Interesting. Well, at some point I'll need to access my Synology NAS and I'll launch the Synology Assistant app that is current Intel only. Will check for the banner notification after installing Rosetta 2.

Unless you have Finder notifications turned off? That would explain you not seeing the it.

I have a similar problem with my Brother 1610W series printer. Since updating my Mac to iOS 27 “Golden Gate”, the printer is no longer compatible with my Mac.

Unless Apple releases an update or Brother provides a software/driver update that restores compatibility, I can no longer use the printer.

MacOS 27 did not remove Rosetta 2 from my Mac upon upgrading from macOS 26.7… Intel X86_64 only applications still work without any prompt for Rosetta 2.

Interesting, thanks. The upgrade definitely removed it for me, thus the screenshot of the prompt on my Mac, which I still see (since I have not yet clicked Install).

My macOS 27 Finder Notification settings have not changed — same as yours.